Bathysphere

The combined sewer system holds a latent potential for geothermal energy production. In the Gowanus Canal Sewershed the large Bond Lorraine Interceptor and Third Avenue Main sewer lines each carry a Dry Weather Average Flow (DWAF) of 10 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD) of sewage which remains at a relatively constant temperature of 60-75 deg F throughout the year, with fluctuations caused by rain of less than 5 deg F. There are proven manners across the globe in which this pre-existing geothermal mass has been tapped to provide adjacent buildings’ heating and cooling energy demands on individual and district levels, with an energy equivalent of 500 kilowatts per hour per hundred feet.

The elevated Expressway and F/G train lines also hold a vast latent solar energy potential. Solar arrays on the well lit 30 acres of land over these elevated lines in the Gowanus sewershed area could provide adjacent buildings’ electrical, lighting, as well as solar hot water demands, equivalent to 40,000 megawatts per year.

Exhibition - Axis Civitas, Gowanus by Design | Site: Brooklyn Gallery

Team - Garrick Jones | Graciela Hodgson | June Lee | Alec Henry | Min Chen