Empire State Building Sets New Standard as First LEED v5 Platinum Certified Building in New York State

Key Terms

LEED technical

A LEED certification is a widely recognized rating that evaluates how energy-efficient and environmentally friendly a building is, like an energy- and sustainability report card for real estate. Investors care because higher ratings often mean lower operating costs, stronger tenant demand, potential tax or regulatory benefits, and better resale value — all of which can influence a property’s income and long-term return.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) today announced that the Empire State Building has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification under the Existing Buildings: Operations + Maintenance Version 5 program, the highest level of recognition under the U.S. Green Building Council’s latest standard. The Empire State Building is the largest LEED v5 Platinum project in the United States and the first in the state of New York to earn this recognition.

“This achievement reflects years of dedication by the Empire State Building team to set a high benchmark for energy efficiency and sustainability performance in existing buildings with a proven payback,” said Dana Robbins Schneider, senior vice president, director of energy and sustainability at ESRT. “The new standards set by LEED v5 align with the systems and practices we have implemented at the building, which reinforces the strength of our long-term strategy.”

The newly developed LEED v5 program is the most rigorous version to date and focuses on leadership in energy and environmental design through measurable performance in energy use, emissions, resilience, water, waste, IEQ, and responsible materials.

The Empire State Building has been LEED certified for more than a decade and advanced from Gold to Platinum under the new LEED v5 standard because of continued performance improvement. Developed with the Empire State Building’s successful examples and advisory expertise, LEED v5 incorporates proven experience and practical approaches to achieve results and sets the highest sustainability standards. This certification awards buildings with the highest possible sustainability rating based on the most up-to-date criteria.

Through an industry-leading retrofit at the Empire State Building, ESRT has reduced energy use at the Empire State Building by 51%.

ESRT published the “Empire Building Playbook: An Owner’s Guide to Low Carbon Retrofits” – co-created with NYSERDA and supported by other NYC-based landlords and the Clinton Global Initiative – to guide building owners in the steps to achieve a successful deep energy retrofit with a proven return on investment.

In its annual Sustainability Report, ESRT transparently highlights its leadership, practices and progress toward its sustainability goals. Learn more about ESRT’s environmental, social, and governance commitments here.

About Empire State Realty Trust
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and operates a portfolio of well-leased, top of tier, modernized, amenitized, and well-located office, retail, and multifamily assets. ESRT’s flagship Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building,” features its iconic Observatory, ranked the #1 Top Attraction in New York City for the fourth consecutive year in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. The Company is a recognized leader in energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. As of September 30, 2025, ESRT’s portfolio is comprised of approximately 7.8 million rentable square feet of office space, 0.8 million rentable square feet of retail space and 743 residential units. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Category: Sustainability

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Empire State Realty Trust

Jamie Heitner

212-400-3339

jheitner@esrtreit.com

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.