Environmental Sustainability
As a leader in commercial real estate, we’re committed to implementing best practices.
We operate at the highest efficiency standards to strengthen our community’s resiliency while maintaining our responsibility to our shareholders.
Our Approach
SL Green developed a six-pronged strategy to sustainability, ensuring that the portfolio is resilient, responsible, and reliable. This approach is integrated through the life cycle of all properties, spanning the acquisition, planning, design, construction, and operational phases.
Reduce Energy Consumption
Facility Management
Standardizing green policies and procedures across all properties.
Green Building Designations
Tenant Engagement
Educating tenants through webinars, town hall meetings, and lobby events.
Science-Based Emissions Targets
Renewable Energy
Procuring energy from renewable resources.
Carbon Strategy
SL Greenʼs commitment to creating a greener footprint begins with reducing emissions across its properties. Collaboration with tenants, employees, and other stakeholders is critical in realizing these goals by setting targets and implementing effective management strategies. To further verify its sustainability performance, SL Green participates in a wide variety of external reporting programs such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), CDP, LEED, ENERGY STAR, and the NYC Mayorʼs Carbon Challenge.
NYC Mayor’s Carbon Challenge
To contribute to reducing citywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80% by 2050, SL Green is participating with 8 buildings and their combined 8 million square feet. We pledge to reduce GHG emissions by 30% over 10 years with commitments from our tenants.
CDP
Our initial submission to CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project) was in 2018, and we are currently the highest scoring U.S. Office REIT on the S&P 500.
LEED Strategy
SL Green has a long history of leading the pursuit of green building designations, with LEED at the core of its strategy. Dating back to 2009, SL Green was among the first owners to adopt LEED for Existing Buildings (EB) in New York City at 100 Park Avenue. When the new version 4 standard was introduced in 2016, 485 Lexington was one of the first buildings in the nation to achieve LEED EB. SL Green’s current portfolio holds LEED certifications across 20 million square feet.
20 million
1 property
4 properties
20 properties
Energy Star
ENERGY STAR is foundational to SL Greenʼs energy management program. It is a measurement and verification tool that enhances the quality, competitiveness, and resiliency of the commercial portfolio. ENERGY STAR scores serve as the catalyst SL Green uses to motivate its building operators, property managers, and tenants to pursue capital efficiency projects and implement change. SL Green achieved ENERGY STAR labels across 9.4 million square feet, representing 12% of all of Manhattan’s labels. In recognition of its operational excellence, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded SL Green the prestigious “Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence” award in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
1 Percent
Efficiency Strategy
Occupancy Sensors
Energy Desk
11 Madison, Ice Plant
Occupancy Sensors
ENERGY DESK
11 Madison, Ice Plant
Resource Management
Sustainability goals are achieved when landlords and tenants have shared accountability and a commitment to corporate responsibility. SL Green works to make sure mindful management of resources is part of the equation.
Water
Conservation is a key priority for SL Green’s green building operations. Low-flow fixtures for toilets, urinals, and faucets in bathrooms across the portfolio have been installed to optimize SL Green’s water-saving efforts. Additionally, building operators implement an extensive leak-detection program to ensure systems are operating correctly and efficiently, and water consumption is tracked and reported on an annual basis. SL Green will be piloting the latest water conservation technology at its ground up development One Vanderbilt, where a 90,000-gallon reclamation system will collect and recycle rainwater to cool the building.
Waste
SL Green’s team has focused on operational efficiencies and educational strategies to drive behavior change and optimize recycling rates across its portfolio. Every year, SL Green’s cleaning staff and tenants are receiving training on proper recycling procedures. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, recycling data is collected monthly and waste audits are conducted annually. In alignment with the LEED standard, SL Green’s waste goal is to achieve a 50% recycling rate across its portfolio by 2025.