Local Law 97 is a significant concern in New York City, especially as we approach the 2030 and 2035 when the largest fines will issued. But it's also something for other cities to pay attention to since most large cities are modeling their climate legislation off this law.
Here's a recap of the live event we held to discuss how to find your local law 97 fines and the top 5 measures you can take to reduce or avoid the fine:
Using the BE-Exchange Tool
The BE-Exchange tool, available at beexchange.org, allows building owners to input their addresses and view their compliance status. This tool provides detailed data on energy usage and potential fines, helping owners plan necessary upgrades.
Steps to Mitigate Fines and Improve Efficiency
These measures were presented in an order of lowest cost at the top to highest cost at the bottom, but all are very high ROI improvements. The recommendation is to start with the lowest cost items and use the BE Exchange tool to monitor your progress in reducing your fines along the way.
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Insulation: Ensure all headers and risers in your heating system are properly insulated. Simple and low-cost. This measure can significantly reduce heating costs and improve your Local Law 97 compliance score.
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Master Venting and Steam Trap Maintenance: Properly venting and maintaining steam traps ensures your heating system runs efficiently, reducing the energy required to heat your building.
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Smart Controls: Implementing indoor temperature sensors and smart controls can optimize your heating system’s performance, potentially reducing energy usage by 20-30%.
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Hot Water Heaters: Installing separate, efficient gas-fired or electric hot water heaters can decrease energy consumption during warmer months when large boilers are typically inefficient.
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Boiler Downsizing: If necessary, consider downsizing to a modern, high-efficiency boiler. This significant investment can yield substantial long-term savings and help achieve compliance through 2035.
While electrification is a long-term goal for many buildings, it is currently costly and impractical for most due to infrastructure limitations and high operating costs.
As technology advances and electricity costs decrease, electrification may become more feasible. However, for now, focusing on practical, cost-effective improvements is recommended.
Utilities offer rebates to cover improvements like these.
Most utility companies have funds set up to pay for a lot of the costs of energy efficiency improvements. We created a tool to see if there are rebates available for your buildings. You can check here.
