Local Law 97 is a key piece of legislation that was passed as part of NYC’s Climate Mobilization Act. LL97 establishes and enforces stringent carbon emission limits for existing buildings, which account for roughly 70% of the total GHG emissions in NYC.
To reach the city-wide goal of reducing total carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, buildings will need to meet specific emissions targets defined by their use type. Owners that do not meet their targets will incur potentially substantial fines beginning in 2025.
To meet these targets, consider the following:
Step 1: Analyze
Ballpark Estimates Could Leave You with Peanuts
Faulty benchmarking data or low-quality energy audits are leaving building owners with incomplete or inaccurate data to measure building performance. An unknown margin of error could leave you with hefty fines. Start your Local Law 97 compliance now by verifying energy-use data points and information.
Step 2: Plan
Don’t Go Shopping on Christmas Eve
If you wait until the last minute, you will end up paying more for a less than optimal solution. Invest in improvements that will maximize your ROI. Create a capital plan that leverages a mix of lower-cost, practical improvements with longer-term, future-proof building system upgrades – and offset these costs by exploring available financial incentive programs.
Step 3: Improve
See the Forest for the Trees
Compliance with LL97 is not about checking a box, nor is it simple. You will need to partner with a knowledgeable, hands-on building consultant who understands the complexities of integrated building systems, and can provide options to meet your carbon emissions targets on-time and on-budget.
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