Six Leading Real Estate Groups Selected in Round Two of Empire Buildings Challenge

Round Three of Challenge Now Open to Advance Replicable Low-Carbon Retrofit Solutions for Multifamily Buildings

September 14, 2023

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
2. Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
3. Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
4. Goal 13: Climate Action
5. Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Introduction

Governor Kathy Hochul announced today six leading real estate groups were selected in the second round of the $50 million Empire Buildings Challenge to advance climate-friendly buildings in New York State. Today’s announcement also included the launch of a third round calling for a new cohort of real estate teams to join the Challenge to advance replicable energy-efficient and low-carbon retrofit solutions for multifamily buildings. New York’s Empire Building Challenge is integral to accelerating the State’s progress toward the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050 and the Governor’s goal to develop two million climate-friendly homes.

Round Two Partners Announced Today

Through Round Two of the Challenge, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), six real estate partners were selected to implement a replicable, low-carbon retrofit demonstration project addressing one or more barriers to decarbonizing their building(s). The newly awarded partners collectively own more than 108 million square feet of real estate and 18,000 residential units throughout New York State, including 1,500 affordable housing units. These awards also unlock over $57 million in private investment from Challenge real estate partners while attracting solution providers globally to bring innovation and business investment to New York State. The six projects include:

Amalgamated Housing Corporation (AHC)

• Awarded: $3 million
• Team includes: En-Power Group and Egg Geo
• Buildings: Tower 1 and Tower 2, 3965 – 3975 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463
• Affordable housing properties, 316 units, 20 stories, 425,000 square feet

BXP

• Awarded: $1.1 million
• Team includes: Jaros, Baum & Bolles and Norges Bank Investment Management
• Building: 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
• Commercial office building, 59 stories, 1.5 million square feet

Brookfield Properties

• Awarded: $3 million
• Team includes: Cosentini Associates
• Building:660 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10022
• Commercial office building, 41 stories, 1.4 million square feet

LeFrak Organization

• Awarded: $3 million
• Team includes: Steven Winters Associates, Inc. and Ryan Soames Engineering
• Buildings: 59-17 Junction Boulevard, Queens, NY 11371
• Commercial office building, 20 stories, 396,000 square feet

Tishman Speyer

• Awarded: $3 million
• Team includes: Jaros, Baum & Bolles Consulting Engineers, LLP, and Brightcore
• Building: 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022
• Commercial office building, 43 stories, 1 million square feet

Vornado

• Awarded: $1 million
• Team includes: Jaros, Baum & Bolles Consulting Engineers
• Building: PENN 1 Plaza, New York, NY
• Commercial office building, 57 stories, 2.5 million square feet

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “The Empire Building Challenge is spurring economic growth and renewal in New York by attracting best-in-class manufacturers, solution providers, and entrepreneurs from around the world to team up with the state’s leading real estate leaders to help convert our existing building stock into the buildings of the future. These new partnerships are bringing forward promising, novel and scalable solutions for our high-rise buildings that set new design standards, directly enhance conditions for occupants, and reduce energy costs –while helping make New York the epicenter for low carbon retrofit industry.”

Round Three of The Challenge

Under the third round of the Challenge, NYSERDA is seeking teams to submit applications on retrofit approaches that can identify replicable technical and economic pathways to phase out on-site fossil fuel use while also increasing comfort and performance for those living in multifamily buildings, one of the hardest-to-decarbonize building types. Selected partners will receive up to $100,000 in technical assistance support and be eligible to submit low carbon retrofit proposals to a competitive funding round, anticipated in summer of 2024.

Eligibility criteria for applicants includes:

• The building owner must have a decarbonization project proposal ready for implementation before the end of 2025;
• The building owner must apply to the program in partnership with a technical lead, such as a Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) engineering firm;
• The building owner must advance buildings for participation in this program that contain at least 50 housing units;
• The building owner’s public commitment to carbon reduction within their New York State building portfolio is one of the key scoring criteria.

Applications are due by 3:00 p.m. on November 16, 2023, and the selection of winners is expected in January 2024.

New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State’s nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues to foster a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35%, with a goal of 40%, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by

Round Three of Challenge Now Open to Advance Replicable Low-Carbon Retrofit Solutions for Multifamily Buildings

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the Empire Building Challenge in New York State, which aims to advance climate-friendly buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with SDG 7, which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The challenge also promotes innovation and infrastructure development, connecting to SDG 9. Additionally, the goal of creating climate-friendly homes and reducing carbon emissions is in line with SDG 11 and SDG 13, which aim to make cities and communities sustainable and take urgent action to combat climate change.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
• SDG 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning

The article mentions the Empire Building Challenge’s goal of advancing climate-friendly buildings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with the targets under SDG 7.2, SDG 9.4, SDG 11.3, and SDG 13.2.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These include:

• Amount of renewable energy integrated into the energy mix
• Number of buildings retrofitted to be climate-friendly
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from buildings
• Investment attracted for low-carbon retrofit solutions

The article mentions that the Empire Building Challenge aims to advance climate-friendly buildings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The indicators mentioned above can be used to measure progress towards these goals.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: nyserda.ny.gov

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