With ambitious goals like the Climate Leadership and Community Protections Act, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050, and Local Law 97, which was implemented to dramatically cut emissions from buildings, New York is one of the most climate-focused states in the country. Additionally, as buildings account for nearly 70 percent of the city's carbon emissions, elected officials and activists alike are full of ideas for changing that. The environmental goals keep getting loftier (see the ado over One Vanderbilt's use of natural gas), but features like airtight envelopes, water reclamation, and clean energy sources are also getting more prevalent. We take a look at the most environmentally friendly condos in the city.
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515 West 23rd Street
No current availabilities
HL23 (Brown Harris Stevens)
In an architecturally adventurous neighborhood, HL23 stands out for its modern design and address just off the High Line. The design is as environmentally friendly as it is eye-catching, between its reflective roofing and recycled materials. Interiors feature energy-saving lighting, water-saving appliances, and low-VOC finishes. Additionally, one hundred percent of the building’s energy comes from green power sources.
150 Myrtle Avenue
3 availabilities from $595,000
Toren (Compass)
Located amidst Downtown Brooklyn’s residential renaissance, Toren set off its own revolution by being one of the first New York buildings to have its own cogeneration plant. Its striking facade was designed for environmental effectiveness with a curtain wall compliant for heat retention. The common areas feature occupancy sensors to optimize lighting usage, and all apartments have Energy Star appliances and low-VOC materials..
22 North 6th Street and 34 North 7th Street
4 availabilities from $830,000
The Edge (Compass)
Not only is The Edge complex one of Williamsburg’s largest and most luxurious condominiums, but it’s also one of the borough’s most environmentally friendly. Insulated walls and floor-to-ceiling windows allow residents to save on energy costs, and all apartments feature energy-efficient appliances, FSC-certified kitchen cabinetry, non-VOC emitting finishes, and filtered air.
565 Broome Street
7 availabilities from $2,475,000
565 Broome Soho (Douglas Elliman)
When 565 Broome Soho was under construction, it generated buzz for a partnership with Think Zero, a consulting firm specializing in waste reduction, to make it one of Manhattan’s first Zero Waste buildings. The goal was to hit this mark by implementing recycling and donation programs, not to mention the establishment of a culture of less waste.
2 River Terrace
1 availability for $20,000,000
Riverhouse - One Rockefeller Park (Nest Seekers LLC)
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Riverhouse was designed to be “the greenest residential building on the East Coast,” and its double-glass wall was a key factor in its LEED Gold certification. All units feature twice-filtered air and water, low pollution-emitting materials, energy-efficient appliances, and year-round humidity control.
60 White Street (Douglas Elliman)
Over 100 years after 60 White Street was built as a commercial loft, its conversion to residential brought about a number of environmentally friendly updates. These include triple-paned Passive Windows from Zola, a state-of-the-art ventilation system, and a rooftop rainwater collection system. The developers incorporated approximately 80% of the original building materials into the conversion, and used locally sourced materials for the rest. Finally, residents arrive to a green wall that naturally cleans and cools the air.
70 Little West Street
4 availabilities from $2,090,000
The Visionaire (Compass)
In one of New York’s most environmentally friendly neighborhoods, The Visionaire sets the bar extremely high with its LEED Platinum certification. The glass walls were carefully designed, and the building is underpinned with a high-efficiency air filtration system, a centralized water filtration system, renewable electricity, and on-site wastewater and reclamation systems. All apartments feature Energy Star appliances.
669 Saint Mark's Avenue
4 availabilities from $1,345,000
Lexe (Compass)
Lexe brings a sense of style to its Crown Heights corner, and one rich in substance: With its airtight building envelope, triple-pane windows, individual ERV systems, and rooftop solar panels, it has achieved Passive House certification. Interiors feature materials with zero environmental impact as well as state-of-the-art kitchen appliances that include an induction stove.
470 Columbus Avenue
2 availabilities from $9,950,000
Charlotte of the Upper West Side (Depict)
Charlotte of the Upper West Side is immediately distinguished by its red brick facade with a terra cotta louver system designed to deflect heat in summer and maximize sunlight in winter. Below the surface, an airtight envelope and triple-layered windows met and exceeded the rigorous Passive House certification standards. All units feature non-toxic materials, energy recovery ventilation and variable refrigerant flow systems, FSC-certified flooring, kitchens with sustainably harvested cabinetry and energy-efficient appliances, and smart lighting controls. For all its state-of-the-art features, though, it has the blessing of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
20 River Terrace
18 availabilities from $745,000
The Solaire (Evan Joseph)
When The Solaire was constructed as a rental, features like photovoltaic cells, an on-site water treatment center, rainwater irrigation, and air conditioning with MERV-14 air filtration system were instrumental in its designation as the first LEED Gold-certified high-rise in the United States. The apartments and amenities were spruced up amidst its conversion to sales units, but the sustainable features remain.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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