New York City’s efforts to improve energy efficiency in public buildings have revealed that some newer “green” buildings score lower than older ones, such as the Chrysler Building, due to factors like thicker walls and fewer windows. The top 2% of the city’s largest buildings use 45% of the energy.
As part of the United States’ commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, New York City has made an effort to improve the energy efficiency of its public buildings. However, in 2012, energy audits found that some of the city’s newer, so-called “green” buildings, such as 7 World Trade Center, which opened in 2006, scored lower than some much older buildings, such as the Chrysler Building, which opened in 1930. The 52-story skyscraper at 7 World Trade Center holds a LEED Gold rating for environmentally responsible design and management, but the building received only a standards-based rating of 74 in the 2012 audit EPA Energy Star. A building must score at least 75 points to be an Energy Star efficient building. On the other hand, the Art Deco Chrysler Building scored an 84.
Energy efficiency, in numbers:
Older structures like the Chrysler Building tend to be better thermal envelopes, with thicker walls, fewer windows, and less ventilation.
Not all of New York’s older buildings did well in 2012. The Seagram Building on Park Avenue scored a 3, primarily for its single-pane glass curtain walls and fluorescent lights.
The top 2% of New York City’s largest buildings account for 45% of the energy used by all buildings in the city.
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