REFLECTIVE BARRIERS Reflective barriers were added behind each steam radiator in the building, which allowed heat to better make its way into the building rather than being sent to the outside. WINDOW INSULATION The team then focused its attention on improving the building’s 6,514 windows’ resistance to heat and cold transfer through a comprehensive reconstruction performed in a window factory installed in the building. 96% of the original frames and glass was reused in the process that added a mylar sheet and a krypton/argon gas layer to the windows. ENERGY EFFICIENCY Once the building insulative envelope improvements were complete, the team installed technologies to improve energy efficiency inside the building. Automated LED lighting was installed to reduce the energy required to illuminate spaces. Tenants added plug load controls to reduce energy from devices left on during off hours. The building’s insulative envelope improvement allowed for the refurbishment, rather than replacement, of decades-old, existing chillers. The condensate from the building’s steam heating system is recycled to warm the water that flows out of taps. State-of-the-art energy-generating elevators transport the Empire State Building’s thousands of tenants. Regenerative braking was installed to capture the wasted energy from slowing down descending elevators and use it to power elevators going up. The Empire State Building is an employee attraction and retention tool for its tenants. Tenants pursue sustainability with their own high-performance certifications and participation in strategic energy and sustainability programs. The building’s custom Tenant Energy Management software allows all tenants to view and manage their energy use in real time.
The building’s 6,514 windows have insulating film with argon and krypton gas to prevent heat loss. Over 96% of the existing frames and glass was reused. The project achieved a 70% cost reduction compared to the cost of new windows. All work was performed on-site, translating to a 100% reduction in Scope 3 emissions* from construction.
*Energy and cost savings evaluated annually through the IPMVP Option D Measurement and Verification process.
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS
If it works at The Empire State Building , it can work everywher e.
ENERGY STAR Certified since 2010
LEED EB O&M v4 Gold
Tenants achieved LEED CI Gold and Platinum Certifications
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