Developer LeFrak recently completed the largest high-rise multifamily solar panel installation in the state of New Jersey, located in Jersey City. The developer installed an array of 450 solar panels at one of its apartment complexes in Newport, slashing carbon emissions by an amount equal to taking 37 gas-powered cars off the road yearly.
LeFrak stated that the entire solar array installed at its 336-unit rental complex, The Beach, could produce as much as 180 kilowatt-hours of clean power – enough to offset power consumption in the complex’s common areas, elevators, and cooling and ventilation systems. The solar panels cover the entire rooftop of the apartment complex. Their installation was completed nearly four years after The Beach opened and was handled by Brooklyn-based SunKeeper Solar.
“This initiative exemplifies our continued dedication to creating a well-rounded lifestyle for our Newport residents while doing our part to protect the environment,” said Charles Burton, LeFrak’s head of community relations, in a statement.
The Beach apartment complex, located at 180 River Drive, opened in 2021. It consists of 336 studio-to-four-bedroom units spread across two towers.
The solar panel installation builds on LeFrak’s sustainability efforts across its New York City metropolitan area portfolio. Last year, the developer partnered with electric vehicle ridesharing platform Envoy as it began to make inroads in the Garden State, offering Newport residents access to a fleet of electric vehicles.
LeFrak has invested over $100 million in energy conservation and decarbonization measures throughout its national portfolio, including nearly $1 million to bring this installation to The Beach.
LeFrak was also recently awarded a multi-million-dollar grant from NYSERDA to integrate electric vehicle charging stations at one of its apartment complexes in Queens – LeFrak City. That initiative added 150 charging stations and solar panels to the residential complex, which spans 20 buildings. The firm has also participated in New York State’s Empire Building Challenge, which provides resources to support retrofitting commercial and multifamily buildings to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption.
While LeFrak has been actively investing in sustainability, the developer is also gearing up to deliver thousands of apartments downtown. Jersey Digs reported in June that the developer secured approvals from the planning board in Jersey City to build a new three-tower apartment complex at 20 Long Slip. The developer was also revealed to be working on another high-rise that includes 385 units at 44 Park Lane North.
