The “Greening” of New York
By Michael R. Gordon, Ruvym D. Gilman, Kathryn Plunkett and contribution by John R. Nolon, professor at the Pace University School of Law and counsel to its Land Use Law Center.
This article appeared in the New York Law Journal on January 17, 2006.
Lawyers practicing in the design and construction fields cannot ignore emerging trends, and “green construction”— the use of environmentally conscious design, construction, and operation methods to create sustainable commercial and residential buildings—is an emerging trend. For New York construction lawyers, it is an important trend because New York is leading the nation in green construction. The number of green buildings and green construction projects underway in New York is steadily increasing. Completed green buildings in New York City include the Solaire residential buildings in Battery Park City and Four Times Square. Still to be completed are the Hearst Magazine Building and the Bank of America Tower near Bryant Park, to name a few.
Why the focus? There are a number of reasons, including a concern for energy efficiency and a growing environmental consciousness, but the most notable cause is no doubt the adoption of mandatory green construction laws and guidelines and the creation of financial incentives on municipal, state and federal levels. . . .
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