NYC BENCHMARKING LAW
Since 2011, New York City's Local Law 84/09 has required owners of large buildings — single buildings larger than 50,000 SF, or groups of buildings on a single lot larger than 100,000 SF — to annually measure their energy and water consumption in a process called benchmarking. Water, electricity, gas, and fuel or steam usage are collected and tracked in an effort to help owners use less energy and save money.
NEW FOR 2018
Last October, NYC passed Local Law 133/16, which expands the list of buildings required to benchmark to include mid-size buildings 25,000 square feet and larger.
Mid-size building owners must benchmark for the first time by May 1, 2018, and by May 1 every year thereafter.*
To submit benchmarking reports, owners need to register with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and enter utilities data from January 1 to December 31 of the previous year into the EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
*UPDATE 2/15/18 - The New York City Department of Buildings has issued a Service Notice delaying the date of compliance for owners of buildings less than 50,000 square feet. While mid-size building owners are not required to comply by May 1, 2018, they encouraged submit benchmarking to ensure successful submission feedback before mandatory compliance. The new date for mandatory compliance has not yet been determined.
VIOLATIONS
Any property on the Covered Buildings List that has not submitted a benchmarking report by the May 1 deadline will receive a Notice of Violation from the NYC Department of Buildings and be fined $500. Continued failure to benchmark will result in a $500 penalty each quarter, up to $2,000 per year.
CONTACT RAND
To read more about NYC's Benchmarking Law, visit RAND's website. If you would like more information on improving your building's energy efficiency and reducing operating costs, or would like to request a proposal for RAND's benchmarking services for your building, please contact us at 212-675-8844 or info@nullrandpc.com.
Jim Marcinek is a Project Manager on RAND's Energy Team.
