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Bloomberg Plans to Mandate Green Retrofits

NEW YORK CITY-A package of legislation to further PlaNYC's goals includes an energy code, lighting improvements, benchmarking and potentially thorny requirements to conduct audits.

By Cody Lyon | Updated on April 23, 2009

NEW YORK CITY-As showcased at SL Green Realty Corp.’s Earth Day celebration Wednesday, the inset of a 17th floor roof at the REIT’s 100 Park Ave. is covered with green vegetation that looks out of place among Midtown skyscraper peaks. The “green roof” installation, one of 14 at the newly retrofitted property, catches rain water, eliminating runoff and–unlike its heat radiating concrete neighbor roofs–naturally absorbs rays from the sun, helping cool the building’s interior. Retrofits like these may become a requirement citywide if the Bloomberg administration has its way.

Contained in the proposals announced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday are mandates that require older buildings to invest in necessary technology and infrastructure that would increase energy efficiency and reduce the city’s carbon footprint. New York City’s buildings are responsible for 80% of its carbon emissions. The investments could prove costly, but promise tremendous savings in power bills for thousands of properties.

Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson Enesta Jones told GlobeSt.com that “New York City officials are joining a growing number of other local, state and Federal officials who have recognized that improving the efficiency of existing buildings will benefit all Americans by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and utility costs.

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