Making Office Buildings and Hotels
More Sustainable
By Matthew Bremy
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Matthew Bremy
17 University Drive
Hazleton, PA 18202
Donald J. Trump
The Trump Organization
725 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022
To: Donald J. Trump
From: Matthew Bremy; Energy Engineering Major at Penn State Hazleton
Subject: Making companies/industries more sustainable
As an energy engineering student I understand the basic, along with the more complex ideas of
energy consumption. You may think, you’ve heard this topic come up countless times, but why
would you want to spend extra money just to reduce your carbon footprint? I’m here to inform
you that it is possible to make your business more sustainable and reduce your carbon footprint
without ruining your company’s reliability or spending too much money.
Mr. Trump, you may or may not be aware that by making your buildings more sustainable you
can help the planet tremendously in more ways than one. You are the CEO of a huge
corporation that smaller companies look to for guidance. If just one huge corporation makes
the change to be more sustainable that helps, but if many corporations make the change that
makes a difference.
The following report explains the problems along with the possible solutions and statistics. I will
explain the positives along with the negatives of change. I’ve included a case study to prove
that it is possible to make your corporation more sustainable without decreasing productivity.
Sincerely,
Matthew Bremy
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Abstract
Media today contributes a lot to people’s conception of the earth’s condition and the direction
it’s headed. We are constantly told by media to help our planet by following basic concepts
such as, turning off lights, conserving water, reducing waste, and reducing our carbon output.
However, the media often neglects to tell businesses how they can be more energy efficient.
Because of the destruction of the ozone, scientists continue to work franticly to come up with
ways to protect our ozone layers, along with inventing new forms of technology that will no
longer destroy our earth. Although there have been many breakthroughs in the science world,
scientists still need more time in order to develop alternate forms of sustainable energy to help
protect our environment.
In this presentation, you will see that I have complied information that will help show the
necessity of sustainability in office buildings and your hotels. I have also included case studies
that show the benefits of making businesses more energy efficient.
Along with listing the benefits of making changes, I’ve also listed some of the cons of making
changes. You will find two case studies along with evidence of the best solution that I have
provided.
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Table of Contents
Cover letter………………………………………………………………………………Page 2
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………Page 3
Introduction….....……………………………………………………………………..Page 5
Recommendation………………………..…………………………………………..Page 6
Problem………………………………………………………….………………………..Page 6
Possible Solutions…………………………………………………………………….Page 6
Best Possible Solution…………………………………………………..………….Page 7
Advantages of the Solution………………………………………………………Page 7
Evidence of the Solution…………………………………………………………..Page 7
Case Study………………………………………………………………………………..Page 8
Disadvantages of the Solution…………………………………………………..Page 8
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..Page 9
Appendix………………………………………………………………………….…….Page 10
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Introduction:
The first thing that usually comes to mind for business owners and CEOs is, “if it’s working, than
why change it?” Just because it’s working doesn’t always mean it’s working efficiently. Studies
have shown that by 2025 buildings will use more energy than any other category of
“consumer.” Today, buildings in the United States account for 72% of energy consumed but
with simple changes, that percentage could be significantly cut down. The next concern with
change is how much will it cost and why would I want to pay a lot just to help the environment.
Who says that saving the environment can’t save you money as well? (IBM, Buildings)
Today, buildings can be built as “smart” buildings, or more energy efficient. How can a building
be energy efficient? In most buildings today you can simple devices that contribute to energy
efficiency. For example, bathrooms have sinks with sensors on them so that the sink only runs
when a hand is underneath the faucet, thus saving water. Other examples include lights, heat
and air conditioning units, all with sensors. (IBM, Buildings)
IBM took a survey rating major cities across the United States on a scale 1-10 based on how
well the city was equipped with smarter buildings. Some of the cities just making average were
New York, Chicago, and Dallas. Falling below average were Washington D.C, Tampa,
Philadelphia, and Minneapolis. Needless to say, a change for the better is strongly needed in
these cities. (IBM, Buildings)
Mr. Trump, you are famous for your world renowned hotels such as the Trump Towers located
in New York City. As I just mentioned, New York City is one of the cities that fall on the scale at
average. If you started the trend in New York to make buildings more energy efficient, it would
contribute tremendously in the fight to lower carbon emissions in major cities.
Another city that falls into the average scale is Chicago. In Chicago you own the Trump
International Hotel and Tower Chicago. This is one of your newest buildings which I’m sure
being as luxurious as it is must include some energy efficient technology. As it stands this hotel
is considered a landmark in Chicago. That kind of reputation could be used by making a public
statement challenging others to follow in your footsteps.
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Recommendation:
The Problem:
Currently, office buildings can account for 72% of the energy consumed in the United States. It
is estimated that by the year 2025, they will use more energy than any other category of
“consumer”. 40% of the worlds current output in raw materials goes into buildings. 40% is
about three billion tons, annually. (IBM, Buildings)
Considering the Earth’s depleting resources, businesses depend on balanced natural
ecosystems for raw materials, water energy, and the health of their employees and customers.
Businesses depend on advancing community systems for labor and new sources of innovation
and customers. Given the links between its systems, a business that commits to practicing
sustainability considers both the immediate and far-reaching consequences of any action it
takes.
Of course, along with developing a sustainable business approach there are some challenges.
Such challenges include optimizing operations to minimize environmental impact and
improving social outcomes in a manner that also maximizes performance. (IBM, Sustainability)
Possible Solutions:
There are a few possible solutions, some with bigger and better results than others. However,
not all of these solutions can benefit every business. The first solution is doing nothing. You can
keep your business the way it is and continue to waste money, and destroy the earth with
wasted energy.
The second possible solution requires big change. Businesses can look at how many
buildings/outpost they run out of and the productivity of each building/outpost and decide if
it’s possible to cut back. For example, if a business is running out of three buildings but finds
that each building is only using 2/3 of its office space, than the third building can stop being
used, and move those workers into the other two buildings to maximize productivity in each
building.
The third possible solution requires less but can still make a significant change. As said before,
you have three office buildings, but now let’s say they are all being used to capacity. Or, maybe
they are in very different locations, where getting rid of one building would require losing jobs
in one location without being able to move those workers to the other buildings. What you
could do is install timers throughout the building for the utilities. Have lights on timers instead
of switches so that if there is no activity in a room for over a certain period of time, the lights
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will automatically go off. Same could be said for heat or air conditioning. Renovate bathrooms
with sensor sinks to reduce water usage. All of these can make a significant difference in
energy usage.
Best possible solution:
Although being able to eliminate an entire building from use would be the best solution, it’s not
entirely the most practical. The best solution would be solution three, which includes
renovating office buildings and hotels to make them more energy efficient. Putting lights,
heating, and air conditioning units on timers and sensors could significantly reduce electricity
usage in unused rooms. In large open rooms, lights on sensors would only light up the parts of
the room in which are being used. If a person walks over to the unlit part of the room than
those lights will automatically turn on. When the sensors don’t pick up movement in the room
for certain, predetermined, time than the lights will automatically go off. Areas that would
benefit most from this would be large conference rooms.
The thought of this solution seems simple but this eliminates the possibility of workers not
shutting off the lights behind them and wasting electricity. Not only is that wasting energy but it
is also wasting money which could be going to more productive projects. The same thought
goes for heat, air conditioning, and water. Heat and air conditioning units can be put onto
sensors that begin heating or cooling a room once it detects the presence of people.
Advantages of the solution
The obvious advantages to the solution are the future savings and the smaller carbon footprint
that you will be leaving. The not so obvious advantages come in other ways. As you begin to
save money with this process you can use that money to do other things. With that money you
can hire more people since the unemployment rate in the United States is still incredibly high at
9.2 percent. If there is no more room for additional employment, than use that money to keep
updating and renovating the building with the newest and latest technology that will make
working easier and more efficient.
Evidence of the Benefits
After turning your office buildings into “smart” buildings with these modifications, you should
see a drop in electricity bills which will show the money you are saving. Also, when you see
those prices dropping on your bills, you also know that that’s less energy your buildings are
using, which is less of a carbon footprint you are leaving on the environment.
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Case Study
The Chinese shipping company COSCO looked at its carbon footprint and saw not an obstacle,
but an opportunity. It reduced the number of its distribution points from 100 to 40, lowering
costs by 23 percent and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 15 percent, which equates to
100,000 tons per year.
In 2000, IBM looked at their own water usage at plants and labs and set a goal for savings. Eight
years later, water initiatives in their microelectronics manufacturing operations achieved a 2.4
percent savings rate, translating to a savings of 1,214 thousand cubic meters (TCM) of water.
Since 1885, Johnson Controls has fostered an ongoing spirit of innovation. Now, Johnson
Controls and IBM will team up to provide a Smart Building Solution that can improve operations
and reduce energy and water consumption in buildings worldwide.
 Energy waste detection, reporting and intelligent control capabilities with the potential
to drive between 10% and 20% energy savings across an enterprise.
 Integration of building systems, business systems and smart grid technologies for
increased information on the performance of buildings to reduce operating costs and
keep occupants safe, comfortable and productive.
 Calculated greenhouse gas levels through measurement, management and forecast
activities related to energy cost, consumption, energy efficiency projects, fleet
emissions and waste.
(Case studies from IBM
http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/green_and_sustainability/overview/index.html)
Disadvantages of the solution
The major disadvantage of the solution is the immediate costs of the building renovations.
Making these renovations will be costly because you are installing new technology into your
buildings which will require a lot of work. However, if you consider the long term benefits of the
costs, you will see that it is well worth the initial cost.
A great way to avoid those initial costs is to have these items installed while the building is
being built. It’s more expensive to rip out old systems and install new systems in a building that
is already built. If you have the luxury of deciding what you want installed into your office
building while its being built than that will benefit you greatly. However, if you don’t have the
luxury of a new building than you will have to go through the extra costs of having the changes
made, but like I stated before, the long term savings will out due the initial cost.
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Conclusion
Due to the immediate changes that need to be done to help save the earth, buildings need to
change so that they no longer consume 72 percent of the energy used in the United States. It’s
easy to see that by applying small but significant changes to office buildings, CEOs and
managers can begin paving the way to a more eco-friendly business world. I believe that once
big businesses start making these changes, it won’t be long until the smaller ones start to
follow.
For example, if businesses saw someone like you, Donald Trump, saving money by making the
Trump Towers more energy efficient, than it would not be long at all until others began to
follow. Once the trend starts there’s no idea how far it will go. Perhaps one day building codes
will require that buildings must be equipped with sensors for lighting and heating along with
water efficient sinks and toilets in bathrooms.
In conclusion I hope that you take everything I said into consideration. Not only will these steps
help us create a better world economically, but more eco-friendly as well. It may not have been
so obvious before, but I hope now you can see that the changes this world so desperately needs
to be done can start with you!
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Appendix
Anonymous. “How Do They Use Energy and How Much Does It Cost.” EIA.DOE.GOV,
January 3, 2001: Web 29 March 2011.
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/consumptionbriefs/cbecs/pbawebsite/office/office_ho
wuseenergy.htm>
Anonymous. “Smarter Buildings.” IBM, Buildings, April 2010: Web. 27 March 2011.
<http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/green_buildings/ideas/index.html>
Anonymous. “Smart Grid.” IBM, Energy. 2010: Web. 27 March 2011.
<http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/smart_grid/ideas/index.html?re=sph>
Anonymous. “No matter what your business, sustainability is your business.” Energy,
Sustainability. 2010: Web 27 March 2011.
<http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/green_and_sustainability/overview/index.
html?re=sph>
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