April 2009 |
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Team of Experts Announces Groundbreaking Energy Efficiency Retrofit Project at Empire State Building
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World’s most famous office building’s more than $500
million upgrade program to incorporate comprehensive project with goal to reduce
energy use by nearly 40 percent.
NEW YORK – April 6, 2009 – Using the Empire State Building as a test case and
model, world-class environmental consulting, non-profit, design and construction
partners – including the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), Rocky Mountain
Institute (RMI), Johnson Controls Inc. (NYSE: JCI) (JCI) and Jones Lang LaSalle
(NYSE: JLL) (JLL) – today unveiled an innovative process for analyzing and
retrofitting existing structures for environmental sustainability.
Adopted as core elements of the more than $500 million upgrade program presently
underway at the world’s most famous office building, the program is the first
comprehensive approach that integrates many steps to use energy more
productively. The program is expected to reduce energy consumption by up to 38
percent and will provide a replicable model for similar projects around the
world. Work has already commenced, and building systems work is slated to be
completed by year-end 2010. The balance of the work in tenant spaces should be
concluded by end of 2013. Work that is scheduled to be completed within 18
months will result in over 50 percent of the projected energy savings. The
balance will be an additional 36 months completed by 2013.
The project will prove the viability for energy efficiency retrofit projects to
dramatically increase building energy efficiency and reduce its overall carbon
output with sensible payback periods and enhanced profitability.
At the end of the project definition process, the team analyzed the steps to be
taken in conjunction with other steps towards sustainability as part of the
Empire State ReBuilding program within the framework of the existing USGBC LEED
rating system. Internal calculations show that the Empire State Building will be
able to qualify for GOLD certification for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings, and ownership intends to
pursue such certification.
“Commercial and residential buildings account for the majority of the total
carbon footprint of cities around the world – over 70 percent in New York City.
Beginning in February 2008, the Empire State Building has been used as a test
bench to create a replicable process to reduce energy consumption and
environmental impacts,” said Anthony E. Malkin of building owner, Empire State
Building Company. “Most new buildings are built with the environment in mind,
but the real key to substantial progress is reducing existing building energy
consumption and carbon footprint.”
“This innovative process, which has developed new techniques for modeling and
organizing an integrated program, offers a clear path to adoption around the
world, leading to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,” according
to Malkin. “Along with other steps taken, in recycling waste and construction
debris, use of recycled materials, and green cleaning and pest control products,
the model built at the Empire State Building will meaningfully speed the
reduction in energy consumption and environmental impact and allow more
sustainable operations – while simultaneously enhancing profitability and tenant
comfort. This is a real program, happening in real time, creating real green
jobs.”
The project partners used existing and newly created modeling, measurement and
projection tools in a new and repeatable process to analyze the Empire State
Building and establish a full understanding of its energy use as well as its
functional efficiencies and deficiencies. This provided actionable
recommendations along a cost-benefit curve to increase efficiency and without
harming bottom line performance. In reviewing more than 60 optional activities,
the team identified eight economically viable projects, applicable to
building-wide renovations, electrical and ventilation system upgrades and tenant
space overhauls that will provide a significant return on investment, both
environmentally and financially.
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“In this distressed economic climate, there is a tremendous opportunity for
cities and building owners to retrofit existing buildings to save money and save
energy,” said President Clinton. “I’m proud of the work my foundation's climate
initiative has done with 40 of the world's largest cities, including New York
where we played a central role in convening a unique set of partners that are
working to make the Empire State Building retrofit project possible. It is this
kind of innovative collaboration that is crucial to protecting our planet and
getting our economy up and running again.”
“This project brings to bear every bit of experience, research and innovation
we’ve accumulated in our 125 years in this business,” said Iain Campbell, Vice
President, Johnson Controls, which serves as the energy services company for the
program. “It’s gratifying to know that just as we point to this building as one
of the greatest achievements of our grandparent’s generation, so can our
grandchildren point to us.”
“Not only will this project dramatically reduce the Empire State Building’s
environmental impact, but now we’re able to do it in a way that provides
meaningful costs savings to the building as well as its tenants,” said Raymond
Quartararo, International Director, Jones Lang LaSalle.
With an initial estimated project cost of $20 million, additional savings and
redirection of expenditures originally planned in the building’s upgrade
program, and additional alternative spending in tenant installations, the Empire
State Building will save $4.4 million in annual energy savings costs, reduce its
energy consumption by close to 40%, repay its net extra cost in about three
years, and cut its overall carbon output through eight key initiatives,
including:
1. Window Light Retrofit: Refurbishment of approximately 6,500 thermopane glass
windows, using existing glass and sashes to create triple-glazed insulated
panels with new components that dramatically reduce both summer heat load and
winter heat loss.
2. Radiator Insulation Retrofit: Added insulation behind radiators to reduce
heat loss and more efficiently heat the building perimeter.
3. Tenant Lighting, Daylighting and Plug Upgrades: Introduction of improved
lighting designs, daylighting controls, and plug load occupancy sensors in
common areas and tenant spaces to reduce electricity costs and cooling loads.
4. Air Handler Replacements: Replacement of air handling units with variable
frequency drive fans to allow increased energy efficiency in operation while
improving comfort for individual tenants.
5. Chiller Plant Retrofit: Reuse of existing chiller shells while removing and
replacing “guts” to improve chiller efficiency and controllability, including
the introduction of variable frequency drives.
6. Whole-Building Control System Upgrade: Upgrade of existing building control
system to optimize HVAC operation as well as provide more detailed sub-metering
information.
7. Ventilation Control Upgrade: Introduction of demand control ventilation in
occupied spaces to improve air quality and reduce energy required to condition
outside air.
8. Tenant Energy Management Systems: Introduction of individualized, web-based
power usage systems for each tenant to allow more efficient management of power
usage.
Recently, several initiatives have been launched, including the CCI Building
Retrofit program and New York City’s PlaNYC in 2007, which aim to reduce the
significant carbon footprint of existing structures in major cities. The pilot
program launched today at Empire State Building moves from theoretical and
directional steps to quantifiable action plans which can be broadly adopted
around the world. Through the tangible actions announced today by the Clinton
Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls Inc. and Jones Lang LaSalle, Rocky Mountain
Institute, and Empire State Building Company, building owners now have a
practical example of an economically intelligent path to be responsible members
of the global community. This project can increase the confidence of cities,
states and governments worldwide in the viability of programs that make positive
changes, now.
“To make cities cleaner and more energy efficient, we urgently need a replicable
model for retrofitting existing major buildings. This visionary example will
help inform and inspire initiatives that can cut carbon emissions, save energy,
save money, make jobs, and provide better workplaces in buildings all over the
world,” said Amory B. Lovins, Chairman and Chief Scientist of Rocky Mountain
Institute.
The full analysis process is available online as open-source materials for
public use at www.esbsustainability.com and www.esbnyc.com.
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About the Clinton Climate Initiative
The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI)
to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate change.
Working with governments and businesses around the world to tailor local
solutions that are economically and environmentally sustainable, CCI focuses on
three strategic program areas: increasing energy efficiency in cities,
catalyzing the large-scale supply of clean energy, and working to measure and
value the carbon absorbed by forests. In each of these programs, CCI uses a
holistic approach to address the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and
the people, policies, and practices that impact them. CCI serves as the action
arm of the C40, an association of large cities around the world that have
pledged to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and of
which New York is a member. To learn more about the work of the Clinton Climate
Initiative and the William J. Clinton Foundation, please visit
www.clintonfoundation.org.
About Johnson Controls Inc.
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the
places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products
and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships
between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a
more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services
for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial
buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental
stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and
the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information,
please visit
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.
About Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE:JLL) is a financial and professional services firm
specializing in real estate. The firm offers integrated services delivered by
expert teams worldwide to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying
or investing in real estate. With 2008 global revenue of $2.7 billion, Jones
Lang LaSalle serves clients in 60 countries from 750 locations worldwide,
including 180 corporate offices. The firm is an industry leader in property and
corporate facility management services, with a portfolio of approximately 1.4
billion square feet worldwide. LaSalle Investment Management, the company’s
investment management business, is one of the world’s largest and most diverse
in real estate with more than $46 billion of assets under management. For
further information, please visit our Web site, www.joneslanglasalle.com.
About Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was
established in 1982 by resource analysts L. Hunter Lovins and Amory B. Lovins.
What began as a small group of colleagues focusing on energy policy has since
grown into a broad-based institution with approximately eighty full-time staff,
an annual budget of nearly $12 million (over half of it earned through
programmatic enterprise), and a global reach. Contact: Josh Baran, josh@fenton.com
About Empire State Building
The “World’s Most Famous Office Building,” the Empire State Building is in the
midst of the more than $500 million Empire State ReBuilding program as the
flagship of the W&H Properties portfolio of Pre-War Trophy office buildings.
Since the Empire State ReBuilding program began in 2007, new investments in
infrastructure, public areas and amenities have attracted new, first-rate
tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s
robust broadcasting platform makes it the most important broadcast facility in
the most important market in the world. The Empire State Building was named
America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of
Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is the region’s #1 tourist
destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit
www.esbnyc.com.
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