By Bill Parry
Kaufman Astoria Studios is going green.
One of the largest film and television production centers on the East Coast has unveiled this week a new solar power system on the roof of its 18,000-square-foot Stage K building, which recently served as the home of “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris.”
The power system is comprised of 373 solar panels that were installed by Solar One Energy. They will produce 121.2 kilowatts of electricity, which will provide significant power to run the building’s offices, lights and elevators.
Each year, the solar panels will reduce carbon emissions by nearly 93 metric tons. The nearly century-old anchor of the Kaufman Arts District, the 24-block area that contains the Museum of Moving Image, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and the Queens Council of the Arts, Kaufman Astoria Studios strives to be a good neighbor.
“We look at everything we do at KAS in terms of our role in the community—our relationship with the people who live here, the people who work at the studio who are part of the community, and our business neighbors,” Kaufman Astoria Studios President and CEO Hal Rosenbluth said. “Along those same lines, we’re very pleased that the solar panels at Stage K will advance this mission and cut back on our carbon footprint.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
