An Iconic Building Gets a Green Makeover

The 90-year-old Empire State Building has long been a symbol of technology, imagination, and hope. During the Great Depression in the USA in 1929, the Empire State Building lit all its lights every night to show hope. This role of projecting hope continues; different lights are used to celebrate various holidays, showing solidarity and friendship. During COVID 19, the building was lit with colors to honor victims as well as front line workers.

For more than a decade the trust that owns the Empire State Building has been working to reimagine this monumental building as a model of sustainability. Some of the major improvements include: 

• All 6514 windows were refurbished with double glass panes with an extra layer of insulating film to make them ultra-insulated. And, each windowpane was pumped with krypton and argon gas to prevent heat waste.
• The 73 elevators in the building transport over 10 million people annually. They achieved energy efficiency by making the elevators 50% faster during peak hours, and the elevators generate energy as they move. They are equipped with regenerative technology that captures energy that would otherwise be wasted in the form of heat and returns it to the building’s power grid. Furthermore, the elevator systems use 50 to 75 percent less energy than regular elevators. 
• The building has an automated system that raises and lowers window blinds in synchrony with sunlight. By controlling the amount of sunlight streaming, the system archives the balance between lighting the space and keeping it cool. 
• All the building’s lights are replaced by automated and sophisticated LED lights. 
• The condensation from the building’s steam heating system is recycled to warm the water that flows out of the taps.

Due to these improvements the building has cut its emissions by 40% and slashed 4 million dollars from its annual energy bill. 

It is important to recognize the role of the CEO of the Empire State Trust, Anthony Malkin.  By leveraging the symbolic significance of the Empire State building he was able to successfully complete the groundbreaking project and he continues to lead efforts in existing building energy efficiency retrofits.

Inspired by the energy efficiency retrofitting at the Empire state building, in 2019 the New York city council passed legislation that requires all large buildings to cut their overall emission by 40%. 

Since buildings contribute two-thirds of the emission in big cities, it will be a big step forward in emission reductions.