The Empire State Building – Case Study [NexusLabs]

In this episode (#155) of the NexusLabs Podcast, host James Dice is joined by Dana Schneider, Senior Vice President of Energy and Sustainability at Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT), and Etrit Demaj, co-founder of KODE Labs. Together, they explore ESRT’s ambitious journey to decarbonize its iconic Empire State Building and broader portfolio. This deep dive into real-world application and innovation highlights how technology, data-driven strategies, and collaborative partnerships drive impactful change in the built environment.

Highlights:

• Empire State Realty Trust portfolio
• Decarbonization at scale
• Comprehensive building operations
• Innovative technology integration
• ASHRAE guideline 36 implementation
• Transparency and continuous improvement
• Real-world lessons

Key takeaways:

• Holistic decarbonization approach: ESRT’s strategy integrates tenant behavior, envelope upgrades, and HVAC optimizations, showcasing the importance of addressing all building systems collectively for impactful results.
• Continuous commissioning and transparency: The partnership with KODE Labs ensures real-time monitoring, advanced diagnostics, and continuous optimization of building systems, setting a new benchmark for transparency and performance.
• Modernizing legacy systems: ESRT leverages a phased, data-driven process to retrofit and upgrade legacy systems, balancing sustainability goals with economic considerations and operational practicality.
• Standardizing advanced controls: With a focus on implementing ASHRAE Guideline 36 standards portfolio-wide, ESRT demonstrates the value of setting consistent benchmarks for HVAC control sequences and operational efficiency.
• Data as a foundation: The integration of a robust data layer across the portfolio allows ESRT to streamline reporting, enhance decision-making, and provide tenants with actionable insights for their own sustainability goals.

Podcast:
The Nexus Podcast

Produced by:
Nexus Labs

Channel:
James Dice

Date:
October, 2023