energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Constructed in 1931, the 102-floor, 2.6 million-square-foot skyscraper has 6,500 windows and 73 elevators. It will be upgraded with features that include insulated double pane windows, more efficient electrical and ventilation systems, and new chillers in its basement cooling plant. The renovation cost of $20 million is expected to be gained back in five years, while keeping 105,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions out of the environment every year. Wien & Malkin, company that supervises the Empire State Building, hopes to both attract new tenants, and act as an example for other office buildings. Commercial buildings contribute 25% of New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions. About 13,000 people occupy the building on any given day.

-Jenny Kim

 

Empire State Building Plans Environmental Retrofit (by Mireya Navarro, New York Times)