New York City Local Law 84
What is New York City Local Law 84?
- New York City Local Law 84 mandates annual reporting of energy and water use for buildings larger than 25,000 square feet in the Five Boroughs (Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island). This Ordinance helps track building efficiency and reduce energy waste in the city.
What buildings are required per New York City Local Law 84?
Local Law 84 applies to large buildings in the five boroughs (Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Staten Island). There are two main criteria to determine if a building is required to comply:
- Single buildings: buildings with a total floor area exceeding 25,000 gross square feet
- Multiple buildings on one lot: multiple buildings on a single tax lot with a combined gross square footage exceeding 100,000,
You can view the list of buildings required to submit benchmarking data here.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
There are penalties for failing to comply with New York City Local Law 84 (LL84). These penalties are tiered and increase the longer a building owner remains out of compliance:
- Initial Penalty: If you miss the May 1st deadline to submit your benchmarking report, the first penalty is a fine of $500.
- Continued Non-Compliance: For each subsequent quarter that the report remains unsubmitted, an additional $500 fine is incurred.
- Maximum Penalty: The maximum penalty for failing to submit a single year’s report is $2,000. This occurs if the report isn’t submitted by the following February 1st deadline.
There’s also a separate penalty for not displaying the Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label. Failing to do so can result in a $1,250 fine.
What is the compliance process?
New York City building owners must report their energy usage data to Energy Star Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.
What is the deadline for New York City Local Law 84?
NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) requires that building owners annually submit their energy usage data using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool by May 1st.
Meeting the May 1st deadline is essential for on-time compliance. However, if you miss it, you can still submit your report by August 1st, November 1st, or February 1st of the following year, but be aware of potential fines.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Water
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
What is the purpose for New York City Local Law 84?
New York City Local Law 84 (LL84) has a two-fold purpose aimed at improving the city’s environmental and economic well-being:
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Promote Sustainability: Buildings are a major source of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in New York City. LL84 compels owners of large buildings to track and report their energy and water usage. This data helps:
- Identify areas for improvement in energy efficiency.
- Track progress towards the city’s ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Encourage building owners to invest in energy-saving technologies and practices.
Enhance Building Transparency and Efficiency: By requiring annual benchmarking, LL84 promotes transparency in building energy use. This allows for:
- Building owners to compare their energy performance with similar structures.
- Tenants and the public to make informed decisions about the buildings they occupy or use.
- Increased awareness of energy consumption, potentially leading to behavioral changes that promote efficiency.
Overall, LL84 is a key driver in NYC’s Greener, Greater Buildings Plan. It plays a significant role in tackling climate change and fostering a more sustainable and energy-efficient built environment in the city.
Interested in benchmarking help?
If you are interested to learn more how Energy Fave can help with Energy benchmarking for your building or if you have more questions about the whole reporting process, feel free to email us: [email protected]