By Linda Collins
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — “This is a seriously green project,� said developer Seth Brown of his new residential project in Prospect Heights.

The project, a five-story, 54-foot tall, eight-unit building known appropriately as “Sterling Green,� is at 580 Sterling Place near Classon Avenue.

Brown, a Park Slope resident for three years, told the Eagle last week he has been concerned about the environment for some time and particularly about building green in urban environments.

His company’s name, Aspen Equities, reflects his years growing up in Colorado, but he also chose it because “when one see a grove of Aspen trees you know that, underground, all the trees are connected. A longstanding organism is created that can live forever,� he said.

A graduate of Yale, where he majored in urban history and got his MBA, he is also the founder and a current board member of Next American magazine, a non-profit environmental organization.

Brown, who got his start in real estate development working for The Hudson Companies and the LeFrak Organization, said he spends 90 percent of his time now as a developer and the rest of his time “more on the idea side of things — thinking green and thinking urban.�

This is his first independent Brooklyn project although he has plans in the works for a two-family green townhouse in Park Slope.

“The concept for Sterling Green was ‘how do we create truly green apartments that are also really affordable,’� he said, adding that he chose this site because things are 35 percent cheaper in Prospect Heights than in Park Slope.

According to Brown, when he says “seriously green� he means that the building has the following features:

• Low VOC paint (for better air quality)

• Tankless gas hot water heaters (heats water only as needed)

• Energy efficient windows with low-E glass

• Energy efficient lighting in kitchens and baths

• EnergyStar appliances in kitchens

• Bamboo flooring

• Dual flush toilets (press one button for urine, one for “other,� using 25 percent less water)

• Standard programmable thermostats (set for lower temperatures on weekdays while people are at work, for example, “saving a tremendous amount of heat and electricity�)

• Low VOC cabinetry (produces less harmful toxic fumes)

• Wind power purchased from Con Ed for low cost lighting and heating in the common areas • Outdoor space for every unit, “a nicety as well as a green element,� he said.

The eight condos include alcove studios and large one-bedroom duplexes. Prices start at $299,000 for a studio and go up to $475,000 for the largest duplex.

The design is by Barry Bank, whose firm is Barry Bank Professional Engineering and Consulting.

Brown estimates that the project will be fully completed in about eight weeks with closings and move-ins anticipated for early summer.

According to Sarah Zelermyer at Aguayo & Huebener Realty, which has the exclusive on sales and marketing, a model unit has just opened and open houses will be held.

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