Editing 4 Times Square (section)

=== Mechanical and environmental features ===

==== Fuel cells ====
[[File:Condé Nast Building Times Square.jpg|thumb|alt=The building's southeastern corner, with a glass facade on Broadway and a masonry facade on 42nd Street|Southeastern corner, showing the glass facade on Broadway (left) and masonry facade on 42nd Street (right)]]

The building is partially powered by two [[fuel cell]]s that are capable of {{cvt|200|kW}} each.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 715" /><ref name="nyt20020317" /><ref name="Stephens pp. 95-96">{{harvnb|Stephens|2000a|ps=.|pp=95–96}}</ref> They are installed on the fourth floor.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Kathryn |date=Oct 1999 |title=Invisible energy |journal=Discover |volume=20 |pages=36, 38 |id={{ProQuest|205989663}}|number=10}}</ref> The two cells could provide 50 percent of the exterior signs' nighttime power needs but a minuscule amount of the daytime needs.<ref name="nyt19970928" /> They could generate eight percent of the building's total electricity.<ref name="Stern (2006) p. 715" /><ref name="Stephens pp. 95-96" /> The fuel cells cost $1 million and were made by [[United Technologies Corporation]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bloomberg News |date=February 25, 2000 |title=Metro Business; Powered by Fuel Cells |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/25/nyregion/metro-business-powered-by-fuel-cells.html |access-date=September 20, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921015640/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/25/nyregion/metro-business-powered-by-fuel-cells.html |url-status=live}}</ref> As part of an agreement with [[Consolidated Edison]] (Con Ed), which operates much of New York City's power-supply system, the cells must be turned off during a power failure, such as the [[Northeast blackout of 2003]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holusha |first=John |date=August 24, 2003 |title=Commercial Property/After the Blackout; Independent Generators Are Generating Interest |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/24/realestate/commercial-property-after-blackout-independent-generators-are-generating.html |access-date=September 20, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921152919/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/24/realestate/commercial-property-after-blackout-independent-generators-are-generating.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hendrick |first=Daniel |date=August 14, 2005 |title=Shifting the balance of power |pages=18, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85672460/shifting-the-balance-of-power/ 19] |work=Newsday|issn=2574-5298 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85672407/shifting-the-balancedaniel-hendrick/ |access-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920213222/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85672407/shifting-the-balancedaniel-hendrick/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox & Fowle originally planned to include eight fuel cells, which would have been capable of generating {{cvt|12800000|kWh}} of power annually, including all of the exterior signs' power needs.<ref name="nyt19970330" /> Along with the photovoltaic panels on the facade, the fuel cells would have been able to provide most of the power for 4 Times Square, with building managers purchasing power from the city's electrical grid from Con Ed only as needed.<ref name="nyt19970330" /><ref name="Stephens pp. 95-96" /> The fuel cells would have to run continuously to operate efficiently, since they could not be turned off or on easily, but the building's power needs were much lower at night during the day.<ref name="p398625408" /><ref name="nyt19970928">{{Cite news |last=Holusha |first=John |date=September 28, 1997 |title=Commercial Property/Electricity and Gas; Energy Deregulation: Lower Costs, More Confusion |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/realestate/commercial-property-electricity-gas-energy-deregulation-lower-costs-more.html |access-date=September 19, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921101930/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/realestate/commercial-property-electricity-gas-energy-deregulation-lower-costs-more.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Furthermore, each cell cost $600,000.<ref name="p398625408" /> Consequently, plans for six of the eight fuel cells were discarded in 1997.<ref name="p398625408" /><ref name="nyt19970928" />

==== Air delivery ====
Fox & Fowle and Durst decided to use [[chiller]]s powered by [[natural gas]] to provide cool air to the offices.<ref name="Stephens p. 96" /><ref name="p398625408" /><ref name="Wells p. 134">{{harvnb|Wells|2005|p=134|ps=.}}</ref> At the time, many buildings still used [[fossil fuel]]s for power generation, and natural gas created much less pollution than other fossil fuels.<ref name="p398625408" /> Gas was used instead of electricity because gas could be stored for later use, while electricity had to be used when it is produced.<ref name="nyt19970928" /> According to [[Bruce Fowle]] of Fox & Fowle, the firm had contemplated using electric chillers, which could create and store ice at night, then use the ice to chill the offices during the daytime. Fowle said the firm had decided against using ice storage because it was more expensive than natural gas-powered chillers.<ref name="nyt19970330" /> After an upgrade in 2003, the building had {{cvt|4600|ST|LT t}} of air conditioning.<ref name="Electrical Contractor Magazine 2017" />

The air-delivery system provides 50 percent more fresh air than is required by New York City building code.<ref name="Case Study" /><ref name="n85616074" /><ref name="Wells p. 134" /> It can also be used to ventilate polluted air from specified floors; a separate exhaust shaft was designed for employee smoking areas.<ref name="p398625408" /> The air-circulation system was built so air on any set of three floors could be replaced every 24 to 48 hours.<ref name="n85616074" /> Sensors on each floor are used to monitor air quality, and the building's management team could adjust the air-delivery and ventilation systems as needed.<ref name="Wells p. 134" /><ref>{{cite web | last=Levitt | first=David M. | title=Office Air Filtration In the Spotlight as Workers Trickle Back | website=Commercial Observer | date=March 2, 2021 | url=https://commercialobserver.com/2021/03/office-air-filtration-covid-us/ | access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref> Tenants could also independently adjust the heating and air-conditioning systems in their offices.<ref name="Wells p. 134" /> The building's climate control system was designed to operate in tandem with the wastewater system, further reducing energy use.<ref name="ZT p. 36" />

==== Other features ====
The building is also served by recycling chutes.<ref name="nyt19970330" /><ref name="p398625408" /> There are dedicated shafts for paper recycling and trash,<ref name="p398625408" /> which lead to storage bins in the basement.<ref name="n85616074" /> There is mechanical equipment on the 49th floor and on two mezzanines above it. These stories contain three diesel generators, which power the antenna mast and are capable of a combined {{cvt|5,3|MW}}. In addition, the 51st floor has FM [[transmitter]]s and [[combiner]]s while the 52nd floor has TV combiners.<ref name="Electrical Contractor Magazine 2017" />