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New York’s Bank of America Tower earns high marks from green building council
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The second-tallest building in New York City has been rated the greenest in the city, Reuters reports. The 54-story Bank of America Tower was given a "platinum" certification by the U.S. Green Building Council last week. The rating is the council’s highest for sustainability and environmental performance.
The building’s certification was based on a number of criteria, including environmental friendliness of construction materials, indoor air quality and water and energy efficiency. The 1,200-foot tower is the second-tallest in the city behind the Empire State Building, and it was designed as a positive example of green construction.
Bank of America and officials from the Durst Organization approached the project’s architect years ago with their idea. "They came to us and said they wanted to build the largest environmentally responsible building they could," Serge Appel of Cook+Fox Architects told the news agency. "That was our goal from the get-go."
That goal was apparently reached, as the building boasts a wide variety of green features, including its own 4.6-megawatt co-generation plant and floor-to ceiling windows that reduce the need for artificial lighting. According to Reuters, the tower also saves an estimated 8 to 9 million gallons of water per year by using a rainwater capture system, recycling sink waste water and using waterless urinals. Even the steel and concrete were made from recycled materials.
Receiving the certification for being green has helped with employee morale, Bank of America global strategy and marketing officer Anne Finucane told the news agency. She said it may also contribute positively to the public’s current view of the financial industry.
The U.S. Green Building Council has become known for its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification program. According to the organization’s website, the system provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing green building solutions.
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