Following its $20m retrofit, the Empire State Building is set to cut its energy consumption by 38%

A new permanent exhibition has opened at the Empire State Building in New York, showcasing the $20 million energy retrofit project in the city landmark.

The interactive, multimedia attraction aims to bring awareness to 3.8 million people that visit the iconic building every year regarding building efficiency and sustainable living practices.

On completion, the energy retrofit started in April last year is expected to reduce the 1,454 foot tall building’s energy usage by more than 38%.

This would mean cutting energy costs by $4.4 million each year, as well as cutting carbon emissions by more than 115,000 tons over the next 15 years.

The exhibition about the retrofit work has been designed by Seattle firm Hornall Anderson.

It combines physical artifacts with digital technology and sculptural elements to create interactive museum-quality displays that educate and entertain visitors on their way to the renowned Observatories.

Retrofit

The energy retrofit has been coordinated by teams from the Clinton Climate Initiative, energy consultants Rocky Mountain Institute and building efficiency experts Johnson Controls, along with real estate services company Jones Lang LaSalle.

Among the new systems adopted, digital demand controls are expected to cut energy usage by 9% from the baseline, cutting the amount of energy wasted.

Other measures helping to cut energy consumption include working with building tenants to make maximum use of natural light, installation of new air volume controls, retrofitting the building’s chiller plant and boosting the efficiency of windows.

Thanks to the new demand controls, the chiller plant could be upgraded rather than entirely replaced.

Educate and Inspire

Anthony E. Malkin from the Empire State Building Company, said: “The sustainability exhibit unveiled today at the visitor’s center was created to educate and inspire our millions of visitors on the energy retrofit process and the positive impact of commercial and personal sustainable practices.”

The exhibition includes 15 digital storytelling screens, 18 video players, and four projectors along with detailed visuals, statistics, and interactive screens to explain the harmful impact of inefficient buildings, along with the eight major retrofit initiatives being undertaken at the Empire State Building.

The Empire State Building sustainability exhibit is open seven days a week at the second floor visitor’s center during visiting hours from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.