Empire State Building to Feature 6,500 Recycled Windows
When the environmentally friendly retrofit of the Empire State Building is complete, people will still gaze out of the same glass in the building’s thousands of windows. That’s because the glass in the building’s 6,500 windows will be reused even as the windows are strengthened.
The Empire State Building will undergo an eco-friendly retrofit that will be completed by 2013. Photo: Skyscraperlife.com
While the Empire State Building renovation drew media buzz this week for its energy-saving components, recycling will also be featured in the retrofit.
The green renovation, which will cost $20 million, is the brainchild of Clinton Climate Initiative, Jones Lang LaSalle, Johnson Controls Inc. and the Rocky Mountain Institute. A savings of $4.4 million each year for the building will result from the green restructuring, according to the project’s organizers.
A $500 million refurbishment effort – separate from the green renovation – is now taking place at the building.
Glass in the building’s windows will be reused as the windows are renovated into triple-glazed insulated panels, says Dana Schneider, a senior manager for projects at Jones Lang LaSalle, a real estate company working on the project.
“This work will be done on-site to reduce energy use associated with transportation,” Schneider explains to Earth911.
The remodel aims to achieve a 38 percent energy reduction. The project’s team is keeping recycling in mind as it revamps the building.
“In retrofitting the Empire State Building for energy efficiency, we are looking for all opportunities to reuse or recycle existing materials, as well as to use recycled materials wherever possible,” Schneider says.
Anthony E. Malkin, who represents the Empire State Building Company, says in a news release that the project could be used as a template for building renovations worldwide.
The entire project is scheduled to be ready in 2013.
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Trey Granger
posted on April 10th, 2009 at 10:57 am
This is a great idea because windows are difficult to recycle. Many people think they’re recycled the same way as glass bottles, but windows are treated and that makes it a more complicated (and expensive) recycling process.
victoria
posted on May 3rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I am taking advantage of the tax credit for double pane energy cost windows, however, I felt guilty for throwing the old ones that still looked pretty good. Are there any recyling places that you know off that will take the old windows and pay for cash as well? I am in Northridge California. I have 2 big patio sliding doors. Thanks.
Victoria
NYC Aborts Green Building Plan - Earth911.com
posted on December 9th, 2009 at 12:04 am
[...] while green construction and retrofitting efforts have been stalled on the city level, in September New York Gov. David A. Paterson signed a law [...]
macu
posted on January 12th, 2010 at 10:39 am
good I love the empire state and everything related to good new york brooklyn bridge is spectacular kiss from Spain.
Harold Lapa
posted on June 29th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
i own a window company and i have alot of glass thati have to get rid of is there a place in new jersey that take just glass to recycle