NEW YORK CITY-Despite the neon lights on Broaday—and the city'slarge inventory of skyscrapers—New York is more energy efficientthan the national average. So says a new report, released byMayor Michael Bloomberg's office, that tracked theenergy usage of the city's largest commercial and multi-familybuildings. More than 24,000 buildings that feature over 50,000square feet were measured in the study.

The research, prepared by the Natural Resources DefenseCouncil, showed that in the Energy Star Portfolio Manager,New York City's buildings had a median score of 67 out of 100. Thenational average is 50. The city's rankings were in line withBoston and other Northeast cities, however, where the buildingstock is likely of a similar age.

Still, energy use and efficiency varies due to a wide variety offactors, Melissa Wright, associate director ofNRDC's city energy project, tells GlobeSt.com. “It depends on how abuilding is constructed, and on operations. Large chain stores withdisplays that are lit 24 hours, versus those that dim their lightsat night and clearly are conserving [have very different energyprofiles].