Could New York be Carbon-Free by 2050?

"90 by 50" is a new report released by the Urban Green Council, the New York Chapter of the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

The numbers refer to how drastically New York City could cut its carbon footprint in the next 38 years by switching to renewable-sourced electricity for heating buildings and by reducing the amount of heat that escapes them.

Although inefficient buildings contribute to 75 percent of the city's carbon emissions, 21 percent come from inefficient freight and passenger rail and non-electric buses.

The city could revamp its building and transportation systems by the year 2050, cutting its carbon emissions by 90 percent, for a projected net cost of only $20 billion.