NYSERDA

Pick a topic, get updates! (opens in new window) Find a Program Find A Contractor About Language Print this page Resource Launch Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings Visit the new Playbook  to find case more to help plan your building decarbonization project.. Back to All Programs Empire Building Challenge Showcasing Decarbonization Projects for Office and Multifamily High-Rises The Empire Building Challenge (EBC) is a public-private partnership between NYSERDA and leading commercial and multifamily real estate owners that is elevating new design approaches for low-carbon retrofits in New York’s tallest buildings. Through demonstration projects across New York State, EBC showcases best-in-class resource efficient decarbonization strategies (RED). The EBC also provides comprehensive resources and a knowledge-sharing platform, the Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings to support building their engineering and design teams in creating realistic decarbonization roadmaps, and in making the business case for technically and financially viable solutions. EBC partners represent over 20% of commercial office space in New York City and oversee more than 200,000 housing units . These partners have committed to decarbonize over 125 million square feet and 1,500+ units of affordable housing . Learn More About the Empire Building Challenge EBC Projects Explore multifamily and commercial projects showcasing the EBC holistic approach to building decarbonization. Read More EBC Projects EBC Partners Learn about the real estate portfolio owners leading New York’s decarbonization efforts. Read More EBC Partners Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings Access the EBC knowledge-sharing platform and resource library for guidance and insights to inform the development of building decarbonization roadmaps. Read More Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings (opens in new window) EBC Hospitals Get funding from the Empire Building Challenge Hospitals Program for innovative energy efficiency and decarbonization projects that can be replicated across New York. Read More Read more about the Empire Building Challenge Hospitals program Building Decarbonization Insights Discover resources and guidance on building decarbonization, including the Resource Efficient Decarbonization approach to developing a decarbonization roadmap. Read More Building Decarbonization Insights Public Events Series Meet the people behind low-carbon retrofit success stories to share knowledge and to make key connections among the real design communities. Learn More Public Events Series Decarbonization Design Charrette Get support from our building experts to organize a collaborative design review workshop (charrette) to identify solutions and advance the decarbonization planning process. Learn More Decarbonization Design Charrette (opens in new window) EBC Showcase Series Explore the collection of videos featuring novel, low-carbon retrofit products that can help you achieve decarbonization goals. Learn More EBC Showcase Series Challenge the Status Quo We challenge the real design communities to change the status quo for large building retrofits. Our goal is to harness our partners’ commitments and unleash the collective creativity of the world’s leading R&D, manufacturing teams. EBC demonstration projects emphasize transformative decarbonization technologies, achieve meaningful energy use intensity (EUI) and carbon reduction, and create pathways for others to replicate successes while minimizing risk. These retrofit projects  reveal economically and technically feasible approaches to inform strategies for property owners and facilities teams, from decarbonizing heating loads, to increasing flexibility of a building’s energy demand and reducing tenant-driven consumption.