Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York Power Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey completed the installation of energy-efficient LED lights throughout One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the United States. NYPA also partnered with the Office of General Services to replace nearly 1,700 lights in the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building in the heart of Harlem with energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures. The lighting improvement projects directly support BuildSmart 2025, a statewide energy efficiency program administered by NYPA, aimed at reducing energy usage in state facilities by 11 trillion British Thermal Units by the end of 2025—the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road.
“As one of the nation’s most iconic buildings, One World Trade Center is a landmark in lower Manhattan and must be a part of New York’s energy efficient future,” Governor Hochul said. “By supporting lighting improvements in this world-renowned building, we will help reduce its carbon footprint, lower operating and maintenance costs, and ensure state-of-the-art energy efficiency at One World Trade Center for decades to come.”
At One World Trade Center, which opened in 2014, more than 6,500 fluorescent light fixtures were replaced with state-of-the-art energy efficient LED lights as part of the nearly $3 million project, which will reduce the building’s annual carbon emissions by nearly 130 metric tons and save the Port Authority $64,000 each year in energy and maintenance costs. The new lights were installed in the tower’s corridors, stairwells, hallways and mechanical equipment rooms and have a ten-year life span and use 60% less energy than the previous lights.
Power Authority support for the lighting project, which began in April 2022, stems from the Lower Manhattan Energy Independence Initiative, a $25 million fund established by New York State in 2006 to provide support to lower Manhattan with energy efficiency improvement projects in the area.
The lighting project complements on a 2021 NYPA-Port Authority announcement to install LED lighting inside the September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said, “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. 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.”
At the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Office Building in Harlem, NYPA replaced 1,684 interior light fixtures with energy-efficient LED lights in the building’s main lobby and non-office spaces. The new lights will also feature intelligent zonal lighting controls, allowing greater efficiency and control.
New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “By supporting our governmental customers in their decarbonization journeys, NYPA is helping to create a cleaner, more energy-efficient New York State. The energy-efficient lighting fixtures installed throughout the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building, the tallest building in Harlem, will save OGS nearly $20,000 in annual operating and maintenance costs and help to advance the goals of New York’s nation-leading climate agenda.”
Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “OGS is proud to continue to partner with the New York Power Authority in our efforts to decarbonize state facilities and implement Governor Hochul’s ambitious climate agenda. The installation of LED fixtures throughout the Adam Clayton Powell State Office building improves our energy efficiency, decreases emissions, and marks another step in the transformation of our building portfolio.”
The nearly $1.7 million upgrade will save OGS nearly $20,000 in annual operation and maintenance costs and reduce carbon emissions by more than 30 metric tons annually—the emissions equivalent of burning more than 3,300 gallons of gasoline. The installation of the energy-efficient light fixtures began in September 2022.
The LED lighting installation at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Office Building is the latest energy efficiency project implemented by the Power Authority for OGS. Since December 2013, NYPA has completed 26 projects totaling more $75 million for the agency, reducing annual carbon emissions by nearly 12,000 metric tons—the equivalent of removing more than 2,600 gas-powered cars from the road. In total, the projects have saved OGS $4.5 million in annual energy and maintenance costs.
NYPA provides a wide variety of energy technology and renewable energy services to its governmental customers under BuildSmart 2025, including energy audits, project engineering, design, installation, and construction management. The energy efficiency projects carried out by NYPA include high efficiency lighting retrofits, occupancy and daylighting lighting sensors, building and energy management systems, boilers, chillers, air-handling systems, thermal storage, microgrids, solar photovoltaic systems, digester gas systems, and emerging energy technologies.
BuildSmart 2025 is part of the state’s overall goal to reduce on-site energy consumption in buildings by 185 trillion BTUs by 2025. State entities have implemented or are actively developing more than 1,200 energy projects with calculated energy savings of more than 7.6 trillion BTUs.
Buildings are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in New York State and integrating energy efficiency and electrification measures in new and existing buildings will reduce carbon pollution and help achieve more sustainable, healthy, and comfortable buildings in support of the state’s ambitious goal to achieve 2 million climate-friendly homes by 2030. Through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Power Authority and utility programs, more than $6.8 billion is being invested to decarbonize buildings to achieve the state’s decarbonization goals. By improving energy efficiency in buildings and including onsite storage, renewables, and electric vehicle charging equipment, the State will reduce carbon pollution and advance the target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion Btus by 2025, the equivalent of powering 1.8 million homes. Energy efficiency accounts for 75 percent of the clean energy jobs across New York.
In line with New York state’s sustainability goals, during New York Climate Week 2023 the Port Authority announced a comprehensive plan comprised of more than 40 actions intended to achieve both its near-term emission reduction goals and its 2050 goal of net-zero carbon emissions. The bistate agency is unique among U.S. transportation agencies through its pledge to not just eliminate its own direct emissions, but to also facilitate net-zero carbon emission goals working with its operational contractors –including airlines, shipping companies, container terminal operators and regional bus carriers. The agency’s Net-Zero Roadmap details dozens of steps the agency will take to support those partners in reducing emissions, helping them to meet benchmarks incorporated into the agency’s contracts. Those steps include substantially easing the transition to zero-emission buses at the agency’s bus facilities, supporting the transition to sustainable jet fuel at airports, and facilitating environmentally-conscious operations at its port’s container terminals.
Assemblymember Charles D. Fall said, “Today’s announcement of the lighting upgrade at One World Trade Center, where over 6,500 fluorescents were replaced with LEDs, marks a significant step in New York’s journey towards energy efficiency and sustainability. This nearly $3 million investment, part of NYPA’s BuildSmart 2025 initiative, not only enhances the iconic skyline but also promises annual savings of around $64,000 in energy and maintenance costs. It’s a bright example of how strategic, eco-friendly investments can lead to substantial long-term benefits. I commend the New York Power Authority, working with the Port Authority, on this smart project which cuts emissions while saving money and leads us forward on the path to achieving the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”
Assemblymember Inez Dickens said, “Everything we do to improve energy efficiency brings us another step closer to ending dependency on fossil fuels. This smart investment by the New York Power Authority in partnership with the Office of General Services upgrades an old lighting system with energy-saving LEDs at the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building. We’re going to see a long-term financial savings while ensuring the State of New York continues to lead when it comes to cleaning up the air for generations to come.”
New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation’s most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York’s unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $55 billion in 145 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $3.3 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector in 2021 and over 3,000 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York’s climate action with nearly 400 registered and more than 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State’s largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.
About the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state agency that builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. For over a century, the agency’s network of major airports; critical bridges, tunnels and bus terminals; a commuter rail line; and the busiest seaport on the East Coast has been among the most vital in the country – transporting hundreds of millions of people and moving essential goods into and out of the region. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center campus, which today welcomes tens of thousands of office workers and millions of annual visitors. The agency’s historic $37 billion 10-year capital plan includes unprecedented transformation of the region’s three major airports – LaGuardia, Newark Libertyand JFK – as well as an array of other new and upgraded assets, including the $2 billion renovation of the 90-year-old George Washington Bridge. The Port Authority’s annual budget of $8 billion includes no tax revenue from either the states of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, visit www.panynj.gov or check out the Now Arriving blog.
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