Former President Bill Clinton joined Empire State Realty Trust`s Chairman, President and CEO Anthony E. Malkin alongside NYC Office of the Mayor, Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority NYSERDA at the Empire State Building April 21, 2022, to announce the publication of the "Empire State Playbook: A Guide to Low Carbon Retrofits," how to implement successful net zero retrofits of existing commercial buildings. Co-developed with NYSERDA and supported by Johnson Controls, other NYC-based landlords and the Clinton Global Initiative, the innovative guide outlines the step-by-step process for existing commercial buildings to develop a pathway to carbon reduction with proven returns on investment.

The launch of the Empire Building Playbook comes at a time when companies are seeking to shift toward climate-conscious products, energy security and solutions like Johnson Controls OpenBlue Net Zero Buildings as a service which offers guaranteed impact.

Clinton applauded Johnson Controls for its involvement and said: “If you believe New York should have more jobs, if you believe that we should avoid the worst consequences of climate change, if you don't want to see the rising waters flood the south end of Manhattan, do this."

Johnson Controls is providing the Empire State Building with innovative technologies, building infrastructure improvements and systems monitoring services that reduce energy costs and lower carbon emissions. Over the past decade Johnson Controls efficiency projects have helped the Empire State Building save over 40 million dollars. The Empire State Building leads the industry as they build upon the last decade’s 54 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions and target carbon neutrality by 2030.

"Our work at the Empire State Building serves as a model for climate action and demonstrates that a major reduction in energy usage can be cost-effective in terms of energy savings, and can enhance a building's appeal to high-quality tenants. It is critical that we tackle the billions of square feet of inefficient office buildings around the world to meet our growing energy needs, save money, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Nate Manning, Vice President and President, Building Solutions, North America at Johnson Controls.

To celebrate the launch of this critical guide, the Empire State Building sparkled in green the night of April 21 beginning at sunset.

The playbook available online for anyone to use breaks down dozens of measures used by the Empire State Building already, plus hundreds of new ideas to support mass retrofits of buildings, including modernizing the electric grid.