commentEmpire State Building Achieves LEED Gold for Operations
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The highest-profile (and tallest) deep energy retrofit in the U.S. has earned LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certification at the Gold level. In addition to reducing the Empire State Building’s energy consumption by an estimated 38 percent, potentially saving $4.4 million a year in energy costs, the $550 million project also emphasized ongoing water efficiency, green cleaning, recycling, and programs that engage tenants in furthering environmental goals.
One of the largest energy-saving features of the building-wide project is a retrofit system that preserves the historic glass and window frames from the iconic building’s 6,514 windows, turning them into super-insulated glazing units that include suspended, coated film. “By earning LEED Gold, the Empire State Building has sent a powerful message that green buildings don’t have to be new,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, in a press release.
The 2.85-million-square-foot building, completed in 1931, is also a National Historic Landmark. The offices of one tenant, Swedish construction company Skanska, earned LEED for Commercial Interiors certification at the Platinum level on the same day.
Copyright 2011 by BuildingGreen Inc.
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