Empire State Building’s retrofit program achieves 2010 ENERGY STAR certification

The energy efficiency work at the Empire State Building, the world’s most famous office building, has achieved another milestone on its journey for sustainability leadership in the commercial real estate community by receiving its second ENERGY STAR certification from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The certification signifies that the property’s energy performance is part of a select group of commercial office buildings, new and old, across the nation that have received this accolade. ENERGY STAR recognition was a stated objective in the iconic property’s overall sustainability retrofit initiative launched in April 2009.

At that time, ESB, alongside President Bill Clinton and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, announced details of the groundbreaking $20 million sustainability retrofit aimed at reducing energy consumption, operating costs and carbon emissions.

The replicable program will reduce energy usage by more than 38 percent and save the building over $4.4 million annually.

Key initiatives include refurbishment of the building’s existing 6,514 windows, added insulation behind radiators to reduce heat loss, and the introduction of tenant energy management systems to allow for efficient control of power usage.

In addition to Energy Star certification, the work at the Empire State Building would qualify under current standards for LEED-EB Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council.