Op-Ed: The Real Estate Industry Is Actually Fighting Emissions

While the MTA continues to face severe issues and New York's mayor rejects calls for congestion pricing, Efstathios Valiotis of Alma Realty argues that real estate provides a bright spot in the city's fight with climate change. "Builders of skyscrapers and developers who preserve and modernize existing buildings to meet the city's vast housing needs make decisions that collectively have an enormous impact," Valiotis writes.

Mayor Bill de Blasio highlighted curbing emissions from buildings in his long-term sustainability plan, recently releasing a controversial video touting his building efficiency regulations. 

Buildings are the biggest source of emissions, so we're setting strict standards on energy efficiency. Smarter boilers, heaters, and windows will use less energy, and smarter buildings will be the equivalent of taking 900,000 cars off the road. pic.twitter.com/8QxMo1gpB9

— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 22, 2018

Valiotis points out that the real estate community is already making strides to curb its emissions. More efficient HVAC systems, better insulation, LED lighting, and other updates have shrunk the climate footprint of buildings in New York. "Emissions from buildings citywide in 2015 were 18% lower than in 2005, an unmistakable sign that conservancy and efficiency measures are working," Valiotis writes.