Local Law 87: Energy Assessments

Local Law 87 of 2009 is a New York City law aimed at improving the energy efficiency of large buildings. It's a key part of the city's Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP). Here's a breakdown:

What are the requirements?

• Covered Buildings: Buildings over 50,000 gross square feet, or two or more buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 square feet.
• Energy Audit: Conduct an audit to identify energy-saving opportunities. This involves:
  • Analyzing energy bills
  • Evaluating building systems (lighting, HVAC, etc.)
  • Identifying areas for improvement
• Retro-commissioning: Optimize existing building systems to ensure they are operating efficiently. This might include:
  • Adjusting HVAC controls
  • Repairing or replacing faulty equipment
  • Improving insulation
• Energy Efficiency Report (EER): Submit a report to the Department of Buildings (DOB) every ten years detailing the audit findings, retro-commissioning measures, and energy efficiency improvements.

Compliance Timelines:

Buildings are assigned a specific year for compliance based on their tax block number. You can find your building's compliance year on the NYC Buildings website.

Penalties for Non-compliance:

• Failure to file: Can result in a Class 2 violation with escalating fines:
  • $3,000 for the first year
  • $5,000 for each subsequent year
• False Statements: Providing false information in the EER can lead to significant penalties.