2024-05-04T17:33:50-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/78928311/just-how-green-is-the-world-s-greenest-building Amelia Taylor-Hochberg 2013-08-07T20:06:00-04:00 >2013-08-14T11:57:50-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/qz/qzvy1sdmy872sad9.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>According to data released by New York City last fall, the Bank of America Tower produces more greenhouse gases and uses more energy per square foot than any comparably sized office building in Manhattan. It uses more than twice as much energy per square foot as the 80-year-old Empire State Building. - Sam Roudman</p></em><br /><br /><p> The Bank of America tower in NYC, winner of Platinum LEED certification and (according to <a href="http://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/press-kit/bank-america-tower-one-bryant-park" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bank of America</a>) "one of the world's most environmentally responsible high-rise office buildings", is under scrutiny for its environmental claims, in a debate hosted by the Fast Company blog, Co.Design. A recent article by&nbsp;<a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/authors/sam-roudman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sam Roudman for the <em>New Republic</em></a><i>&nbsp;</i>questioned the building's actual environmental impact, and the effectiveness of LEED certification by extension. Roudman's piece prompted a counter-defense from the sustainability blog, <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/leed-bashing-bank-america-building-really-toxic-tower.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Treehugger</a>, and Co.Design has published the two sides of the conversation.</p>