Gas Hookups Phased Out For New Construction

Did you know that Nearly 40% of New York City carbon emissions come from the fossil fuels used on furnaces, boilers, and hot water heaters?

In order to meet NYC's ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals, the City Council passed Local Law 154 of 2021, which phases out the use of natural gas and fuel oil in newly constructed buildings for cooking, heating and service hot water, which impacts appliances such as cooking ranges and clothes dryers.

The first phase of the law goes into effect January 1, 2024, when all new construction projects for 1- and 2-family homes, as well as new buildings less than seven stories high, will need to comply. The law will apply to all other new building construction projects beginning on July 2, 2027.

For more information on Local Law 154, visit our website here, and see a FAQ about the new regulations here.

Local Law 97 Rules Package

Carbon emission limits for larger buildings, as required by Local Law 97 of 2019, officially go into effect on January 1, 2024. Ahead of this important milestone DOB released a proposed second rule package for Local Law 97, providing clear guidance for enforcement, "Good Faith Efforts," affordable housing , beneficial electrification and more.

The regulations in this proposed agency rule were informed by the collaborative work of the city's Local Law 97 Advisory Board and Climate Working Groups. As part of the rulemaking process, a public hearing was held, where New Yorkers were able to weigh in on the regulations and suggest potential changes.

Stay tuned, because the Department's review of these public comments is wrapping up, and we will be publishing a final version of the rule in the near future.

For more information about Local Law 97 visit our website.

Contact NYC Accelerator for free 1-on-1 guidance

City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality

The New York City Council recently approved City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, a major sustainability focused branch of Mayor Adams' three-part City of Yes plan to modernize the city's zoning in order to foster a greener, more affordable, and more prosperous city.

This measure brings innovative updates to our City's zoning regulations, removing regulatory barriers for building owners looking to implement green building retrofits, and smoothing their path on the road to comply with Local Law 97.

The City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality plan outlines 17 reforms that facilitate climate action and clean energy, including:

• Facilitating a Renewable Energy Grid – removes obstacles that limit rooftop space allowed for solar panels, as well as opening up 8,500 acres of parking lot space for solar panel installation.

• Creating Cleaner Buildings – lightens onerous restrictions on the height and thickness of walls that restrict building electrification and retrofits for greater efficiency, enabling retrofits for over 50,000 buildings.

• Supporting Electric Vehicles and Micromobility – more than doubles the commercially zoned land where electric vehicle charging facilities can be located, adding an additional 400 million square feet of potential charging space.

• Modernizing Water, Compost, and Recycling Regulations – expands the use of permeable paving and rain gardens, cuts red tape and eliminates uncertainty for recycling and composting.

For more information, read the Department of City Planning's Press Release.

Sustainable Roofs

New Yorkers have two great options for putting their rooftops to environmentally-friendly use: solar panels and green roof systems.

Solar panels generate electricity that acts as a renewable energy source to reduce the demand on NYC's electrical grid, and green roofs use vegetation to absorb rainwater and reduce the heat island effect. Additionally, installing a green roof or solar panel project may qualify building owners for a property tax abatement.

These rooftop projects require DOB permits, and the installations require building owners to hire a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect to assess whether the building's structure can maintain the weight of the project.

Filing an application for these jobs is now easier than ever, because as of November 15, 2023, both solar and green roof filings can be filed through the DOB NOW: Build, our online public portal. Find out more by reading our service notice.

Winter Is Coming - Get Prepared

Fall is almost finished, which means winter is around the corner. Don't forget to change your household habits accordingly. Here's a list of tips that will help you stay comfortable and save money.

• Open curtains to get heat from the sun during the day, and close them to keep out cold at night.

• Cover drafty windows with plastic covers or heavy drapes.

• Set thermostat to cooler temps while you're sleeping or not at home.

• Seal air leaks around windows, doors, plumbing, etc.

• Schedule tune-ups/maintenance for your heating systems to make sure they're running efficiently.

• Keep fireplace dampers closed.

• Keep hot water heater set to 120 °F.

For information on NYSERDA's Residential Energy Assessment Programs, visit nyserdera.ny.gov