Hearst Tower upgraded from LEED Gold to LEED Platinum

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) president, CEO and founding chair Rick Fedrizzi, and Hearst Corporation CEO Frank Bennack, Jr., the Hearst Tower is the first commercial office building in NYC to be recognized by the USGBC for achieving both LEED Gold for new construction and LEED Platinum for the operations and maintenance of its existing building. Established by the USGBC and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based global rating system for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. Through this program, as well as energy efficiencies built in the Tower and regular evaluation of energy saving measures over the years, Hearst has reduced its total energy consumption by 40% - putting the company in the top 10% of efficient commercial office buildings in the country. In addition, the company reduced total waste going to the landfills by 82% and became the first commercial office building in NYC to adopt an extensive composting program which composts 100% of its wet food waste.