How New York Is Pioneering Eco-Friendly Apartments
New York City finds energy-efficient homes a viable solution for resident and city alike.
According to The Guardian, “when you develop something [with] passive house [principles], the benefits to the tenants are great,” she said, noting sound insulation, fresh air and lower bills. “The buildings just stand up better to extreme weather conditions, whether that’s wind, rain, heat or excess cold.”
Developers say Sendero Verde uses about half the energy of a comparable non-passive building thanks to insulation, sealing to prevent leakage, thick windows and ventilation.
The result: clean air, quiet interiors and stable temperatures – even if the power goes out. Spurred by both government incentives and mandates to build greener, such projects offer comfortable, healthy environments to residents often most vulnerable to the effects of a warming planet.
Sendero Verde consists of two mid-rise buildings, completed in 2022, and a 34-story tower, completed in April. Other than the gas water heater, the buildings are powered by electricity, including the stoves in the kitchens. Gas stoves emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and have been shown to produce indoor air pollution, contributing to childhood respiratory problems. (Last year, New York became the first state in the nation to ban gas stoves in new buildings, following New York City in 2021.)
There are also community gardens, shared outdoor terraces with native plants, a fitness center, a playground, computer labs and multi-purpose rooms. One of the buildings houses a charter school, with additional space reserved for retail and social services, such as occupational therapy and mental health care.
The goal, said Jonathan Rose, president of Jonathan Rose Companies and one of Sendero Verde’s developers, was to create a “community of opportunity”.
