Eco-friendly features shine at the WTC

A look at the sustainable features at the World Trade Center.

Tue, Sep 11 2012 at 8:00 AM

Related Topics:

Green Building, LEED

Photo: NAParish/Flickr

On the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the World Trade Center site in New York City is in a constant state of motion and the rebuilding process is in full swing. The new World Trade Center (WTC) buildings will include a bevy of sustainable features that maximize energy efficiency, reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of buildings of this size.

World Trade Center Towers 2, 3 and 4 are being built with the goal of achieving LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Green features planned for these three buildings include:

Tenants will have outside views from more than 90 percent of occupied spaces
Low VOC paints
High-efficiency plumbing that will reduce water use by a minimum of 30 percent
Rainwater collection systems
50 percent of the wood used onsite will be certified as sustainably harvested
Preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles

Although only these three office towers are targeting LEED Gold certification, sustainability is a theme that can be found throughout the entire World Trade Center complex.

The highlight of the new WTC complex is the 1,776-foot tall Freedom Tower, also known as 1 World Trade Center. Green features planned for the Freedom Tower include interior spaces designed to maximize daylight opportunities, a rainwater harvesting system, renewable energy power sources, a comprehensive construction debris recycling program and facilities for employees that choose to bike to work.

Keep track of the rebuilding process by visiting the official World Trade Center website.

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Comment: 1

Robert, Oct 28 2012 at 12:00 AM

All the savings in energy that the WTC is installing are superficial the main energy expenditures on the heat/hot water are technologies that are 150 years old. They still using steam to heat the buildings just like the old buildings of a hundred years ago. The waste of energy and water is greater than the old WTC. The savings they list are just a few pennies and are wasting thousands of dollars energy and water. Tenants will have outside views from more than 90 percent of occupied spaces

.... More

Low VOC paints High-efficiency plumbing that will reduce water use by a minimum of 30 percent Rainwater collection systems 50 percent of the wood used onsite will be certified as sustainably harvested Preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles Buildings look great outside with old steam system inside. Wish WTC used the same contest rules and standards for the architectural design, applied in selecting the engineering and mechanical design.