LL84: Benchmarking Energy Use to Build a Sustainable Future

New York City has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 80% by 2050. Authorities have passed many local laws to realize this goal, and Local Law 84 is also one of those regulations.

The LL84 largely deals with benchmarking the energy efficiency of a building in NYC, which helps determine areas for improvement. This legislation is imperative in meeting the goals of NYC building energy efficiency by 2050.

But is this law really important, and is its compliance a challenge? This is what we will try to answer in this blog, so make sure you read to the end for a better idea!

What is the Local Law 84 All About?

The Local Law 84, also known as LL84, is a legislation passed by the New York City Council in 2009. This was a part of the broader initiative to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings in the city.

As per this law, if you have a building larger than 50,000 square feet, you must benchmark and rapport its energy use annually. You can use the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool to collect data on a building's energy efficiency. It also covers other key areas, such as its occupancy rate, size, and operating hours.

Based on these factors, the portfolio manager tool will evaluate the building's total energy efficiency. This calculation is based on a standardized energy use intensity (EUI) metric. You must submit this report to authorities by May 1st every year.

This law plays an important role in enhancing the transparency of a building's energy use. This will help owners, tenants, and other stakeholders understand and compare these results with those of other buildings. The primary intent here is to enhance awareness and promote energy efficiency in the long run.

Why Do We Have Local Law 84 in the First Place?

The implementation of the LL84 is not an overnight surprise for the residents of NYC. If anything, this results from some thorough deliberation on weighing the LL84 sustainability benefits that led to this push. Let's take a closer look at some of these rationales and see if they make sense:

Energy Efficiency : Enhancing energy efficiency is the primary intent behind Local Law 84. The simple logic is that better energy efficiency would translate to lower emissions, reducing the adverse effects of energy wastage on the environment.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions : The next apparent logic behind implementing Local Law 84 is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This law will play an important role in reducing GHG emissions by 80% by 2050. This will help enhance public awareness and even increase building owner accountability.

Protection for Tenant : One of the less-known rationales for implementing Local Law 84 is better tenant protection. The emission reports enhance overall transparency about a building's energy efficiency. This helps tenants make informed choices in terms of choosing the building they live or work in.

Economic Development : Economic progress is the final and probably the most important motivator for implementing Local Law 84. This development will accelerate the growth of businesses in the energy efficiency sector. Naturally, this will open up more appealing opportunities that businesses can leverage to drive better innovation.

What Do You Need to Do to Comply with Local Law 84?

Compliance with Local Law 84 is not that big of a challenge. But this is only true if you know the right approach to deal with the matter. So, here are some of the steps you can follow to ensure compliance with this law of energy benchmarking for sustainability :

Step 1: Find If the Building is Subject to Local Law 84

Before you understand the complexity of Local Law 84, you must determine if it applies to your building. The law applies to all buildings larger than 50,000 square feet or with multiple buildings on the same tax lot collectively exceeding 100,000 square feet. As a building owner, it is your responsibility to verify if the property meets these criteria.

Step 2: Collecting Data About Energy Consumption

The next important thing you must do here is start collecting all the relevant energy consumption data. Make sure to collect the data for each of the eligible buildings for the entire calendar year. You must include every detail, including the building's electricity, steam, and gas use. Lastly, it also collects other characteristics of the building, including occupancy, gross floor area, and operational hours.

Step 3: Enter the Data into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

The third step is quite simple, as all you need to do is enter all the data into the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. This will help you benchmark the energy consumption of the entire building for better clarity. You can use this tool for free and compare your building's energy performance with other similar buildings in the region.

Step 4: Submit the Benchmarking Report

Since 2011, building owners have been required to submit reports to the City. The report must be submitted before the 1st of May every year, and it can be easily submitted through an online tool provided by the City.

Step 5: Display the Building's Energy Efficiency Rating Label

The final thing that you need to take care of for Local Law 84 compliance is quite simple. All you need to do here is display the energy efficiency score and benchmark summary results. You must post these details in a visible location within the building. Also, make sure to add this report to any commercial listing for the property.

Wrapping Up

Local Law 84 is a true game-changer for making NYC buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable in the long run. Its long-term effect will be exceptional in terms of starting the journey towards a sustainable future.

Remember, Local Law 84 is a component of other relevant provisions in the City aimed at reducing carbon emissions. So, don't let this information slip away from your mind, and avoid hefty penalties and fines for failure of compliance.