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Skyscrapers across the nation are going green ... or going out of business. Good article.

Discussion in 'Environmental Discussion' started by Rybold, Jul 4, 2009.

  1. Rybold

    Rybold globally warmed member

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    NEW YORK – When owners of the Empire State Building decided to blanket its towering facade this year with thousands of insulating windows, they were only partly interested in saving energy...

    Statistics show that office buildings around that nation that are not energy efficient (LEED certified), have a noticeably higher vacancy rate than office buildings that advertise "energy efficient building."

    Chicago's Sears Tower announced late last month that it will embark on a five-year, $350 million green renovation. The 110-story, staggered skyscraper, which turned 36 this year, will crown its rooftops with solar panels, wind turbines and up to 35,000 square feet of sunlight-absorbing gardens.
    When complete, the improvements will cut the tower's annual electricity use by 80 percent and save 24 million gallons of water, property managers say...

    That's because in recent years environmental retrofits have begun to pay off for owners and tenants alike. Higher-profile companies are seeking out more efficient office space, and new technology at older buildings has started to translate into higher property values, leases and occupancy rates.

    Full story: Iconic skyscrapers find new luster in green tech - Yahoo! News
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    #1 Rybold, Jul 4, 2009
  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    That is on par with all of the information I've been reading about. :)

    Here is a copy/paste from my post on this issue last year.

    A very interesting video produced by the Rocky Mountain Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council (LEED). Showcasing case studies and how some corporations and businesses are pushing the limits on sustainable and energy saving building design. If buildings use aprox. 40% of all energy in the U.S. then they would be a very obvious place to start re-designing. :) I'd like to hear your thoughts after watching the video.

    High Performance Building Perspective and Practice

     
    #2 F8L, Jul 4, 2009
  3. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    Rocky Mountain Institute is a great source for environmental and energy saving tips and trends.

    Businesses and building owners are starting to view their energy bill as a part of their regular expenses they can actively reduce. And it's about time. It's taken pressure from consumers and tenants but they are starting to catch on. It used to be that a building owner viewed the cost of electricity as "the cost of doing business" and it was rarely, if ever, considered for reduction. But with the cost of energy increasing and the profit margins growing thinner, owners are figuring out that with an investment in retrofitting they will earn that money back in a few years and profit from that point on.

    Now, how do we get more and more homeowners and "regular people" to join in?
     
    #3 TonyPSchaefer, Jul 5, 2009
  4. Froley1

    Froley1 New Member

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    PBS did a documentary on this issue with some very good visuals and investor interviews---showcasing new buildings in both NYC and Chicago.
    It is available on Netflicks dvd and streaming.
    regards
    Froley
     
    #4 Froley1, Jul 5, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  5. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    It's great to see older buildings being retrofitted, especially when consumption can be cut 80%.

    But really, buildings should produce more energy than they consume, so that they can feed other buildings around them and eliminate the older power plants entirely. It's time for architects to start designing from an energy viewpoint first, not an aesthetic one.
     
    #5 hyo silver, Jul 6, 2009
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