Snowstorms make everything beautiful. But both major snowstorms this year brought power outages to over 2,000 Brooklynites across the borough. Excessive salt on roads began to melt and seep into underground electrical equipment, corroding and disrupting service. Many went without wifi, heat, cooking abilities, and more essentials during a blizzard.
If renters and apartment owners had the right to use plug-in solar panels, they might have still been able to access some power during the storms (yes, solar power does work in winter!). Someone told me recently about a balcony solar panel, a device that’s incredibly popular in Germany (which, despite being farther north than NYC, still has enough sun to power the panels effectively year-round). The panel hangs on a balcony or windowsill but gets plugged in indoors. Power flows to the home almost immediately, as the panels feed directly into the electric system. In Europe, the panels can lower electric bills by 30%. Plus, renters can take the panels with them from apartment to apartment.
A balcony solar panel in Berlin, Germany. Photo: Ben Keil
The devices are currently illegal in New York, but a bill in the state Senate, S8512A, called the Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act, seeks to change that. If passed, SUNNY would allow residents to install plug-in balcony solar panels of up to 1,200 watts that do not have complex utility interconnection requirements. That’s enough power to run a single, medium-sized appliance or several smaller devices. (According to EcoFlow, a panel could power a modern desktop computer, two monitors, and a high-speed Wi-Fi router all at once.)
Priya Mulgaonkar, Campaign Manager of the Green Co-op Council, said in a press release: “Thousands of people across New York are ready to put up solar in their homes tomorrow, but we need the state to remove barriers before we can reap the benefits of plug-in panels.”
More than half of U.S. states have introduced legislation designed to boost the adoption of at-home solar systems. Utah is the only state so far to pass a law legalizing and regulating plug-in solar panels.
The founder of EmpowerSource, a Berlin-based company that promotes balcony solar, told Grist that “relentless individuals” were key to creating guidelines for balcony solar systems in Germany.
Here in New York, the SUNNY Act may need relentless individuals. If balcony solar interests you, sign this petition and call your state representative in support of the SUNNY Act.
– Michaela Keil, Editor, Bluedot Living Brooklyn
Climate News, In Brief
Repurposed Cooking Oil for Heat: Edward R. Murrow High School in Midwood became the first public school in New York City to heat its entire campus using vegetable oil biofuel, replacing traditional fossil fuels with a lower-emission alternative.
Bike Traffic Breaks Records, Again: Bike traffic over the East River bridges hit record highs for the fifth consecutive year in 2025, with an average of 28,853 daily cycling trips between April and October, the city Department of Transportation announced Thursday.
MTA Station Accessibility Upgrades: The Sheepshead Bay B/Q subway station was upgraded with two new elevators connecting the street level to the platforms, and a new entrance with three turnstiles, two exit gates, and two new sets of stairs, making the station fully accessible.
Big Blizzard: Winter Storm Hernando brought New York City’s largest blizzard in the past decade and a whopping 20.5 inches of snow to parts of Kings County.
Imagine a “Low-Traffic Neighborhood”: A panel on “Low Traffic Neighborhoods,” co-hosted by the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office and Open Plans, will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, at the Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom.
Eagle Rescue: NYPD Harbor Unit officers rescued an injured Bald Eagle after spotting the bird stranded on floating ice in the Hudson River.
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National Grid and Brooklyn Public Library hosted the Energy in Engineering design competition. Photo: Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library and National Grid Award Top Honors in ‘Energy in Engineering’ Design Competition
Teens from around the borough spent their mid-winter break learning about energy use and conservation, including energy challenges facing low-income communities, through Brooklyn Public Library and National Grid’s “Energy in Engineering” competition.
The weeklong competition was an extension of the library’s technology programs and National Grid’s STEM and literacy collaborations.
“Through our partnership for Engineers Week with Brooklyn Public Library, we are inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists who will power a more sustainable Brooklyn,” said Robert Simmons, vice president of social impact and community engagement for National Grid.
BLUEDOT LIVING BUY BETTER MARKETPLACE
This International Women’s Month, we’d like to highlight some amazing woman-owned brands. Like our own founder, the women behind these companies have passion, vision, and the desire to enable others to live more sustainably. Now through March 31, enter code WOMEN10 at checkout to save 10% on all woman-owned brands.
As always, your purchases support environmental nonprofits through Bluedot’s 1% for the Planet commitment, and we plant a tree with every order.
Zero-waste, plastic-free makeup brand Axiology creates versatile lip-to-lid makeup crayons for that “I woke up like this” look. Founder Ericka Rodriguez started making 10-ingredient vegan lipsticks in her kitchen after learning how many of her own beauty products had been tested on animals. The company supports a co-op of Balinese women who turn trash they collect on the island’s beaches into Axiology’s 100% recyclable packaging. (From $16) Get the look.
Rachael Miller and her partner were working in ocean cleanup and advocacy when they learned about the devastating effects of microplastics on marine environments. They hired Brooke Winslow, a young engineer, to help them design the Cora Ball, a laundry ball that captures nearly a third of the microplastics clothes release in the wash. ($46). Protect the oceans.
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Dear Dot: What Should I Do with My Plastic Bowls?
Dear Dot,
I’ve been something of a nomad the past few years, but just settled a few states away from home. I was going through house stuff I’ve had packed away and found hard plastic mixing bowls. I know now what I didn’t know when I packed them up — that microplastics get into our food and therefore our bodies. My question(s): Do I just keep using them? Donate them? I think it’s wrong to poison someone else. Do I throw them out? Or do I just leave them in my top cabinet?
— Britt
Dear Britt,
The Short Answer: Avoid putting plastic in contact with food. Instead, repurpose your plastic bowls — as planters, storage, or even a DIY battery-operated light fixture.
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A lot of people think frozen seafood is the backup plan — something you buy when you can’t get it fresh. But here’s the truth: when it comes to quality, frozen can actually be fresher than what’s behind the grocery store counter.
Most “fresh” fish has already been frozen for transport, and is then thawed for display (sometimes even thawed and refrozen many times!). By the time you see it on ice at the seafood counter, it may have been sitting there for days. Not exactly what you pictured when you thought “fresh,” right?
For fish that’s truly fresh, “frozen” should be your go-to choice. Wild Alaskan Company freezes wild-caught seafood from Alaska just hours after harvest, locking in peak flavor, texture, and nutrients — perfectly preserved until you’re ready to cook.
It’s not a shortcut. It’s the smart way to enjoy top-quality seafood at its best.
BLUEDOT LIVING KITCHEN
Miso Mushroom Gnocchi
The deep umami from the miso paired with the rich and meaty mushrooms and soft pillows of gnocchi is just a match made in heaven. You can use any variety of mushrooms you like or have readily available.
BROOKLYN BIRD WATCH
Nature in the Raw
Local resident Michael Kilfoyle was walking with his girlfriend through the snow past Cadman Plaza Park on a Sunday around 2 p.m., “When we saw something that I thought was amazing,” he told the Brooklyn Eagle. Kilfoyle caught sight of a magnificent Red-tailed Hawk. “It was feasting on, judging by the blood and feathers on the ground, a poor, unlucky pigeon,” Kilfoyle said.
The Bluedot Brooklyn newsletter is edited by Michaela Keil. If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, or want to tell us what you’re doing, email [email protected].
