How Converting N.Y.C. Office Buildings to Homes Can Help the Environment - The New York Times

Residential conversions, a much-discussed solution for helping New York City’s housing crisis, could also decrease carbon emissions, according to a new report. Arup, a global sustainable-development firm, explored in a report released Wednesday the amount of pollution that could be eliminated if New York City made more office buildings eligible for residential conversions. The report found that if about 220 office buildings were converted to housing, they could produce 54 percent less carbon emissions by 2050. That would be a decrease of up to 11 million tons of carbon dioxide. Over half of the carbon savings would come from simply reusing the buildings, the report said. “Ninety percent of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been built, so if we can productively put them to use, it’s a win for the city and for the environment,” said Dan Garodnick, the director of the Department of City Planning. Other emissions cuts would come from new, more energy-efficient building fac

Residential conversions, a much-discussed solution for helping New York City’s housing crisis, could also decrease carbon emissions, according to a new report. Arup, a global sustainable-development firm, explored in a report released Wednesday the amount of pollution that could be eliminated if New York City made more office buildings eligible for residential conversions. The report found that if about 220 office buildings were converted to housing, they could produce 54 percent less carbon emissions by 2050. That would be a decrease of up to 11 million tons of carbon dioxide. Over half of th