Going Green

From luxury high-rises in Battery Park City to affordable housing in the Bronx, you can now find homes of all types labeled “green.” But as a potential resident, how do you tell how eco-friendly a building really is and the impact it will have on your family’s day-to-day life?

One way is to see if it’s certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Since 2004, when The Solaire in Battery Park City became the first LEED-certified apartment tower in the country, at least 25 residential buildings in New York City have received LEED certification. “Green building has become the next generation of high quality building,” says Russell Albanese, president of the Albanese Organization, The Solaire’s developer.

LEED measures a building’s sustainability in six areas: proximity to public transportation and other factors linked to location, energy savings and CO2 emissions reduction, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, design innovation, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. A building can earn up to 100 points, and must meet a minimum number to be certified. And while some buildings are merely certified, others achieve silver, gold, or platinum status.

But while LEED has raised awareness of green buildings, just because a building isn’t LEED-certified doesn’t mean it’s not eco-friendly. A few builders who embrace green design don’t want to spend time and money to get a LEED certificate. And just as you can have a non-LEED green building, you can have a not so green LEED building: you don’t always know what a building’s point score represents (a classic example: putting in a bike rack counts the same as installing solar panels). Last year, the U.S. Green Building Council adjusted its process, so that buildings awarded LEED status in the future must periodically document their water and energy use.

Residents can look for other key factors that indicate how eco-friendly a building is. One is air quality. Many building materials, paints, floor coverings, and furnishings release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Green buildings start with less toxic construction materials and low- or no- VOC paints, and may also filter and humidify the air. Sara Clasen moved to The Verdesian, another green building developed by the Albanese Organization, when her sons were infants and immediately felt the difference. “The boys had a lot of trouble just breathing in our old apartment,” she says.

A green building also makes optimal use of the sun to help heat rooms in winter. “All the things that people used to do hundreds of years ago because they made sense, still make sense,” says Emily Fisher, co-owner of R&E Brooklyn, which recently developed 93 Nevins, two high-end green townhouses in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Thoughtful placement of windows, she says, is one such practice.

At 93 Nevins, trees and grape vines on patios, terraces, and the rooftop also help create natural window shades that reduce air conditioning needs in the summer.

How much energy a building uses is a crucial measure of how green it is. Architect Chris Benedict says the 4 BTU/sq ft/heating degree per day her New York City apartment buildings use is likely a quarter of the level of most new construction, and she aims to reduce it by a third more in an apartment building slated to break ground in Brooklyn in June. This level of efficiency, she says, means you can basically “use a hairdryer to heat the apartment.”

But the best way to learn more about a building is to visit it. GreenHomeNYC, a volunteer-run group, leads tours of green buildings throughout the city—the next one is May 8. For more information, visit greenhomenyc.org.


Eco-Buildings

Just
a few green buildings of note in the city.

93 Nevins, 93 Nevins Street, 917-605-0909,
93nevinstownhomes.com

Millennium Tower Residences, 30 West Street,
212-595-7777, millennium-tower-residences.com

The Solaire, 20 River
Terrace, 212-748-6100, thesolaire.com

The Verdesian, 211 North End
Avenue, 212-227-0222, verdesian.com

The Visionaire, 70 Little West
Street, 212-425-2550, thevisionaire.com

Relevant Directory Listings

See More

Rodeph Sholom School Day Camp

<p>Rodeph Sholom School Day Camp is devoted to celebrating the joys of childhood. Our enthusiastic and compassionate staff are dedicated to providing a memorable, safe, and fun summer experience where children pursue passions while gaining new experiences. Our thoughtful, age appropriate programming enables children to grow as individuals and make lifelong friendships.</p> <p>This Summer, we believe kids need camp more than ever!</p> <p>More friendships than ever!</p> <p>More community building than ever!</p> <p>More connection making than ever!</p> <p>More activities than ever!</p> <p>More joy than ever!</p> <p>More ruach (spirit) than ever!</p> <p>More camp magic than ever! </p> <p>More FUN THAN EVER! </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Who We Are</strong></p> <p>Rodeph Sholom School Day Camp engages children <strong>ages Three through 6th Grade</strong> through experiences that help build a positive sense of self, strong peer relationships, skill development in a range of areas, exposure to new and existing passions.</p> <p>We are a strong community that celebrates each individual. Our camp feels like home to all of our campers and staff.</p> <p><strong>Our Mission</strong></p> <p>Our strong culture and community allows each child to discover new passions, create life-long friendships, and find a strong sense of belonging</p> <p><strong>Pursuit of Passion Elective Program</strong></p> <p>All of our rising 1st through 6th graders will have a two-hour long elective period daily, which is a chance to pursue an old or new passion. At the beginning of each two week session, campers have a chance to sign up for their Pursuit of Passion elective, or if they’d like, they can sign up for a mix of two passions to explore. After their Pursuit of Passion period ends in the morning, campers will return to their bunk group for a day full of sports, arts, swim, and more.</p> <p><strong>Possible Pursuits of Passion programs include:</strong></p> <p>- Sports (Floor Hockey, Soccer, Basketball, Skateboarding, Gymnastics, etc.)</p> <p>- Chess</p> <p>- Woodworking</p> <p>- Studio Arts</p> <p>- Hebrew</p> <p>- Performance Arts</p> <p>- Music (Rock band, DJing, Acapella)</p> <p>- Cooking</p> <p>- Business and Debate</p> <p>- Outdoor Adventure</p> <p>- Architecture</p> <p>- STEM Based Programming</p>

Saf-T-Swim

<p>For over 35 years, Saf-T-Swim Swim School has been teaching lifesaving swimming skills throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and now Little Neck. The school is proud to be Long Island's #1 swim school and a leader in water safety education. With swim programs for infants as young as 4 months, beginners, and advanced swimmers, Saf-T-Swim offers swimming programs for every age and skill level. Discover why generations of Long Islanders have trusted Saf-T-Swim time and time again with equipping their little ones the essential skill of swimming.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

Trail Blazers

<p><span style="color: #1f4e79; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; background-color: #ffffff;">Since 1887, Trail Blazers’ programs have been where campers connect to nature, make new friends, and create life-long memories. From Grades PreK-10, there is a day or overnight adventure for your camper. Registration is currently open for farmstead, rock climbing, canoeing, biking, and backpacking adventures. We’ll leave the screens at home for a summer full of learning about our environment and building skills, guided by staff from all over the world! Of course, there will be songs and s’mores! Come outside and play, adventure awaits! Visit our website to learn more and secure your camper’s spot. Trail Blazers is accredited by the American Camp Association.</span></p>