New York’s Empire State Building is to have a green makeover worth $20m.

The world famous skyscraper is to be refitted to improve its energy efficiency, as part of a $500m refurb of the iconic Art Deco building.
Planners claim the upgrades will mean a 38% reduction in energy consumption and annual savings of $4.4m.

The energy upgrades are coordinated by the Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Lighting designs and controls will be updated to more energy efficient standards. The 6,500 thermopane glass windows will be refurbished. Insulation will be added behind radiators, and the cooling system is to be replaced with new, more efficient systems.

The refurbishment will end in 2013, and planners hope the building will then qualify for LEED Gold status.

The building was completed in 1931, at the height of the US economic depression.

Source

Building Sustainable Design