Deadlines are approaching for compliance with Local Law 87 in New York City. In this post, we outline the basics of the law and what it will take to achieve compliance.
NYC LOCAL LAW 87 EARLY COMPLIANCE
One of the key responsibilities of a building owner is ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations. When you avoid waiting until the last minute to meet compliance requirements, you will gain not only peace of mind but also the ability to consider other pressing issues you have on your plate.
There are a number of local laws in place in New York City aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions. These laws affect large buildings and were passed as a part of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP) project that began in 2009. In this post, we will break down the details of Local Law 87 in depth and touch on other local laws that will be covered in greater detail in future posts.
EVERY 10 YEARS
Local Law 87 dictates that every building in New York City with over 50,000 square feet of gross area must be subject to an energy audit and retro-commissioning every 10 years. This includes situations where two or more buildings together have over 100,000 square feet of space. Once these two steps are complete, an Energy Efficiency Report (EER) can be compiled to be submitted to the NYC Department of Buildings on December 31 of that building’s stipulated reporting year.
The first component, an energy audit, involves an analysis of the building’s equipment and a review of energy bills for the past two years. Equipment to be inspected includes HVAC, lighting, and electrical systems. The audit is a key step in determining which steps can or need to be taken to reduce energy usage and energy costs. Because of the potential cost savings, this is as beneficial to you as it is to the environment.
The retro-commissioning process then involves diagnosing and repairing equipment to improve the energy efficiency of your entire facility. Once all necessary repairs and replacements have been completed, an EER that includes certification forms and collected data can be assembled and filed electronically with the city.
WHEN IS COMPLIANCE REQUIRED FOR LOCAL LAW 87 IN NEW YORK?
Not all buildings require compliance by the same date. Your deadline is based on the last digits of your building’s block number. The dates are as follows:
Last Digits of Block Number Compliance Deadline
8 December 31, 2019
9 December 31, 2020
10 December 31, 2021
11 December 31. 2022
12 December 31, 2023
If your EER is not submitted by these dates, you may be subject to certain penalties. If your building does not comply in the first year, you will be fined $30,000. After that, you will be fined an additional $6,000 every additional year. Further penalties include the rejection of construction permits.
Filing costs are as little as $375 for the initial filing, $155 for extension requests, and $145 for amendments to your report. Remember, by meeting these requirements and filing you will not only save yourself from potential financial penalties and construction restrictions, but you will save money on your utility bill.
Complying with local energy efficiency regulations is important for both the environment and your bottom line. React Industries can guide you through the entire process.
OTHER NYC LOCAL LAWS
As discussed earlier, Local Law 87 is just one component of a package of legislation that was passed as a part of the GGBP project. We will cover the requirements of these other laws in more detail in future posts, but below is a quick overview.
Local Law 84 requires that owners of large buildings submit benchmarking data related to their energy and water use. Similar to the EER, this will enable more efficient use of utilities.
Local Law 133 is similar to Local Law 84 in that it requires the submission of benchmarking data for energy and water. This law is focused on mid-sized buildings.
Local Law 33 mandates that building owners display energy letter grades and benchmarking data at the entrance of their buildings. This is similar to how restaurants display sanitation grades in visible locations for customers when they walk inside.
ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH REACT INDUSTRIES
Learning about these requirements doesn’t have to make your head spin. By partnering with a certified team of professional HVAC contractors such as React Industries, you can get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your building is in compliance. We will make the entire process easy. Once we are finished with your facility, you can feel confident that you are operating at peak efficiency while saving on costs and the environment in the process.
Connect with us today to get the process started.