As part of the U.S. pledge to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, New York City has made an effort to improve the energy efficiency of its public buildings. However, in 2012, energy audits found that some of the city's newer, so-called "green" buildings -- such as 7 World Trade Center, which opened in 2006 -- scored lower than some much older buildings, such as the Chrysler Building, which opened in 1930.
The 52-story skyscraper at 7 World Trade Center does hold an LEED Gold rating for environmentally-responsible design and management, but in the 2012 audit, the building received only a 74 rating based on the EPA’s Energy Star standards. A building must score at least 75 to be an Energy Star high-efficiency building. On the other hand, the Art Deco-style Chrysler Building scored an 84.
Energy efficiency, by the numbers:
Older structures like the Chrysler Building tend to be better thermal envelopes, with thicker walls, fewer windows, and less ventilation.
Not all older New York buildings scored well in 2012. The Seagram Building on Park Avenue earned a score of 3, mostly because of its single-pane glass curtain walls and fluorescent lights.
The top 2% of New York City’s largest buildings account for 45% of the energy used by all city buildings.
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