A Tale of Two Buildings
Editor’s Comments Elizabeth Cutright
Welcome to Business Energy
A Tale of Two Buildings
T
here’s a battle of titans occurring along the Manhattan Skyline. In one corner, the veteran and returning champion, the Empire State Building. The opponent a young upstart with a promising future: The Bank of America Tower at One Byrant Park. In the fight for bragging rights to the energy efficiency super heavyweight title, one building has emerged as the clear—and surprising—victor.
includes office space, retail space, and educational and commercial facilities ( http://1.usa.gov/1cArBjb ). So if you’ve noticed the change in our masthead (and it’s hard to miss), the above information is a hint at the new direction we’ve committed to taking. While we still believe in the importance of distributed generation and onsite power to improve resiliency, reduce energy use, and increase efficiency, we are excited about expanding our coverage to include
Much was made of both the Empire State Building energy efficiency retrofit and the construction of the Bank of America Tower in downtown Manhattan. In both cases, promises were made about reduced carbon footprints, sustainability, and LEED points. And, truth be told, it wasn’t so much a competition when, in the end, we were told we’d all be big winners if the projects delivered on expectations. But expectations can often be dashed when
commercial energy interests. In this way, we can better serve you with more precise treatment of the topics and projects that are most relevant to your needs and interests. According to the DOE’s Buildings Energy Data Book ( http://1.usa. gov/13MsHUb ), the top three energy uses in the commercial sector are “space heating, lighting, and space cooling, which represent close to half of commercial site energy.” As we fine-tune our editorial focus over
cold, hard reality sets in. While the Empire State Building has performed above and beyond initial estimates (including a 38% reduction in energy use and a three-year ROI), as I wrote in my blog earlier this year ( http://bit.ly/18eubq5 ), the Bank of America Tower has fallen far short of its initial promise. As Sam Roudman explains in his piece in The New Republic, ( http://on.tnr.com/15pZ22i ), “According to data released by New York City last fall, the Bank of America Tower produces more greenhouse gases and uses more energy per square foot than any comparably sized office building in Manhattan. It uses more than twice as much energy per square foot as the 80-year-old Empire State Building. It also performs worse than the Goldman Sachs headquarters, maybe the most similar building in New York—and one with a lower LEED rating. It’s not just an embarrassment; it symbolizes a flaw at the heart of the effort to combat climate change.” It’ll be interesting to see how this story develops in the months ahead, and I’m eager to hear your thoughts on the matter.
iStock/pated
E
PA estimates reveal the nation’s small businesses spend more than $60 billion a year on energy—a sum that could be reduced by up to 30% with the implementation of energy efficiency programs and protocols ( http://1.usa.gov/OezDxF ). And, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE), commercial buildings “represent just under one-fifth of US energy consumption”—that
Editorial Advisory Board David Baldwin President
Aquarian Technology Systems Lexington, OH
James Brenton (“Brent”) Dehlsen Non-Executive Director, cofounder Clipper US Carpinteria, CA
Jeff Dummermuth
Director, Energy and Engineering Big Lots Stores Inc. Columbus, OH
J. Michael Edwards Principal
Power Recruiting Group Austin, TX
8 www.BusinessEnergy.Net
Justin Fortmeyer, P.E.
Project Manager Patton Air Conditioning Fresno, CA
Roger Freeman, Esq.
Ferriter Scobbo & Rodophele, PC Boston, MA
Gersil N. Kay,
IESNA, AIA/HRC, IAEI Conservation Lighting International Ltd. Philadelphia, PA
Jim Moxley Assistant Vice President of Facility Management
Healthsouth Corp. Birmingham, AL
James W. “JT” Thielman, CFE Director of Operations –SMG SeaGate Convention Centre/ Lucas County Arena Toledo, OH
David Van Holde Energy Manager King County, WA
Barry Worthington
Executive Director, US Energy Association Washington D.C.
Michael Zimmer
Of- Counsel Thompson Hine, LLP Washington D.C.
the next year, our editorial content will be crafted with an eye toward providing you with information on the newest technological innovations related to smart buildings and facilities retrofits, including the latest news on energy efficient lighting, HVAC, and building controls. But efficiency alone is not enough. Reliability and emergency planning are also key energy players, particularly when it comes to a commercial interest’s productivity and bottom line. As last year’s Hurricane Sandy revealed, erratic weather patterns (and unpredictable fuel prices) have made backup power and disaster preparedness a nonnegotiable aspect of commercial enterprise, both locally and on an international level. Though our focus may have shifted —or, more accurately, centered more precisely on the needs and concerns of our core audience—we still plan to cover all aspects of onsite power generation. In our pages, you’ll still find features on gensets and CHPS. We have not abandoned fuel cells, turbines, or loadbank systems. And, as always, our facilities focus features will continue to include first person accounts from your colleaguesin-arms as they narrate their experiences with energy efficiency and onsite power, and describe the tools they use to manage energy use and reduce economic outlays. Each of us is faced with unique challenges and requirements, and it is the goal of Business Energy to assist you with the information and the insight you need to pick the right solutions for your enterprise. Be it building retrofits, alternative energy sources, onsite power generation, or energy management systems, we will be there with up-to-the-minute news on the latest technologies and innovations designed to meet your business energy needs. We are excited about the new face of our energy coverage and confident that Business Energy will not only continue to provide the excellent editorial content you’ve come to rely on with Distributed Energy, but that our new scope better serves your needs as a business owner, facilities manager, or other energy efficiency professional. Like many of our sister publications here at Forester Media, the goal of Business Energy is to provide you with a forum that promotes open discussion and the free and easy transfer of information. With those goals in mind, I am specifically asking you for input and content. Let me know what interests you, write me a letter or submit an article, join us in an online discussion group, or submit a blog: let Business Energy be your soapbox, your water-cooler, and your go-to source for all your efficiency and power generation needs. Contact me any time at [email protected] or 805-679-7601. BE
Efficiency alone is not enough. Reliability and emergency planning are also key energy players when it comes to the bottom line.
Business Energy September | October 2013 9
Welcome to Business Energy
A Tale of Two Buildings
T
here’s a battle of titans occurring along the Manhattan Skyline. In one corner, the veteran and returning champion, the Empire State Building. The opponent a young upstart with a promising future: The Bank of America Tower at One Byrant Park. In the fight for bragging rights to the energy efficiency super heavyweight title, one building has emerged as the clear—and surprising—victor.
includes office space, retail space, and educational and commercial facilities ( http://1.usa.gov/1cArBjb ). So if you’ve noticed the change in our masthead (and it’s hard to miss), the above information is a hint at the new direction we’ve committed to taking. While we still believe in the importance of distributed generation and onsite power to improve resiliency, reduce energy use, and increase efficiency, we are excited about expanding our coverage to include
Much was made of both the Empire State Building energy efficiency retrofit and the construction of the Bank of America Tower in downtown Manhattan. In both cases, promises were made about reduced carbon footprints, sustainability, and LEED points. And, truth be told, it wasn’t so much a competition when, in the end, we were told we’d all be big winners if the projects delivered on expectations. But expectations can often be dashed when
commercial energy interests. In this way, we can better serve you with more precise treatment of the topics and projects that are most relevant to your needs and interests. According to the DOE’s Buildings Energy Data Book ( http://1.usa. gov/13MsHUb ), the top three energy uses in the commercial sector are “space heating, lighting, and space cooling, which represent close to half of commercial site energy.” As we fine-tune our editorial focus over
cold, hard reality sets in. While the Empire State Building has performed above and beyond initial estimates (including a 38% reduction in energy use and a three-year ROI), as I wrote in my blog earlier this year ( http://bit.ly/18eubq5 ), the Bank of America Tower has fallen far short of its initial promise. As Sam Roudman explains in his piece in The New Republic, ( http://on.tnr.com/15pZ22i ), “According to data released by New York City last fall, the Bank of America Tower produces more greenhouse gases and uses more energy per square foot than any comparably sized office building in Manhattan. It uses more than twice as much energy per square foot as the 80-year-old Empire State Building. It also performs worse than the Goldman Sachs headquarters, maybe the most similar building in New York—and one with a lower LEED rating. It’s not just an embarrassment; it symbolizes a flaw at the heart of the effort to combat climate change.” It’ll be interesting to see how this story develops in the months ahead, and I’m eager to hear your thoughts on the matter.
iStock/pated
E
PA estimates reveal the nation’s small businesses spend more than $60 billion a year on energy—a sum that could be reduced by up to 30% with the implementation of energy efficiency programs and protocols ( http://1.usa.gov/OezDxF ). And, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE), commercial buildings “represent just under one-fifth of US energy consumption”—that
Editorial Advisory Board David Baldwin President
Aquarian Technology Systems Lexington, OH
James Brenton (“Brent”) Dehlsen Non-Executive Director, cofounder Clipper US Carpinteria, CA
Jeff Dummermuth
Director, Energy and Engineering Big Lots Stores Inc. Columbus, OH
J. Michael Edwards Principal
Power Recruiting Group Austin, TX
8 www.BusinessEnergy.Net
Justin Fortmeyer, P.E.
Project Manager Patton Air Conditioning Fresno, CA
Roger Freeman, Esq.
Ferriter Scobbo & Rodophele, PC Boston, MA
Gersil N. Kay,
IESNA, AIA/HRC, IAEI Conservation Lighting International Ltd. Philadelphia, PA
Jim Moxley Assistant Vice President of Facility Management
Healthsouth Corp. Birmingham, AL
James W. “JT” Thielman, CFE Director of Operations –SMG SeaGate Convention Centre/ Lucas County Arena Toledo, OH
David Van Holde Energy Manager King County, WA
Barry Worthington
Executive Director, US Energy Association Washington D.C.
Michael Zimmer
Of- Counsel Thompson Hine, LLP Washington D.C.
the next year, our editorial content will be crafted with an eye toward providing you with information on the newest technological innovations related to smart buildings and facilities retrofits, including the latest news on energy efficient lighting, HVAC, and building controls. But efficiency alone is not enough. Reliability and emergency planning are also key energy players, particularly when it comes to a commercial interest’s productivity and bottom line. As last year’s Hurricane Sandy revealed, erratic weather patterns (and unpredictable fuel prices) have made backup power and disaster preparedness a nonnegotiable aspect of commercial enterprise, both locally and on an international level. Though our focus may have shifted —or, more accurately, centered more precisely on the needs and concerns of our core audience—we still plan to cover all aspects of onsite power generation. In our pages, you’ll still find features on gensets and CHPS. We have not abandoned fuel cells, turbines, or loadbank systems. And, as always, our facilities focus features will continue to include first person accounts from your colleaguesin-arms as they narrate their experiences with energy efficiency and onsite power, and describe the tools they use to manage energy use and reduce economic outlays. Each of us is faced with unique challenges and requirements, and it is the goal of Business Energy to assist you with the information and the insight you need to pick the right solutions for your enterprise. Be it building retrofits, alternative energy sources, onsite power generation, or energy management systems, we will be there with up-to-the-minute news on the latest technologies and innovations designed to meet your business energy needs. We are excited about the new face of our energy coverage and confident that Business Energy will not only continue to provide the excellent editorial content you’ve come to rely on with Distributed Energy, but that our new scope better serves your needs as a business owner, facilities manager, or other energy efficiency professional. Like many of our sister publications here at Forester Media, the goal of Business Energy is to provide you with a forum that promotes open discussion and the free and easy transfer of information. With those goals in mind, I am specifically asking you for input and content. Let me know what interests you, write me a letter or submit an article, join us in an online discussion group, or submit a blog: let Business Energy be your soapbox, your water-cooler, and your go-to source for all your efficiency and power generation needs. Contact me any time at [email protected] or 805-679-7601. BE
Efficiency alone is not enough. Reliability and emergency planning are also key energy players when it comes to the bottom line.
Business Energy September | October 2013 9
