Brooklyn SolarWorks: an honest look
Brooklyn SolarWorks is the rare installer that solved a genuinely hard local problem instead of just selling around it. If you've got a flat Brooklyn rooftop and assumed solar wasn't an option, this is the company that built a product for exactly that. Here's the honest read on what stands out and what to check.
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What makes Brooklyn SolarWorks different
Founded in 2015 by T.R. Ludwig, Gaelen McKee, and Mark Cunningham, Brooklyn SolarWorks set out to make solar work on New York City's flat-roofed brownstones, where limited space and strict permitting usually kill a project.[1] Its answer was the patented Brooklyn Solar Canopy, designed in collaboration with an architecture studio, which elevates the panels above the vents, bulkheads, and other obstructions that crowd a typical NYC roof.[2]
That's not a marketing flourish, it's a real engineering specialty. The company reports more than 2,000 completed systems across all five boroughs, including landmark properties, and it installed what it describes as New York City's first residential battery storage system.[1] When the Bible test for an installer is 'what do they do that the others don't,' this is a clear answer a homeowner can actually evaluate.
The honest caveats
Two things to keep in mind. A custom-engineered canopy is typically a premium product, so the price can run higher than a standard flush-mounted system. For many NYC flat roofs that premium buys a system that wouldn't otherwise fit, but you should still see the full cost in writing and understand what you're paying for. And the company's expansion beyond the five boroughs, through a national subsidiary, is newer than its local track record.
Customer reviews on the major aggregators skew strongly positive, which is a genuine point in its favor.[3] That's a good signal, not a substitute for reading your own contract, confirming the equipment and warranty, and comparing the total price against at least one other vetted installer.
What to ask before you sign
Want to compare Brooklyn SolarWorks against vetted local installers?
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Founded in 2015, Brooklyn SolarWorks is one of New York City's leading residential installers, with more than 2,000 completed systems across the five boroughs and a patented product, the Brooklyn Solar Canopy, built for NYC's flat roofs. Its reviews on the major aggregators skew strongly positive.
It's a patented mounting system that elevates solar panels above the vents, bulkheads, and other obstructions common on flat NYC rooftops, making solar viable on roofs where a standard flush mount wouldn't fit. It was developed by Brooklyn SolarWorks with an architecture studio.
Often, yes. A custom-engineered canopy is a premium product and can cost more than a standard flush-mounted system. For many NYC flat roofs that premium is what makes solar possible at all, but you should still get the full price in writing and compare it against other vetted installers.
Sources
- Solar Magazine, "Brooklyn SolarWorks, LLC" company profile (founded 2015 by T.R. Ludwig, Gaelen McKee, and Mark Cunningham; 2,000+ systems across the five boroughs; patented Brooklyn Solar Canopy). solarmagazine.com
- Brooklyn SolarWorks, "Why Us" (the patented, award-winning Brooklyn Solar Canopy developed to make solar viable on flat NYC roofs). brooklynsolarworks.com
- EnergySage, "Brooklyn SolarWorks: Profile & Reviews" (customer reviews and track record). energysage.com
Legal matters described here reflect allegations or records as of the date noted and are not findings of liability unless stated. SolarPro Lab is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with Brooklyn SolarWorks.
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