In 2008, Leonardo DiCaprio bought into a Manhattan building with solar power and filtered air; 6 years later, he bought the neighboring apartment for $8 million

Leonardo DiCaprio has spent decades talking about the environment. His Manhattan apartment reflects that interest. The actor bought an apartment inside Riverhouse, a 32-story tower in Battery Park City built around solar panels, twice-filtered air, and its own water treatment system, for $3.67 million in 2008, according to CityRealty. Six years later, he came back and bought the unit next door for $8 million. The purchase comes at a time when research has increasingly highlighted the importance of indoor air quality: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's COGfx research series has linked better-ventilated, green-certified buildings to higher cognitive test scores, improved sleep quality, and fewer sick-building symptoms among occupants.

A green tower with famous neighbors

Riverhouse is located at 2 River Terrace and overlooks Rockefeller Park and the Hudson River. The exterior was designed by Polshek Partnership Architects, now Ennead Architects, and the interior and amenities were designed by David Rockwell. Riverhouse has been open since 2008 and has become the first residential building in Battery Park City to receive the LEED Gold certification, a recognition that is awarded by the United States Green Building Council for its energy- and water-saving features, among others. It was among the first buildings to open in Battery Park City after The Solaire, an earlier 2003 building widely credited as one of the first LEED-certified high-rise residential towers in the country. Model and TV host Tyra Banks bought several units there, and actor Cobie Smulders and director Oliver Stone have also called the building home.


What DiCaprio actually bought

The actor paid $3.67 million for his first apartment at Riverhouse in 2008. The environmentally friendly construction of this apartment building is not limited to just the presence of solar panels. Low-emission paint is used on the walls, and there is a 24-hour filtration system for clean air. Besides this, the residents can also enjoy having a 50-foot-long lap pool, yoga room, billiards room and even a dog spa. The building seems to be a natural fit for an actor who drives a hybrid car and has served on the board of the environmental group Global Green USA.

Doubling down in 2014

Six years after his first purchase, DiCaprio expanded. In 2014, he purchased the neighboring 2,327-square-foot apartment for $8 million. The second apartment offered him two bedrooms and an outdoor area of 1,035 square feet. Between the two units, DiCaprio's Riverhouse footprint gives him sweeping views of the Hudson River, though the exact combined square footage of both apartments isn't publicly documented.

Green buildings are more than pretty

It’s easy to think of green buildings as just about lower electricity bills. The research says the opposite. LEED-certified homes typically consume 20 to 30 percent less energy than ordinary homes, with some using up to 60 percent less, according to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED residential certification page. The savings come from better insulation, appliances, and air systems, not just solar panels on the roof.

How does filtered air work?

Filtered air is not a marketing term for luxury buildings. This connects to the Harvard study that was mentioned before, where researchers studied the cognitive test scores of office workers in buildings with increased ventilation and saw that their scores rose significantly compared to those in conventional buildings, with related research indicating better sleep patterns and reduced absences due to illness. Researchers noted that an increase in carbon dioxide and fine particle levels inside the building resulted in slower reaction times. Buildings like Riverhouse, which offer filtered air 24 hours a day, reflect this kind of research.

Solar power is not a novelty anymore

In 2008, solar panels on a New York apartment building may have seemed unusual, but that changed quickly. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Rooftop Potential report estimates that American rooftops could, if fully utilized, host more than a terawatt of solar capacity, with residential and other small roofs representing the largest share of that potential. But buildings like Riverhouse, designed with solar generation as part of the original construction rather than tacked on later, are increasingly the model developers now follow.

A pattern that fits his public image

DiCaprio's environmental commitments go well beyond his address. He has installed solar panels at his house in Los Angeles, he is involved in investing in companies offering vegetarian food, and he has used his celebrity status to draw attention to climate change across the globe, being a Messenger of Peace for the United Nations on the issue of climate change. In that regard, his choice of Riverhouse, as well as expanding his footprint there in 2014, aligns with that pattern.

The bigger picture

DiCaprio’s Manhattan apartments go beyond being just another story about an actor's property. They point to a trend that research already supports: buildings with filtered air and independent power generation are not simply desirable extras but have a tangible effect on health, cost of electricity, and quality of life. For readers around the world weighing their own housing choices, DiCaprio’s more than decade-long residence at Riverhouse is a subtle but helpful reminder that your home can affect more than just your view.