Trump Tower is one of Chicago’s biggest losers when it comes to energy efficiency, according to WTTW’s Chicago Tonight show.
“Of the 100 largest buildings listed in Chicago’s 2016 Energy Benchmarking database, the president-elect’s 98-story riverfront tower ranks last in energy performance,” Chicago Tonight reports, citing 2015 data and ratings based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star rating.
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“Almost two-thirds of the city’s biggest buildings (65 out of 100) had above-average scores,” and the 2,700 buildings in the database achieved an average score of 59, up from 58 in 2014. Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago and Rush University Medical Center came in lowest, with ratings of 9.
“By comparison, other notable Chicago skyscrapers scored far better than Trump’s tower, including Willis Tower (55), John Hancock Center (45), Prudential Plaza (88), Aon Center (82), Tribune Tower (77), and Marina Towers (43),” Chicago Tonight notes. “Trump’s building also ranked behind other top hotels in the city, such as Drake Hotel (68), Hyatt Regency (57), Sheraton Hotel & Towers (35), and Hilton Chicago (33).”
Chicago Tonight points out the Trump organization is hurting its own interests by eschewing any commitments to save energy.
“Such massive levels of energy consumption are costly not only to the environment but also to property owners and tenants. Based on the city’s energy data and average Chicago-area electricity costs in 2015, Trump’s building likely spent almost $6 million on electricity alone in 2015,” writes digital reporter Alex Ruppenthal.
“Based on the 20% savings estimate, the building lost out on nearly $1.2 million in electricity savings that year, if not more, given its low Energy Star score.”
