The 77-year-old landmark building in New York city, the Empire State Building, is about to get a green makeover to become more environmentally friendly.
The move is expected to save US$4.4 million annually in energy costs and reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 105,000 tons during the next 15 years -- equal to the annual emissions of 17,500 cars. This could serve as an example to be followed in other parts of the world.
Scientific research shows that human's excessive use of fossil fuel has contributed greatly to global warming. To save energy, reduce the use of fossil fuels and develop new energies are the only ways to deal with climate change and achieve sustainable development.
The upgrades planned for the Empire State Building include replacing all of the skyscraper's 6,500 windows with a type of insulated glass that reduces summer heat load and winter heat loss. Extra insulation will be installed behind radiators to save heat. Other changes are planned for the building's ventilation, chilled water and lighting systems.
Experts say retrofitting old buildings like the Empire State Building to be more environmentally friendly is an important step in reducing levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in New York.
In fact, similar cases have also taken place in other regions or countries in the world.
In March, 2008, Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the Rooftop Solar Installation Project, which will place 250 megawatts of advanced photovoltaic generating technology on 65 million square feet of unused commercial buildings' rooftops in Southern California.
The project will give the state 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and provide 3,000 megawatts of additional clean energy and reduce 3 million tons of green house gas output every year, equivalent to taking 1 million cars off the road.
China, as the world's largest developing country, has also taken a series of measures to reduce emission of green house gases, increase energy efficiency and build a resource-saving, environment-friendly society.
However, tackling the crisis of climate change is not merely the business for governments or enterprises. Ordinary people can also shoulder their responsibilities. And there are many things people can do in their daily life to reduce emission of green house gases or save energy, such as replacing the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs with energy-saving ones, driving less, flying less, and moderating air conditioning at home.
As the current financial crisis is spreading in the whole world, many countries have worked out their rescue plans, with some setting development of the low-carbon economy as their goal.
U.S. President Barack Obama put special emphasis on his "green energy plan". Emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India have contained optimizing energy structure and reducing CO2 emission in their economic stimulus packages.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon suggested at last year's Group of 20 Washington summit that nations should transfer the challenge of financial crisis to an opportunity for "green development".
The current crisis has led many economies and enterprises to plight, bringing complication to the global efforts of reducing green house gas emission and saving energy.
Yet from a long-term perspective, investing more in the low-carbon technology and economy will not only help the world economy get out of the difficult situation at an earlier date, but also help to soothe the environment and resource pressures which have bothered people for a long time, thus making it a scientific strategy that ensures sustainable growth.
The New York landmark building is going green, so should the world.
(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2009)
