16 HOTELS COMMIT TO 30 PERCENT REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS IN NEXT 10 YEARS
Another major expansion of NYC carbon challenge adds hotel sector to multifamily buildings, universities, hospitals, and commercial offices – part of de Blasio Administration’s OneNYC and Green Buildings Plan
NEW YORK—With hotels filled to capacity as families celebrate the holiday season and new year in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that 16 major hotels are joining the NYC Carbon Challenge, another significant expansion of the partnership between the City and private and institutional sector leaders who have committed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their buildings by 30 percent or more in the next ten years.
This expansion marks a major commitment by the city’s hotels to help New York City reach its goal of dramatically reducing emissions from buildings (which make up nearly three-quarters of citywide emissions), part of Mayor de Blasio’s plan to reduce all citywide GHG emissions 80 percent by 2050.Today’s expansion of the NYC Carbon Challenge to these 16 hotels is projected to result in an estimated $25 million in energy cost savings.
The sixteen participating hotels include: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, 1 Hotel Central Park, Crowne Plaza Times Square, Dream Downtown, Grand Hyatt New York, Hotel Pennsylvania, Hudson Hotel, Loews Regency Hotel, Lotte New York Palace, The Pierre – A Taj Hotel, The Peninsula New York, InterContinental New York Barclay, InterContinental New York Times Square, Roger Smith Hotel, Waldorf Astoria New York, and the Westin New York at Times Square. These hotels represent almost 10 million square feet, accounting for more than 11,000 rooms.
The expansion of the NYC Carbon Challenge is a key initiative in Mayor de Blasio’s One City: Built to Last, NYC’s ten-year plan to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings and put the City on a pathway to achieving 80 by 50. The expansion today builds on the success of the existing NYC Carbon Challenge program, which was launched in 2007 with universities and grew to include hospitals and commercial offices; last year Mayor de Blasio expanded the program to multifamily buildings. Current participants include more than 17 universities, 11 hospital organizations, 11 commercial firms, and 18 residential property management companies representing 720 multifamily buildings. To date, participants have achieved an average of a 19 percent reduction; eight participants have already achieved their full carbon reduction goals, demonstrating that deep carbon reductions are achievable in just a few years.
“Every industry, every sector, and every New Yorker plays an important part in the global fight against climate change, and this commitment by our partners in the hotel industry will reduce our city’s carbon emissions and keep us on track to achieve our sustainability goals,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “New York City is a world leader in smart, forward-thinking environmental policy, and the City Council is proud to do its part to go green. From passing legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to implementing energy-efficient building codes, New York City serves as a model for cities everywhere in the fight against climate change.”
“It is great to see major hotels committing themselves to the ‘NYC Carbon Challenge,’ as we attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “It is going to take teamwork from all sectors, especially the business community, to reduce emissions by 30 percent in the next ten years, and this is a step in the right direction. I want to thank Mayor Bill de Blasio as well as leaders in the hotel industry for doing their part in making this happen.”
“New York City hotels are an ideal partner for the NYC Carbon Challenge,” said Russell Unger, Executive Director, Urban Green Council. “These green hotels will showcase one of New York City’s worst kept secrets to the millions who visit every year: New York City is one of the most sustainable cities in the world.”
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