NEW YORK-Timed to coincide with Earth Week, the Hilton New York has unveiled a new green roof system and cogeneration plant, both designed to reduce the hotel's overall carbon footprint.

The 16,000 sq. ft. green roof system is located on the 48-story hotel's fifth floor rooftop setback. In addition to carbon capture, the green roof helps conserve energy and reduces the so-called urban heat island effect. The roof plays host to locally grown plants harvested from an upstate New York farm. The foliage and roots of these plants naturally absorb airborne pollutants, which in turn prevents large quantities of carbon dioxide from being returned into the atmosphere.

The cogeneration system will provide in excess of 50 percent of the hotel's electrical power and over 40 percent of its steam for heating and hot water.

The 1,981-room Hilton New York, the largest hotel in New York City, consumes over 23 million kW hours of electricity per year.... Full Story

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