Local Law 97

ABOUT LOCAL LAW 97

In 2019, New York City enacted Local Law 97 to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The law requires buildings over 25,000 square feet to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by the year 2030 and 80% by 2050.

To comply, building owners and managers must submit annual emission reports beginning May 1, 2025 to prove their building’s 2024 emissions are below the limits. Buildings that fail to comply will be subject to massive fines.

LARGE FINES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE

Exceeding Emission Limits: $268 for each metric ton over the building’s established limit. For example, a 100,000 sq. ft. multifamily residential building emitting 800 metric tons of carbon would be 145 metric tons over its 2024-2029 targets and pay a fine of $38,860.

Failure to File a Report: $0.50 per building square foot, per month. For example, a 100,000 sq. ft. building would be $50,000 per month.

Providing False Statements: $500,000 fine

HOW TO GET STARTED

To ensure your building is on track to comply, it’s important to understand your building’s current energy usage and annual emissions. You can access this information by reviewing your Local Law 84 Benchmarking Report.

If your building meets the affordable housing criteria, you may choose to implement the 13 Prescriptive Energy Conservation Measures to reduce your building’s emissions and improve energy efficiency. If you follow this path, all applicable Energy Conservation Measures must be fully implemented by December 31, 2024.

Affordable Housing Criteria

  • Buildings with more than 35 of units subject to rent regulation (regardless of income restrictions)
  • Housing Development Fund Cooperatives (HDCFC co-ops)
  • Buildings with HUD project based assistance (e g Section 8 Section 202 Section 811 or CoC)
  • Buildings on NYCHA land that participate in the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) or the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) programs

If your building does not meet the affordable housing criteria, assessing your building’s status against the 13 Prescriptive Energy Conservation Measures is still a crucial step in estimating costs and prioritizing projects to comply with emission requirements. At Energo, we call this our “13-Point Inspection.”

ENERGO’S 13-POINT INSPECTION

With Energo’s 13-Point Inspection, our qualified team of in-house mechanical engineers, fully trained technicians, and experienced energy experts will assess your building’s status against each of the 13 Prescriptive Energy Conservation Measures.

We’ll provide a comprehensive report that details the status of each measure, estimated costs if the measures need to be implemented, and estimated carbon emission reductions for each measure, so you can plan and prioritize accordingly.

PRESCRIPTIVE ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES

  1. Adjust temperature set points for heat and hot water to reflect appropriate space occupancy and facility requirements.
  2. Repair all heating system leaks.
  3. Maintain the building’s heating system. Make sure system components are clean and in good operating condition.
  4. Install individual temperature controls or insulate radiator enclosures with temperature controls on all radiators.
  5. Insulate all pipes for heating and/or hot water.
  6. Insulate the steam system condensate tank or water tank.
  7. Install indoor and outdoor heating system sensors and boiler controls to allow for proper set-points.
  8. Replace or repair all steam traps.
  9. Install or upgrade steam system master venting at the ends of mains, large horizontal pipes, and tops of risers, vertical pipes branching off a main.
  10. Upgrade lighting to comply with the standards for new systems set forth in Section 805 of the New York City Energy Conservation Code.
  11. Weatherize and air seal where appropriate, including windows and ductwork, with focus on whole-building insulation.
  12. Install timers on exhaust fans.
  13. Install radiant barriers behind all radiators.

ENERGO CAN HELP

Navigating Local Law 97 requires the management and coordination of an expert. Energo can help. As a full-service energy provider, Energo’s energy experts are adept at decreasing energy consumption, reducing energy costs, and integrating sustainable solutions to help ensure LL97 compliance.

Reporting begins in 2024 – contact Energo to get started today.

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