Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Interactive Map Shows Which NYC Buildings Cause The Most Global Warming
By
Miranda Katz
Published Jan 19, 2016
Modified Jan 19, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Miranda Katz
Published Jan 19, 2016
Modified Jan 19, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
From the web developer who brought us maps of the city's tree species and toxic spills comes a map showing the city's real estate by greenhouse gas emissions, using city data to highlight the biggest offenders.
Under the city's Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, owners of single properties with more than 50,000 square feet (or multiple properties with over 100,000 square feet) must disclose their energy and water usage data each year. (Jill Hubley, the map's creator, says these buildings account for nearly half of the city's energy use.) Merging that data with city land use data, she created this map, in which greener buildings are coded in shades of teal, while energy-sucking sites are colored tan and brown.
In her initial observations of the trends going on in her map, Hubley points out that a lot of high emissions are clustered in the Times Square area. Some of these buildings, like the Crowne Plaza Times Square and the Grand Hyatt, have pledged to reduce emissions as part of the NYC Carbon Challenge, while others, such as notorious developer Extell's W Hotel at Broadway and 47th Street — one of the worst offenders — have made no such promises.
Hubley also notes that a number of high-emission buildings are owned by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), such as the Alfred E. Smith houses on the Lower East Side and the J.P. Mitchel houses in the Bronx. However, there are also low-emission NYCHA buildings dotted throughout the map, and NYCHA got $100 million in city funds last spring to make energy-efficiency upgrades, so it's possible those brown patches will get greener over time.
There's lots more to see here — for example, NYU and Columbia, are pretty green, but a number of city hospitals are less so, and what's up with Stuy Town? Poke around for yourself and see if your building's on here.
Tagged
carbon challenge
climate change
Extell
map
Miranda Katz
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures two, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .