GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  February 5, 2021

Empire State Realty Trust uses 100% wind power

Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT), a real estate company focusing on retail properties in Manhattan, announced on Feb. 3 that, after its latest contract, it now has enough wind energy to power its entire 10.1 million-square-foot commercial portfolio.

The company says its three-year contract with Green Mountain Energy makes ESRT the nation's largest 100% user of green power in real estate.

"ESRT is the leader in sustainable operations with a viable example of how to scale carbon-neutral technologies, strategies and policies to balance with an effective economic business case," Dana Robbins Schneider, SVP, director of energy, sustainability & ESG at Empire State Realty Trust, said in a statement. "We have purchased renewable power from Green Mountain Energy for the world's most famous building, the Empire State Building, for a decade. We now expand that to all properties in New York State with an additional Direct Energy contract for our Connecticut properties. We continue to advance our commitment to solutions that reduce our environmental impact. Our tenants now work in carbon neutral offices and the investment community can recognize our leadership."

This three-year expansion will purchase more than 300 million kWh of renewable energy and avoid the production of 450 million pounds of carbon dioxide. Comparable equivalent measures would require every New York State household to turn off all their lights for a month.

ESRT's Empire State Building was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its use of green power as an effective way to reduce the environmental impacts of electricity consumption. The iconic landmark also underwent a groundbreaking energy and efficiency retrofit, which began over 10 years ago as part of the $550 million Empire State ReBuilding restoration program and has already delivered a 40% reduction in energy use and emissions.

"We are happy to serve as a groundbreaker in sustainability," Robbins Schneider said in the same statement.

Share this valuable information with your colleagues using the buttons below: