NEW YORK–Manhattan-based commercial real estate owner Hidrock Realty has achieved the Energy Star label throughout its commercial portfolio as part of an ongoing effort to achieve LEED certification.
Starting in April 2011, the company began working with CodeGreen to establish Energy Star benchmarks, evaluating each building’s energy consumption and comparing it to similar buildings. CodeGreen and Con Edison then established steps for Hidrock to improve energy efficiency, such as updating heating and plant operation systems, converting to natural gas, and implementing LED lighting and daylight sensors to reduce electricity usage. Energy-efficient HVAC units and highly efficient windows in every tenant space were also installed.
“We’ve performed extensive retrofits on all of our properties and have provided sustainable upgrades with every individual build-out,” said Javier Lezamiz, director of operations at Hidrock.
Energy Star is a collaborative effort on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) to recognize properties of superior energy performance. Energy Star buildings consume at least 35 percent less energy and generate 35 percent fewer greenhouse emissions than non-Energy Star buildings of similar size.