New York City Compliance
New York City has enacted Local Laws that impact how a building owner or operator should think about their energy usage. Any building located within the 5 boroughs may need to be compliant.
Lets discuss how Gorton Lake Engineering can be your portfolio compliance adviser.
Lets discuss how Gorton Lake Engineering can be your portfolio compliance adviser.
Gorton Lake Engineering Services
Gorton Lake Engineering staff has been involved in the various legislation and compliance discussions since the inception of the first requirements. It has and will continue to be our business to guide building owners and operators on the most cost effective ways to verify compliance with the laws. As a result of the bespoke nature of a building's design, a bespoke strategy and solution is required. Gorton Lake Engineering will create this plan and execute on behalf of the owners and operators to help build a greener future.
As an entire city prepares for a very different operating structure moving forward, it is critical that we all make informed and focused decisions to comply with these laws. Gorton Lake Engineering is able to provide feasibility studies, energy audit reports, retro- commissioning reports, and capital improvement strategies to meet the needs of any client. Additionally, Gorton Lake Engineering is able to produce bid and design packages or compile a team of experts in the field to execute these requirements.
As an entire city prepares for a very different operating structure moving forward, it is critical that we all make informed and focused decisions to comply with these laws. Gorton Lake Engineering is able to provide feasibility studies, energy audit reports, retro- commissioning reports, and capital improvement strategies to meet the needs of any client. Additionally, Gorton Lake Engineering is able to produce bid and design packages or compile a team of experts in the field to execute these requirements.
Local Law 84: Benchmarking
The NYC Benchmarking Law requires owners of large buildings to annually measure their energy and water consumption in a process called benchmarking. The law standardizes this process by requiring building owners to enter their annual energy and water use in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) online tool, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® and use the tool to submit data to the City. This data informs building owners about a building's energy and water consumption compared to similar buildings, and tracks progress year over year to help in energy efficiency planning.
Local Law 85: NYC Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC)
As national and state energy laws become updated periodically, New York City's energy laws must also be updated to reflect equal or more stringent regulations. No longer exempting renovations affecting less than half of the building system, Local Law 85 (LL85), the second law in the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP), now requires buildings to meet the most current energy code for any renovation or alteration project. LL85's requirement is based on a series of local energy laws, collectively called New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC). NYCECC currently comprises the 2010 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (ECCCNYS), Local Law 85 of 2009, Local Law 48 of 2010 and Local Law 1 of 2011.
Local Law 87: Energy Audits & Retro-commissioning
Local Law 87 (LL87) mandates that buildings over 50,000 gross square feet undergo periodic energy audit and retro-commissioning measures, as part of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP). The intent of this law is to inform building owners of their energy consumption through energy audits, which are surveys and analyses of energy use, and retro-commissioning, the process of ensuring correct equipment installation and performance.
In addition to benchmarking annual energy and water consumption, energy audits and retro-commissioning will give building owners a much more robust understanding of their buildings’ performance, eventually shifting the market towards increasingly efficient, high-performing buildings.
In summary, LL87’s energy audit and retro-commissioning process requires the following:
In addition to benchmarking annual energy and water consumption, energy audits and retro-commissioning will give building owners a much more robust understanding of their buildings’ performance, eventually shifting the market towards increasingly efficient, high-performing buildings.
In summary, LL87’s energy audit and retro-commissioning process requires the following:
- Determine if a building needs to comply, and what year it is due.
- Conduct an energy audit and retro-commissioning of base building systems and complete an Energy Efficiency Report (EER) electronically.
- Submit the EER once every ten years to the City by December 31
Local Law 88: Lighting Upgrades & Sub- Metering
Lighting in non-residential buildings accounts for almost 18 percent of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in New York City buildings. Dramatic improvements in lighting technology over the past two decades have made it feasible to significantly reduce energy consumption by installing more efficient lighting systems that can yield significant cost savings.
Additionally, many buildings depend on a single meter to monitor electricity consumption, and as such, bill non-residential tenants a standard rate regardless of the tenant's actual consumption. Individual tenants would likely reduce their energy consumption if energy use information were made available to them regularly. Local Law 88 of 2009 (LL88), part of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP), brings together requirements for both lighting upgrades and sub-metering that will help buildings achieve significant energy savings. Please review this section to learn more about LL88, how to comply, and where to get help.
About LL88
LL88 of 2009—and its subsequent expansions with Local Law 132 and 134, both of 2016—requires common areas in residential buildings greater than 25,000 square feet and all areas in non-residential buildings greater than 25,000 square feet to upgrade lighting to meet current New York City Energy Conservation Code standards by 2025. The original law and its subsequent expansions also requires all non-residential buildings greater than 25,000 square feet to install electrical sub-meters for each large non-residential tenant space greater than 5,000 square feet and provide monthly energy statements. The compliance deadline for both the lighting and sub-metering requirements is 2025.
Additionally, many buildings depend on a single meter to monitor electricity consumption, and as such, bill non-residential tenants a standard rate regardless of the tenant's actual consumption. Individual tenants would likely reduce their energy consumption if energy use information were made available to them regularly. Local Law 88 of 2009 (LL88), part of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP), brings together requirements for both lighting upgrades and sub-metering that will help buildings achieve significant energy savings. Please review this section to learn more about LL88, how to comply, and where to get help.
About LL88
LL88 of 2009—and its subsequent expansions with Local Law 132 and 134, both of 2016—requires common areas in residential buildings greater than 25,000 square feet and all areas in non-residential buildings greater than 25,000 square feet to upgrade lighting to meet current New York City Energy Conservation Code standards by 2025. The original law and its subsequent expansions also requires all non-residential buildings greater than 25,000 square feet to install electrical sub-meters for each large non-residential tenant space greater than 5,000 square feet and provide monthly energy statements. The compliance deadline for both the lighting and sub-metering requirements is 2025.
Local Law 97: Building Emissions
The Climate Mobilization Act is the name of a package of laws passed by the New York City Council on April 18, 2019. Local Law 97 (the building emissions law) is the centerpiece of the package and by far the most impactful. The package includes other important laws related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including on sustainable energy loans (called PACE financing), mandatory green roofs and an assessment of energy storage. You can read more about the Climate Mobilization Act on the New York City Council landing page and press release.
The building emissions law sets emissions intensity limits (metric tons of CO2e per square foot) for 10 building categories based on Building Code occupancy groups. But the answer for each individual building is complex.
Many, such as those with rent-regulated units, are not subject to emissions limits at all (see more below). And mixed-use buildings, such as a residential apartment building with a ground floor supermarket or retail store, will have limits that reflect their unique blend of occupancy groups.
Below are the 2024 and 2030 carbon emissions limits for multifamily apartments, offices and hotels. The law provides limits in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; the following table and Metered.nyc express these numbers in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (one metric ton equals 1000 kg). Limits for other building types are listed in the law.
The building emissions law sets emissions intensity limits (metric tons of CO2e per square foot) for 10 building categories based on Building Code occupancy groups. But the answer for each individual building is complex.
Many, such as those with rent-regulated units, are not subject to emissions limits at all (see more below). And mixed-use buildings, such as a residential apartment building with a ground floor supermarket or retail store, will have limits that reflect their unique blend of occupancy groups.
Below are the 2024 and 2030 carbon emissions limits for multifamily apartments, offices and hotels. The law provides limits in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; the following table and Metered.nyc express these numbers in kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (one metric ton equals 1000 kg). Limits for other building types are listed in the law.
Occupancy Group |
2024-2029 Limits (kg of CO2e per Square Foot) |
2030-2035 Limits (kg of CO2e per Square Foot) |
R-2 (Includes Apartments) |
6.75 |
4.07 |
B (Includes Offices) |
8.46 |
4.53 |
R-1 (Includes Hotels) |
9.87 |
5.26 |
