Decarb NY: Local Law 97 Compliance

Ahead of our attendance and sponsorship at the Companies for Net Zero’s Decarb New York 2023 event on the 14th September, we at IES have been discussing how companies can utilise data and digitisation to achieve one of the summit themes of “Local Law 97 & Delivering Resource-Efficient Decarbonization for Buildings.” 

Passed into law in 2019, and with the first building emission limit period where penalties apply coming into effect in 2024, Local Law 97 (LL97) introduces energy efficiency and greenhouse gas limits for most buildings over 25,000 square feet in New York City. With buildings currently accounting for around two-thirds of emissions in the city, Local Law 97 aims to combat these emissions and help New York City become carbon neutral by 2050. 

Local Law 97 requires buildings to meet specific emissions limits, which become more stringent with each period: 2024-2029, 2030-2034, 2035-2039, and 2040-2049. If these limits are not met, penalties apply. Therefore, building owners must implement retrofits, renewable energy systems or emissions reporting systems to help improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and avoid penalties.

The emission limits being introduced in 2024 are expected to affect the top 20% most polluting buildings. And the more stringent limits that apply from 2030 onwards will affect around 75% of buildings. Now is the time to start assessing whether your portfolio is on track to meet the emissions limits set out for your occupancy type. 

Do you own buildings larger than 25,000 square feet in NYC? Make sure you meet Local Law 97 before penalties take effect. Get in touch with our team here, to find out more about how our physics-based digital twin building analytics software can deliver the data and investment grade decision information that you can trust. 

IES are uniquely positioned to help you and your portfolio comply with Local Law 97 with our cutting-edge physics-based digital twin building analytics software. Firstly, our consultants can use our digital twin software to identify the potential retrofit or retro-commissioning options suitable for the building, and de-risk the investment on these, by simulating and analysing each option against key performance indicators, to create a sound business case. Digital twins can also be used to carry out performance benchmarking across your portfolio or in comparison to similar buildings, by allowing you to easily identify and target poor performance.

IES’ tried-and-tested APACHE building physics engine, is at the core of our software, and is used by top AEC consultants around the world. When used alongside real-time metering data from buildings it delivers trusted results that demonstrate how to optimise energy flows throughout your buildings, and increase energy efficiency. Real-time metering can also be used to track and verify the financial and energy savings from implemented initiatives, and ensure the optimal building performance is being achieved at all stages of the building’s lifecycle. 

Find out more about Decarb NY and book your place here.