While NYC Local Law 97 does not go into effect until 2024, smart building managers are preparing for it NOW because potential anticipated annual fines of 6-figures are expected. CCES worked with an apartment complex of four buildings in the West Village who was concerned about their energy management and whether they may be facing major fines for LL 97 when it goes into effect.

CCES performed an evaluation of their actual 2021 energy usage to determine whether that usage, if the same in 2024, would exceed their building-specific LL 97 GHG emission limit and result in a fine. CCES directed the building manager to collect total energy usage in 2021, including electricity and natural gas bills of all tenants (aggregate tenant) and all common area activities. LL 97 requires TOTAL energy usage, including of tenants, even if the owner does not control tenant activities. It is important to gather data from all meters, and some buildings operate many meters. CCES was provided and reviewed their 2021 data and informed management that it did not look right and perhaps several meters were unaccounted for. This advice was quite useful as Management did find additional metered data they had missed earlier.

CCES analyzed the energy data for LL 97 for the complex, using the conversion factors found in the law, and determined their specific LL 97 GHG normalized emission limit. CCES determined that if the total energy in 2021 of the complex remained the same in 2024, they would comply with their LL 97 limit. However, they were advised not to be complacent about compliance because their actual GHG emissions was close to their limit, only 8% below it. Should 2024 have an exceptionally cold winter or hot summer, necessitating the greater use of natural gas for heating or electricity for cooling or if the resident composition of the complex changed and residents were using more energy in 2024, the complex could exceed their limit and have to pay a fine. CCES advised them to increase the “buffer” below their limit by implementing common-sense, financially-beneficial energy efficiency upgrades, and provided a few examples. The complex was pleased with the report and will seriously consider some of the recommendations and heed the need to increase the buffer below its compliance limit.