Sustainability

2022 Sustainability Report

Overview: Sustainability in Real Estate

Empire State Realty Trust advances environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles as we lead the industry with our expertise and consistently show our commitment to our employees, tenants, and the communities where we operate. We establish and execute our sustainability program to reduce our buildings’ environmental impact and foster health and resiliency for our tenants. We do this with a focus on accountability with global frameworks, financial performance, and care for the well-being of ESRT’s people.

Environmental

ESRT has developed industry-leading sustainability strategies and implements best practices, modern technologies, and results-driven initiatives which position us to set the environmental standard for real estate companies across the world.

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Social

We are committed to a healthy, diverse, and equitable workplace that actively promotes employee growth and development and drives positive social impact for the well-being of our employees, tenants, and the communities we serve.

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Governance

Our goal is to optimize our governance practices to ensure they exceed the standard for our industry and maintain transparent communication with our shareholders.

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Tony Malkin, Bill Clinton, Eric Adams and Kathy Hochul talking together

ESRT CEO Tony Malkin, Former President Bill Clinton, Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul discuss the future of carbon reductions and sustainable buildings.

The Empire Building Playbook: An Owner’s Guide to Low Carbon Retrofits

Developed in partnership with NYSERDA and supported by the Clinton Global Initiative, the Empire Building Playbook: An Owner’s Guide to Low Carbon Retrofits is a free, innovative guide that outlines the step-by-step process for existing commercial buildings to develop a pathway to carbon reductions with proven returns on investment. The work shows how to codify, test, refine, and verify in-building projects. The industry-leading Version 2.0 deep-energy retrofit program at the Empire State Building serves as a blueprint for the Empire Building Playbook and demonstrates what is possible within the built environment to reduce carbon emissions. Since version 1.0 of our groundbreaking work, beginning in 2009, the Empire State Building has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 54%, and we still have economically justified progress to make.

See the Full Empire Building Playbook

Peek Inside Our Sustainable Tenant Spaces

Thanks to a strong partnership and numerous expansions with Empire State Realty Trust for over a decade, LinkedIn enjoys a custom, unique corporate headquarters in the heart of New York City.

“The Empire State Building is the coolest building I will ever work in.”

– LinkedIn

“Our workplace will lead the way in sustainability and wellness with a space that boosts opportunities for innovation. Typically, tenants use more that 50% of a building’s energy, so the ability to build a decarbonized workplace can help move the needle in a big way and provide a model for landlord-tenant collaboration. Our efforts in deep carbon reduction are possible because they align with ESRT’s efforts to reduce energy use and meet aggressive, but necessary, goals for net-zero emissions.”

– CEO at Rizzo Group and co-founder at CodeGreen Solutions.

“We are very appreciative of the social conscious business practice at Empire State Realty Trust. Converting their entire portfolio to wind power is a testament to their commitment to a sustainable environment. As a tenant, we are proud to partner with a responsible owner.”

– President and CEO, Swedbank Securities

Empire State Realty Trust Announces ESRT Bees

It’s official – ESRT has welcomed its tiniest tenants! Empire State Realty Trust installed four honeybee hives at four different buildings in its New York City portfolio – which includes the world-famous Empire State Building – as part of its continued sustainability initiatives. The installation and maintenance are in partnership with Alvéole, an urban beekeeping company.

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ESRT is Carbon Neutral

ESRT is carbon neutral as of 2022 thanks to a new three-year partnership with 18 Reserves and ACT that will offset ESRT’s non-electric usage through preservation of 9,000 acres of biodiverse forest and electricity offset by 100% renewable wind energy throughout the portfolio.

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Platinum Status – ESRT Receives Highest Green Lease Leader Recognition

Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy, ESRT received Green Lease Leader Platinum status, the program’s highest recognition, for modernized leases which spur collaborative action on energy efficiency, cost savings, air quality, and sustainability in buildings.