Governor Kathy Hochul has announced significant energy-efficient lighting upgrades for One World Trade Center, marking an important step in New York’s commitment to sustainability and energy conservation.
The United States’ tallest building has undergone a transformation with over 6,500 fluorescent light fixtures replaced by LED lights. This nearly $3 million initiative, executed in collaboration with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is estimated to save approximately $64,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs. The upgrade will also reduce the building’s carbon emissions by around 130 metric tons each year.
“As part of the Port Authority’s comprehensive roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the agency is working to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of its buildings with energy efficiency initiatives like this one,” said Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton. “By partnering with NYPA, we are modernizing and improving One World Trade Center while reducing emissions, reducing costs, and reducing needed maintenance. We will continue to identify and execute on opportunities to eliminate emissions and enhance our facilities.”
This project is a part of NYPA’s larger mission under BuildSmart 2025, involving various energy technology and renewable energy services. The initiative aims to reduce energy consumption in buildings by 185 trillion BTUs by 2025, correlating to a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. New York’s comprehensive climate plan sets ambitious goals, including achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040 and economy-wide carbon neutrality by mid-century.
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Over 3 million dollars in light bulbs to save 64K a year in energy. So it will take almost fifty years just to recoup the cost of the light bulbs. And that is if they all don’t need changing multiple times. Seems like a waste. And how much energy went into making the bulbs?
Fluorescent lamps cost money to make and they need replacing sooner than LED lamps. If this were a new building, the cost would be the same. Saving 132 metric tons of carbon emissions is the best part.
BTW, One World Trade is 95% leased.
“energy and maintenance costs” means those lamp replacements are included in that $64,000 estimate.
Meanwhile the lights in the upper mechanical floors still burn 24/7 without compliant controls.
I always get a kick out of this being called the country’s tallest building, per the CTBUH. It’s a 1368-foot building (the same as its predecessor) with a 400-foot pole on top.
I wish we could have the outside lighting be upgraded…we have the worst lighting for this building. Just the spire! the whole top part should be done. put an effort in, like the Empire state building.
“It’s a 1368-foot building (the same as its predecessor) with a 400-foot pole on top.”
And a very ugly 400-foot pole at that!
I like the 400 foot pole on top, but I agree that it is ridiculous to include such structures as part of the height. We don’t really have a rational way to measure these building heights. The Burj Khalifa does not include its antenna to calculate height, but it does rightly include its 242 meter tall spire, which is little more than a pole wearing a dress.
Was it a bid who should do the lighting job?
I find that the trend in LED fixtures is to have the LED wired in so the whole fixture has to be changed when it goes. Of course, styles of fixtures change every few years and finding one to match could be difficult.
Why was this not done initially like hello???? Oh wait let me guess…..
No need to guess. Construction began in 2006, years before LED was possible to spec. Even when the building was completed about ten years ago, LED technology and production was nowhere near capable for this application.
Yes, at least the circular structure atop the bldg. should be illuminated. And, as 1 WTC is fully leased, lets build #2 WTC
2WTC! 200 Greenwich Street! Years have gone by and still no news. It must be built, because One can’t stand alone.