BUILD ENERGY GROUP
ABOUT LOCAL ENERGY LAWS
WHAT BUILDINGS DOES NYC LOCAL LAW 84 AFFECT?
Local Law 84 (LL84) in New York City requires benchmarking of energy and gas consumption for certain types of buildings. LL84 affects:
Covered Buildings: Local Law 84 impacts all buildings with over 25,000 square footage, or two or more buildings belonging to one single lot, larger than 100,000 square feet. This includes residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings.
City Agencies: City-owned buildings with an area above 10,000 gross sq. ft are also subject to LL84 requirements.
The law mandates these buildings to submit report their annual energy and gas consumption data to the city, which is then made publicly available. The aim is to promote transparency, encourage energy efficiency improvements, and contribute to the city’s sustainability goals.
LL133 made an amendment to the Benchmarking Law that exempts certain buildings from the requirement to benchmark their energy and gas usage.
These buildings must meet the following criteria:
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The building has a maximum of three stories.
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The dwellings within the building are attached, detached, or semi-attached, and the owner of each dwelling is responsible for the HVAC and hot gas systems and their maintenance.
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The HVAC or hot gas system only serves up to two dwellings.
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A registered design professional has certified that these criteria are met.
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Properties that are larger than 25,000 sq. ft. and fulfil these conditions are exempt from the benchmarking law, even if they meet the size requirement.
COMPONENTS OF LOCAL LAW 87
Energy Audit
An energy audit involves a thorough examination of a building’s energy equipment and systems. This aim identifying financially viable capital enhancements that can lead to energy savings. The report presents a list of suggested approaches to save energy, accompanied by an estimation of their cost and payback period. As per NYC LL87, property owners are obligated to undergo an energy audit; however, they are not mandated to implement the recommendations provided in the audit report.
Retro-Commissioning Report
Retro-commissioning, also known as RC-x, involves conducting tests and adjustments on existing building systems. This ensures they are operating according to their intended design and with maximum efficiency. The process is commonly utilized to identify and rectify maintenance, calibration, and operational errors. This can significantly impact energy consumption and equipment reliability. Moreover, retro-commissioning often brings to light issues that may have originated from the building’s construction or subsequent renovations. Any operational measures found to be non-compliant with the Law during retro-commissioning must be promptly addressed.
PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL LAW 87, NYC
The Department of Buildings oversees the enforcement of Local Law 87, NYC. Non-compliance with this law will result in a Class 2 violation, which can lead to fines of $3,000 for the first year and $5,000 for subsequent years. The Department of Buildings (DOB) has plans to perform random assessments of the documents submitted in accordance with the Law.