Local Law 97's New Proposed Rules

Among DOB's priorities is helping create a more sustainable future in New York City by promoting building energy efficiency retrofits. To help achieve the climate goals set forth by both the state and the city, DOB has recently made public our third proposed rule set for implimentation of Local Law 97, the city's groundbreaking building carbon emissions reduction initiative.

These proposed rules are intended to assist property owners as they work to retrofit their buildings, and reduce the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the operation of those properties. A public hearing will be held for the proposed rules and is scheduled for Thursday, November 7th at 11:00 a.m.

Read the full Proposed Rule Set in the City Record

Find out How to Attend the Public Hearing

Affordable Housing "GreenHOUSE" Fund

A key aspect of the new proposed set of rules is the creation of the GreenHOUSE fund, a new program that will help building owners comply with Local Law 97 by directing financial resources to help rent-regulated apartment buildings and low-income co-ops implement emissions reduction projects.

Local Law 97 sets emissions limits for large buildings, but also allows those buildings to purchase offset certificates to reach those limits.

The GreenHOUSE Fund will take the proceeds from those offset purchases and direct them towards projects to decarbonize and electrify affordable housing developments in the five boroughs that wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford them. This helps direct money to fund real energy efficiency retrofit projects right here at home, reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide.

Read the full Press Release

ASHRAE Decarbonization Conference

The 2024 ASHRAE Decarbonization Conference is right around the corner, and this year city government sustainability experts will be on hand to discuss the latest on building performance standards, Local Law 97, and energy codes. Staff from DOB's Sustainability Bureau will be attending to take part in multiple seminars and discussion panels across the 3-day conference.

Tickets are available for in-person and virtual attendance.

Join special guest speakers from DOB and other government agencies to learn about replicable decarbonization technical solutions for existing large and tall buildings, and how the Department of Buildings is helping New York State met its ambitious climate goals.

Learn More and Sign-Up here

Prescriptive Energy Conservation Measures

For affordable housing buildings, houses of worship and other covered buildings seeking compliance with Local Law 97, Article 321 of the law offers additional pathways to help building owners get into compliance. One of these alternative pathways is prescriptive energy conservation measures (PECM), which are a checklist of attainable energy efficiency retrofit projects that certain affordable housing buildings can complete, which will help them reduce carbon emissions.

There are over 8,000 affordable housing buildings facing compliance deadlines, and property owners need to make sure that they have their Local Law 97 ducks in a row. For those building owners considering the PECM alternative compliance pathway set forth in Article 321, they need to get started on implementing those building sustainability measures right away.

Check out this Educational Guide to learn more about Article 321 compliance and accommodations.

Sustainability Events

Educational outreach is a key element to our plan to make New York City greener and more sustainable. We are proud of the outreach work we are doing both online and in person, and we have more events upcoming.

Just recently for Climate Week, September 22nd to the 29th, members of DOB's Sustainability Bureau participated in multiple in-person climate events. That's on top of the 37 presentations on LL97 compliance and "LL97 In Your District" events that DOB has participated in over the past year.

Next up, please join us and our friends at NYC Accelerator for the LL97 Compliance: NYC Accelerator Service Provider Expo and Symposium on October 16, 2024. There you will discover energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions tailored to your building’s needs!

Sign up for the Symposium.

We understand that educating the public about Local Law 97 is the best chance we have to meeting our climate goals. Follow us on social media to stay up to date on all of our upcoming sustainability-related events.

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