Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  January 11, 2016

Top NYC hotels join city's 'Carbon Challenge'

As reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving energy are becoming major themes throughout commercial and industrial sectors in the second half of the decade, New York City is helping lead the charge. Some of the city’s most iconic hotels have joined a new carbon-cutting initiative.

The NYC Carbon Challenge aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% over the next decade, and now, the Waldorf-Astoria and The Pierre have joined other businesses such as Google and Goldman Sachs as participants in the challenge. The Carbon Challenge represents an interim goal on the way toward achieving an ambitious citywide greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 80% below 2005 levels by 2050.

To date, "participants have cut their annual emissions by 175,000 metric tons of carbon and are collectively saving almost $175 million annually in lower energy costs," according to the New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability.

Other participating hotels include the Crowne Plaza Times Square, Dream Downtown, Grand Hyatt New York, Hotel Pennsylvania, Hudson Hotel, Loews Regency Hotel and The Peninsula New York, according to CNN Money.

The Mayor’s Office describes the program’s goals and benefits as such: "The Carbon Challenge works by inspiring a high-level commitment within organizations, creating a platform for the exchange of information and ideas, and providing simple tools to track progress along the way. As they explore new ideas and opportunities to meet the Challenge goal, participants will also reveal effective strategies for energy efficiency that can be scaled up across New York City and beyond."

Photo credit: ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

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