NYC Skyscrapers Turn To Carbon Capture To Cut Emissions

Buildings are by far the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York City, roughly two-thirds, according to the city buildings department.

Photo Insert: New York state’s buildings also emit more air pollution than any other state’s.

New York state’s buildings also emit more air pollution than any other state’s, Cathy Bussewitz reported for the Associated Press (AP).

So building owners must make dramatic cuts starting next year or face escalating fines under a new city law. About 50,000 structures — more than half the buildings in the city, are subject to Local Law 97.

Other cities such as Boston and Denver followed suit with similar rules.

As a result, property managers are scrambling to change how their buildings operate. Some are installing carbon capture systems, which strip out carbon dioxide, direct it into tanks and prepare it for sale to other companies to make carbonated beverages, soap, or concrete, with carbon transformed into calcium carbonate.

They see it as a way to meet emissions goals without having to relocate residents for extensive renovations.

In the case of a 30-story building in Manhattan, the carbon dioxide is sold to a concrete manufacturer in Brooklyn, where it’s turned into a mineral and permanently embedded in concrete.

“We think the problem is reducing emissions as quickly as possible,” said Brian Asparro, chief operating officer of CarbonQuest, which built the system. “Time is not on our side, and this type of solution can be installed quickly, cost-effectively and without a major disruption.”

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