
A Comprehensive Guide on NYC Local Law 87 Compliance
The local law 87 was enacted back in 2009 to enhance the energy efficiency of all the buildings in NYC. The building owners must submit the EERs [Energy Efficiency Reports] to the DOB [Department of Buildings] to demonstrate compliance. In this article, you will comprehend some essential things about this particular law, why it’s important, the cost of compliance, and so on.
NYC Local Law 87 Compliance: A Brief Definition
The LL87 mandates retro-commissioning and energy audits for all the buildings over 50,000 sq. ft in NYC, and building owners should conduct it once every 10 years. You must stay aware of two primary components of this law, which are retro-commissioning and energy audits.
The energy audit can detect all the energy-saving possibilities in the building, which includes ventilation, cooling, heating, and the lighting system. The retro-commissioning, on the other hand, will optimize the present system of your building to lessen the energy waste and magnify the performance.
You have to submit the energy efficiency report to the Department of Buildings within the deadline provided by the Department of Buildings. In this report, you should include the studies of retro-commissioning studies and energy audits.
Understanding the Difference Between LL84, LL97, LL87?
Along with the NYC Local law 87, LL87 and Local Law 97 are also a part of NYC’s efforts to enhance the energy efficiency of all the buildings and also lessen the greenhouse gas emissions. But all these laws differ greatly because they have different goals and needs.
In this section, you will get a detailed explanation of the primary difference between Local Law 87, LL84, and LL97.
Local Law 87
This particular law wants all buildings that are more than 50,000 sq. ft. to go through retro-appointing revisions and energy inspections.
Local Law 84
Local Law 84 wants all the building owners who have buildings bigger than 50,000 sq. ft to report yearly and benchmark the energy usage to NYC.
Local Law 97
This law wants the building owners of buildings over 25,000 sq. ft. to meet all the stringent greenhouse gas emissions parameters from the beginning of 2024.
How to Submit the EERs to the Department of Buildings?
By now, you’re already well aware of what is local law 87, but under this law, you have to prepare the Energy Efficiency Report, commonly known as EER. You have to hire a reliable and trusted energy auditor who will prepare this report based on the retro-commissioning revision and energy audits.
You should make sure that the report is made with the standard template from the Department of Buildings. The report must contain all the data about your building’s acquiescence with LL87, energy competence procedures, and energy usage.
Once the auditor makes the report, you must submit it to the Department of Buildings without delay. You can also submit the report through the online platform by using the Building Energy Efficiency Reporting and Disclosure System [BEERD]. This particular system is a part of the Department of Buildings. You also have to pay a fee when you submit the report.
What are the Four Main Components of Local Law 87?
Under this section, you will find out the primary components of the NYC Local Law 87. Let’s find out what they are:
- Decide whether or not the property needs to comply with the law and which year the acquiescence is owed.
- Conduct periodic retro-commissioning revisions and energy audits based on the power-consumption systems of your building.
- Complete the local law 87 energy efficiency report and submit it through the online platform.
- You must submit the report by December 31st.
What are the Penalties for the Non-Compliance of LL87?
All building owners located in New York City who have failed to comply with the local law 87 NYC will face fines and penalties. Here are some of the penalties and fines for non-compliance of this law:
Fines
All the building owners in NYC who do not comply with the new york city local law 87 have to pay a fine of $3000 for the violation.
Notices for Violation
The NYC Department of Buildings will issue a notice for violation to the building owners when they do not comply with New York City Local Law 87. All these notices will lead to extra penalties and fines, which you, as the building owner, have to pay.
Building Performance Grades
The NYCECC [New York City Energy Conservation Code] will assign the BPG [Building Performance Grade] to all the buildings according to their energy efficiency.
If you don’t comply with the LL87, you will get a lower BPG, which will have a negative impact on the marketability and reputation of your buildings.
Loss of Monetary Incentives
The buildings that do not submit their EER within the local law 87 due dates or do not comply with the law will not qualify for monetary incentives, such as rebates and tax credits. These incentives are provided for energy-efficient upgrades.
Taking Legal Action
In certain cases, the city of NY will take legal action against the building owners who do not obey the LL87. This will lead to legal fees, penalties, and fines.
Ending Note
The LL87 was established to increase the energy efficiency of all the large buildings in New York City. This particular law can provide a much better understanding to all the building owners and help them optimize the yearly usage of water and energy.
To make sure the building owners comply with this law, companies like Cotocon Group come into the picture. They have a proven history of offering local law 87 compliance consulting services to all the building owners in New York City.
Through their local law 87 compliance consulting services, they will make sure that all the building owners meet all the requirements on time.
FAQs
- What happens during the energy audits?
During the energy audits, the professional auditors will conduct a survey of different operations, systems, and equipment on the property.
- What are the LL87 requirements?
Buildings that are bigger than 50,000 square feet in New York City should conduct retro-commissioning revisions and energy audits.
- When did Local Law LL87 start?
LL87 was established way back in 2009 to increase efficiency in all the big buildings in NYC.
- What happens when you don’t comply with LL87?
Failing to comply with Local Law 87 will lead to penalties, fines, and legal action.
- Who will conduct the energy audit under LL87?
The energy audits will be conducted by a professional auditor certified by the BPI [Building Performance Institute].