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A luxury residential skyscraper Asparro situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan appears quite ordinary at first glance, resembling other upscale buildings. Visitors are welcomed by a doorman in a roomy lobby embellished with tapestry and marble. However, beneath the surface, in the building’s basement, lies an extraordinary collection of equipment that is unmatched by any other structure in New York City, and in fact, by only a handful of buildings worldwide.
With the aim of significantly lowering the emissions produced by the 30-story building, the proprietors have implemented an intricate network of pipes and containers. This system captures carbon dioxide emanating from the enormous gas-powered boilers located in the basement, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere through the chimney.
The objective is to prevent the dispersion of this greenhouse gas, which contributes to climate change. The urgency to reduce emissions from tall buildings like this one is particularly critical in a vertical city like New York. According to the department, buildings constitute approximately two-thirds of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, making them the largest single source.
Out of all the states, New York has the highest levels of air pollution stemming from its buildings. As a result, building owners are required to make significant reductions in emissions starting from the upcoming year, or else they will face increasing fines as mandated by a recently implemented city legislation. Approximately 50,000 structures, which account for over half of the city’s buildings, fall under the jurisdiction of Local Law 97.
This trend has also been observed in other cities such as Boston and Denver, where comparable regulations have been introduced in a similar fashion.
Consequently, building managers are urgently working to transform their operational procedures. Among their initiatives is the installation of carbon capture systems, designed to remove carbon dioxide from the emissions. This captured carbon dioxide is then directed into tanks, prepared for sale to other companies that utilize it in the production of carbonated beverages, soap, or concrete.
By adopting this approach, property managers envision achieving their emissions targets without the need for extensive renovations that would require residents to relocate.
However, critics, including numerous environmental groups, assert that building managers ought to go beyond these measures. They argue that for substantial emissions reductions to be achieved, buildings should undergo substantial upgrades and transition to renewable electricity sources, rather than persisting with the combustion of fossil fuels.
There are also apprehensions voiced regarding the safety of storing significant quantities of carbon dioxide, which is an asphyxiant, in densely populated communities.
Building owners who possess the financial means to invest in carbon capture equipment can take advantage of federal tax benefits provided for installing such systems. Additionally, NYC Accelerator, a program aimed at assisting homeowners and property managers in emission reduction efforts, offers various incentives to facilitate building upgrades.
According to NYC Accelerator, nearly 70% of New York City’s sizable buildings rely on steam boilers fuelled by natural gas or oil. A significant portion of these buildings has heating systems that are over 50 years old and often suffer from inadequate maintenance.
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