NYC Local Law 87 – Energy Audit & Retro-Commissioning
October 5th, 2023 | UncategorizedWhat is Local Law 87?
New York City Local Law 87 requires that owners of buildings over 50,000 square feet must conduct energy audits and retro-commissioning studies to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Act requires building owners to periodically assess the energy use of their properties, determine potential efficiency improvements, and optimize mechanical systems, and are required to report findings to the NYC Department of Buildings. Local Law 87 aims to make existing buildings more sustainable, reduce energy consumption, help deliver the city’s environmental goals, and support owners in reducing utility costs. Compliance with Local Law 87 is essential to avoid penalties and fines, with audits and retro-commissioning typically recurring every ten years.
What are the fines Under Local Law 87?
Under Local Law 87 in New York City, failure to comply with the mandated power audits and retro-commissioning can result in significant fines. The unique fines can vary depending on the dimensions and form of the building, in addition to the extent of non-compliance. Generally, owners who do not publish the required reports or fail to fulfill the closing dates outlined with the aid of the NYC Department of Buildings can also face consequences. These fines serve as a means of enforcing Local Law 87 and encouraging building proprietors to prioritize energy performance in their properties. Owners must stick to the regulation’s requirements to keep away from financial repercussions and make contributions to the city’s broader sustainability goals.
Who is responsible for paying the fine?
The responsibility for paying penalties under NYC Local Law 87 generally rests with the landlord or party responsible for complying with the law’s requirements. Legally, building owners are responsible for ensuring that Local Law 87 mandates energy audits and restarts and that the required reports are submitted to the NYC Department of Buildings promptly. In the event of non-compliance, the landlord is responsible for dealing with any fines or penalties imposed by the city. Building owners can work with qualified professionals and experts in energy efficiency to ensure compliance with Local Law 87 requirements and avoid financial impacts while supporting the City’s sustainability efforts.
What should I do today?
The first step is to enlist a certified energy auditor who holds accreditation from the Building Performance Institute (BPI), the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), or another permitted group. This auditor will scrutinize your building’s energy consumption patterns, building envelope, HVAC system, lighting system, and different electricity-dependent systems. As well as review utility bills, review building operations and perform diagnostic tests.
How can FST Help?
FST will conduct an ASHRAE Level II energy audit to identify measures, with calculated payback, to lower the building’s energy consumption and/or operational costs. We will help you prioritize which energy conservation measures to implement. FST will also provide a general assessment of how the energy-using equipment/systems in the tenant space affect the base building’s energy consumption. FST will also perform retro-commissioning based on all building systems (including systems or sub-systems that use energy or impact energy consumption). The goal of retro-commissioning is to optimize the building’s energy performance through the identification and correction of deficiencies. FST will bring together the findings into an in-depth document summarizing the results of the strength audit. This document will embody a listing of ECMs, with a value-gain analysis, calculations of capacity energy savings, and suggestions for implementation.
FST Technical Services (FST) specializes in building systems performance, analyzing energy usage and providing owners with ways to improve operational efficiency. FST can conduct an ASHRAE Level II energy audit to identify measures, with calculated payback, to lower the building’s energy consumption and/or operational costs. Understanding that every building is unique, we will help us guide you in prioritizing which energy conservation measures to implement. FST will also provide a general assessment of how the energy using equipment/systems in the tenant space affect the base building’s energy consumption.