According to New York magazine, actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio is in the process of buying a unit at Riverhouse, an eco-friendly high rise in New York City. Although the price for Leo's unit is unknown, these units usually sell for between $800,000 to $4 million, depending on the size.
Riverhouse is truly an eco-friendly high rise (and I wouldn't expect anything less in a home purchase from the eco-friendly actor). The 264-unit building was built with only nonpollutant materials and uses solar-powered energy. Its eco features include programmable thermostats, which reduce energy use, around-the-clock filtered air, and a $1 million graywater and black-water treatment facility in the building's basement. The building is attempting to achieve LEED Platinum status, the highest rating through the US Green Building Council, and also features locally quarried bluestone, recovered barn wood. low- or no-VOC adhesives, paints and carpeting, and recycled, salvaged, and biodegradable materials.
The building also includes a children's playroom, an organic bakery, an indoor 50 foot-long lap pool, and an indoor children's Light House. Leo's rep confirmed the condo purchase, saying, “Riverhouse is a prime example of how green technology is both accessible and achievable for new residential developments — it is a groundbreaking building.”
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This :“Riverhouse is a prime example of how green technology is both accessible and achievable for new residential developments — it is a groundbreaking building.” is hysterical. Really it's achievable and accessible. How many people who aren't millionaire celebrities have access to achieve a 4 million dollar condo?
I figure I can heat my house by burning a pile of polar bears and plastic 70s furniture for several years before I've done anywhere near the damage to the planet that Leonardo Dicaprio and his other eco-pr buddies do with their private jet trips or gas-guzzing electricity sucking private movie set trailers.
It's not that I don't find there to be a need to live more sustainably, because I do. I'm just tired of hypocritical eco-celebrities trying to make me feel bad because I don't have a bathtub full of cash to just buy someone elses carbon credits rather than, you know actually cutting down on my footprint the way Gore and Leo do.
1Yeah, it would be easier to be green if we had a ton of cash to burn, huh? Luckily, it doesn't take that. Even if you build a house of your own, you can do it green and on a budget. Check out these green Coveted Cribs (owned by regular folks) for inspiration:
A treehouse:
http://casasugar.com/slideshow/1520641
A solar home in Colorado:
http://casasugar.com/slideshow/1505316
and,
A green home handbuilt by a couple!
http://casasugar.com/slideshow/943611
If you have any specific green tips you'd like to cover, definitely message me or leave a comment.
2those prices aren't that high for new york. they're not too high here in vancouver, either. I agree that Leo uses a lot of carbon etc., but would it not make him more of a hypocrite if he bought a regular condo? and...a condo is way more "green" than a stand alone house, especially one with 12 bathrooms like ben affleck and jennifer garner bought. just saying. a LEED platinum rating is nothing to scoff at. that is pretty impressive.
to put this into more context: everyday Casa talks about houses that celebrities buy - how many of those are green?! i think we need to start focusing on those that don't care about the environment and won't make an effort despite their multi-million dollar earnings, rather than people like Leo who are doing something. (and no, i'm not trying to justify his "bad" eco habits).
3We have some "green" condos being built here but they are insanely expensive for the area. I love the view on his new condo, but that's about it. Not that I wouldn't live there...with him.
4Mandy - You SHOULD move in with him. I'd sign that petition.
Anyway, I think it's really important to promote green living to everyone, including people who do have money. Having an eco-friendly home may not be super easy for someone without a lot of money, but it's a lot easier for folks who DO have money. I think promoting eco-friendliness and green living to folks with money is a positive thing. That said - I don't think anyone should ever feel bad for not being "green" enough. It takes time and it's a process; sometimes, we just have to take small steps and do things that work with our budgets and our lifestyles and let the progress happen on its own.
5Eco-friendly and Condo don't really go in the same sentence in my mind. Huh? It's good he's practicing what he preaches... a little bit.
6i say Condos are better than houses because of density. for instance, you can have maybe 200 people in a condo or maybe 2 people in a house on the same lot.
7i say Condos are better than houses because of density. for instance, you can have maybe 200 people in a condo or maybe 2 people in a house on the same lot.
8I agree with you [JaimeLeah526]
9How are "eco-friendly" and "condo" mutually exclusive? Even condos without any added eco-friendliness are better in terms of space saved and energy used than houses.
10I think what he is doing for the enviorment is amazing...i only wish i could do more as far as money is concerned but i still do what i can....
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