Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York Power Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey completed the installation of energy-efficient LED lights throughout One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the United States. NYPA also partnered with the Office of General Services to replace nearly 1,700 lights in the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building in the heart of Harlem with energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures. The lighting improvement projects directly support BuildSmart 2025, a statewide energy efficiency program administered by NYPA, aimed at reducing energy usage in state facilities by 11 trillion British Thermal Units by the end of 2025 – the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road. 

“As one of the nation’s most iconic buildings, One World Trade Center is a landmark in lower Manhattan and must be a part of New York’s energy efficient future,” Governor Hochul said. “By supporting lighting improvements in this world-renowned building, we will help reduce its carbon footprint, lower operating and maintenance costs, and ensure state-of-the-art energy efficiency at One World Trade Center for decades to come.” 

At One World Trade Center, which opened in 2014, more than 6,500 fluorescent light fixtures were replaced with state-of-the-art energy efficient LED lights as part of the nearly $3 million project, which will reduce the building’s annual carbon emissions by nearly 130 metric tons and save the Port Authority $64,000 each year in energy and maintenance costs. The new lights were installed in the tower’s corridors, stairwells, hallways and mechanical equipment rooms and have a ten-year life span and use 60% less energy than the previous lights. 

Power Authority support for the lighting project, which began in April 2022, stems from the Lower Manhattan Energy Independence Initiative, a $25 million fund established by New York State in 2006 to provide support to lower Manhattan with energy efficiency improvement projects in the area.

The lighting project complements on a 2021 NYPA-Port Authority announcement to install LED lighting inside the September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Assemblymember Charles D. Fall said, "Today's announcement of the lighting upgrade at One World Trade Center, where over 6,500 fluorescents were replaced with LEDs, marks a significant step in New York's journey towards energy efficiency and sustainability. This nearly $3 million investment, part of NYPA's BuildSmart 2025 initiative, not only enhances the iconic skyline but also promises annual savings of around $64,000 in energy and maintenance costs. It's a bright example of how strategic, eco-friendly investments can lead to substantial long-term benefits. I commend the New York Power Authority, working with the Port Authority, on this smart project which cuts emissions while saving money and leads us forward on the path to achieving the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”