The redevelopment will be a global example of green building design

The buildings that will rise as part of redevelopment of the World Trade Center site will incorporate a new package of energy and environmental measures that call for the use of state-of-the-art technology and renewable energy resources and enhanced energy efficiency, Governor George Pataki announced on September 7th.

The Freedom Tower, World Trade Center Office Towers 2, 3, and 4, and the World Trade Center Memorial and Memorial Museum will all be designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) Gold certification requirements and will be built to a standard 20 percent more efficient the New York Energy Conservation Construction Code, according to a release issued by the governor's office.

"The redevelopment will be a global example of green building design and a constant reminder of our commitment to break the cycle of dependence on foreign energy," Pataki said in a statement. "By moving forward with state-of-the-art design and guidelines, New York will once again show the world our ingenuity, innovation, and commitment to build a stronger, brighter future for all," he continued.

In announcing the new design measures, Pataki also announced an agreement with developer Larry Silverstein to increase energy efficiency and provide on-site power generation through the use of cutting-edge fuel cell installations. Under the terms of the agreement, renewable energy resources will be purchased to supply any base building electricity not provided by the fuel cell installations.

The new design measures also call for reduced reliance on Hudson River water for cooling, resulting in a more than 80 percent reduction in the number of aquatic organisms taken in from the river as compared to pre-9/11 cooling systems. River water will only be used to cool public amenities on the site, not for the Freedom Tower or other office buildings, which will use other state-of-the-art cooling systems.

The 2006/07 New York State Budget designated $25 million for projects included as part of the new energy package, and the New York Power Authority will provide an additional $30 million toward increased energy efficiency measures.