New York City is in the midst of a massive program to drive down greenhouse gas emissions – The New York City Climate Mobilization Act, an integral part of the Mayor’s New York City Green New Deal, is the most expansive and ambitious carbon reduction effort undertaken in any urban area to date.
One part of it, Local Law 97, is particularly important for commercial buildings of 25,000 square feet or more, especially as its first emissions reduction benchmark looms in 2024. With additional reduction benchmarks in 2030, it is essential that all new HVAC commissioning takes these into account in order to ensure local law compliance.
Compliance means more than obeying laws and regulations. It also involves making sure you are aware of all relevant codicils and applicable regulations. In short, being unaware of a law does not absolve an individual or company from suffering the penalties of non-compliance.
What Is Local Law 97 and What Are Its Ramifications?
Local Law 97 demands emissions reductions from commercial buildings of 20% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. This will often mean retrofitting or replacing existing commercial HVAC systems as well as other energy-efficient upgrades. Since the penalties for non-compliance are slated to start off steep and escalate rapidly over the coming years, this has a direct impact on the financial bottom line.
What Are the Penalties for Non-compliance?
Starting in 2025, any building whose reporting shows it has exceeded its annual emissions limits will be liable for a civil penalty. The cost of the fine is equal to the difference between the building emissions limit and its actual reported emissions, multiplied by $268. As you can see, that mounts up rapidly, going 100 beyond the limit results in $26,800 in fines. In addition, valuations of your building will almost certainly suffer as the cost of compliance will be factored in.
Henick-Lane, Helping You Stay Compliant
Many local laws beyond Local Law 97 affect commercial buildings, and compliance with them is essential. At Henick-Lane, we bring almost six decades of experience in providing our clients with innovative, cost-effective, and fully compliant work. When you need experts to handle your commissioning and the navigation of the newest regulations, our team has the skills, knowledge, and ability your business demands. Contact Henick-Lane online or call (718) 768-7277 today to discuss your commissioning and compliance needs in the NYC area.