Empire State Building Aims for Energy Efficiency

One of the most recognisable structures in the world, New York’s Empire State Building, is set to become more environmentally friendly, through efforts aimed at making it more energy efficient and, thus, reducing its CO2 emission output.

For more than four decades, the Empire State Building was considered the tallest skyscraper in the world. 102 storeys high, it has towered over its surroundings for almost 80 years.

In defiance of the global economic downturn that has affected major global cities like New York, the Empire State Building will have $20 million of green investment pumped into it by its owners, Wien & Malkin, supplementing the $500 million already being used to refurbish it.

On completion of this work in four years’ time, these owners intend to try and attract new rentals by highlighting the Empire State Building’s environmental aspects.

Lessening Energy Use and Cutting Emissions

Their aim involves lessening energy use and cutting CO2 emissions by nearly 40 per cent, resulting in a carbon emission output reduction of 105,000 metric tonnes per annum.

Taking into account the Empire State Building’s vast network of windows (about 6,500 of them!) and 73 lifts, such an achievement would be notable.

To make the Empire State Building more energy efficient, additional insulation will be placed in between individual panes of glass – a process that – by occurring on-site - will not involve transport emissions that, otherwise, would have been generated if the glass had been taken away, retrofitted and then returned.

Similar insulation will also be placed behind radiators, while the building’s cooling system will be removed and a more up to date one put in its place.

Furthermore, encouragement will be given to those working in the Empire State Building to become more accountable for their individual contributions to climate change, with links set up between their own workstations and measuring equipment that will highlight the energy consumption related to their specific section of the building.

All these changes will take place internally, so – to those on the outside – the Empire State Building will appear unchanged.

For one thing, the external lights – used in connection with commemorations like St Patricks Day – will carry on being used - Wien & Malkin contesting that their emission output is comparatively low.