Luxury apartment complex Birch House announced the recent activation of a 154-kW rooftop solar system in Jersey City. This eco-friendly addition complements the property’s focus on wellness and luxury living.
Located just 20 minutes outside Manhattan, the property offers residents an oasis of upscale amenities with a reduced environmental footprint. With over 300 panels, the new solar system offsets 30% of Birch House’s energy consumption, primarily powering its communal spaces.
Halpern Real Estate Ventures (HREV), a New York City- and Denver-based real estate investment, operating and advisory firm, acquired the Birch House land in December 2019. Seeing the potential of Jersey City’s West Side neighborhood, HREV wanted to emphasize outdoor green spaces and incorporate innovative sustainability features. That goal was achieved through their partnership with SolarKal, a leading commercial solar advisory and procurement firm and Evergreen Energy, an expert in solar energy solutions.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of this landmark project and to be leading the charge in Jersey City’s westward expansion,” said Joel Halpern, Halpern Real Estate Ventures’ President. “Birch House embodies our commitment to sustainability with innovative features like solar power and on-site composting. We’ve created a vibrant community that aligns with our company goals and appeals to residents.”
SolarKal has worked with HREV since 2016 to mitigate risks and ensure project success. SolarKal analyzed the HREV portfolio, assessed utility bills, designed preliminary photovoltaic systems, and modeled returns, ultimately choosing Birch House as a top property for solar development. SolarKal’s proprietary procurement process then identified Evergreen Energy as the preferred solar provider given the firm’s strong local area expertise.
“The solar project was exciting and incredibly dynamic,” said Jacob Sussman, COO of Evergreen Energy. “We thoroughly enjoyed partnering with SolarKal to develop and install the solar facility for Halpern Ventures on the rooftop of their iconic building in Jersey City.”
Birch House consists of 337 residential units and features a directly owned solar system.
News item from Halpern Real Estate Ventures