[New post] Tall, Dark and Harmful: New York City’s Skyscrapers Perpetuate High Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Richa Agarwal posted: " The Skyscrapers of the Manhattan Skyline New York City's characteristic skyscrapers, which make up the Manhattan skyline, are one of the biggest consumers of energy in the city, having the largest carbon footprint and environmental impact. In order to" Digital Media Theory
New York City's characteristic skyscrapers, which make up the Manhattan skyline, are one of the biggest consumers of energy in the city, having the largest carbon footprint and environmental impact. In order to provide lighting, air conditioning, heating, elevators and other facilities, the skyscrapers in New York City produce 70 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions.
The new NYC Building Emissions Law requires that buildings reduce their emissions by 40% by 2030, and 80% by 2050. Additionally, there is a ban on the use of gas in new buildings. However, Real Estate owners are reluctant to meet energy-efficient standards, stating that it would be too much of a burden to bear. Especially since buildings such as hospitals have been granted exemptions, they argue that the burden on the rest of the buildings is higher. Furthermore, they claim that the goals in reduction of emissions are objectively impossibly to attain with the given current state of energy technologies at their disposal.
Former president Donald Trump's many buildings, as well as those owned by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, are one of the prime culprits of continued high rates of greenhouse gas emissions, as none of their properties happen to be certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The Trump Tower is among one of the most heavily polluting skyscrapers in the city. Trump, in an interview in 2012 with CNBC stated that green buildings failed to maintain their light and temperature, and stated that green buildings do not have enough energy to run. Trump routinely questions and challenges data and statistics regarding global warming and climate change, and this climate denial and misinformation has led to grave consequences for the goals to reduce emissions in New York.
However, other buildings such as the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and World Trade Centre all have a role to play in the high volumes of emissions in the city. The luxury towers that make up the Billionaire's row, including Steinway Tower, Central Park Tower, and 432 Park Avenue (also known as Oligarch's Erection), are also accomplices in exacerbating the climate crisis. For this reason, just 2% of New York City's buildings can account for 50% of the emissions of the city, according to reports conducted by local environmental organizations.
Agents of change such as 350NYC, Earthjustice, New York Communities for Change, the People's Climate Movement NY, the Working Families Party, and Renewable Heat Now coalition form the frontline of advocacy and action for this issue, mainly in the form of policy advocates. Earthjustice recognises that various buildings are ready to switch from fossil fuels to electric sources of energy and have been advocating for the same.
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