Birch House, a rental community in Jersey City, recently activated a 154-kilowatt rooftop solar system. The eco-friendly addition complements the property’s focus on wellness and luxury living. 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, 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 its 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,” Joel Halpern, Halpern Real Estate Ventures’ president, said. “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 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,” Jacob Sussman, chief operating officer of Evergreen Energy, said. “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. This system is projected to generate 191,400 kilowatt-hours annually, resulting in estimated savings of $23,000 per year.
