Empire State Building – new paradigm of green building

Have you ever seen the picture of Empire State Building? It is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street and the name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York. Keep in mind that the building happened to be the world’s tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center’s North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in New York City and New York State.

Now the same building is in a new avatar and is going to become the role model of eco-friendly building in the global arena. Are you amazed? Well, there is nothing to get astounded since the pertinent authority was having this concept for months. For this reason the colossal building is undergoing a refurbishment at present and is active in transforming its 6,500 windows. There are other lofty thoughts as well and this became evident from the recent statement of Anthony Malkin, on behalf of the owners. On the word of Malkin, it is a multi-million-dollar project and will lead to reduction of energy consumption by 38 percent, by means of a massive improvement of heating, cooling and lighting systems.

It is to be noted that commercial buildings produce 78 percent of greenhouse emissions in New York and hence the green project of Empire State Building is a milestone indeed. “It has a real rippling effect beyond this building and this city,” said Kathy Baczko at the Clinton Climate Initiative, part of former president Bill Clinton’s foundation, which is supporting the project to a great extent. “It’s a new beacon for how you can be energy efficient.”

It has been learnt that the full efficiency gains will enter a particular state by 2013, bringing annual savings of 4.4 million dollars and placing the skyscraper in the top 10 percent of office buildings for greenness.