Empire State Building Shifts to Renewable Wind Power for Electricity

The Empire State Building, which is one of the world’s largest buildings, has now switched over to 100% renewable wind energy by signing on to purchase above 100 million kWh of wind energy during the next two year period. The Building Supervisor, Malkin Holdings proclaimed that Green Mountain Energy would supply the electricity generated from their wind farm portfolio.

This would be a part of the company’s initiatives to decrease the carbon footprint in the iconic building. Malkin disclosed that the contract, which would be for a supply of 55 million kWh a year, is almost two times any other commercial customer’s purchase in the New York City. It would reduce CO₂ emissions by nearly 100 million pounds or 45 million kilograms, equivalent to the amount reduced if all the houses in the New York State would switch off all lights for seven days.

This is one of the series of initiatives undertaken by Malkins to augment the green credentials of the Empire State Building, and has led to a $13.2 million refurbishment program where all the 6500 windows in the building were retrofitted with new insulating glass. Anthony E. Malkin President of Malkin, stated that the company’s avant-garde measures would help in attracting good tenants and also in charging higher rents. He also mentioned that a 40 % reduced consumption and the clean energy gave them a big advantage in drawing the best tenants and best rentals. This program would also be an example for other landlords to emulate to become greener, cleaner and energy efficient.

The company has hopes of the Empire State Building fitting into the 18th position on the League Table of the Environment Protection Agency consisting of 100% Green Power Purchases. But this might be criticized by the people opposing the renewable energy certificates (REC) scheme devised by EPA, which permits firms to purchase renewable energy. According to the critics, the certificates were primarily a marketing tool and had zero impact on renewable energy investment.