*Update: The Benchmarking compliance deadline for the 2020 calendar year for buildings 25,000 SF and larger has been extended to June 1, 2021 per a service notice from the NYC Department of Buildings.
The DOB has released its 2021 Covered Buildings List for benchmarking compliance. All properties on this list must submit a benchmarking report of their 2020 utilities data by May 1, 2021.
As a reminder, New York City's Benchmarking Law requires owners of properties that are 25,000 square feet or larger to annually submit their building's annual energy and water usage to the EPA's Portfolio Manager website at energystar.gov/benchmark.
Con Edison and National Grid Customers: Con Edison and National Grid strongly recommend that customers request their building's utilities data by April 15 to allow enough time to meet the May 1 filing deadline.
Violations for Failed Compliance: Buildings that do not submit their benchmarking reports by May 1 will face a $500 penalty each quarter until the report is filed, with a maximum of $2,000 per year.
Energy Efficiency Grades: Based on the benchmarking data submitted, buildings will be assigned energy efficiency grades. Energy Efficiency Rating Labels with these grades must be posted in a public entrance of the building by October 31 of each year. The labels are available in the DOB NOW Public Portal annually on October 1. Failure to comply will result in a DOB violation and an annual fine of $1,250.
RAND's Benchmarking Services: RAND provides the following services to help your building comply:
- Create an account log-in and building profile on the Portfolio Manager website.
- Assist building owners and managers with obtaining energy usage information.
- Enter energy usage data into the Portfolio Manager.
- Generate the custom Energy Report required for submission to the New York City Department of Finance. The Energy Report will include the building's profile, summary information, and estimates of its energy usage (BTUs and dollar amount per square foot).
- Answer any follow-up questions about the Energy Report.
Around the Corner: Benchmarking is a crucial step in the process of ensuring your building complies with Local Law 97 of 2019 of the Climate Mobilization Act, which sets increasingly stringent carbon emissions caps with aggressive and steep fines for buildings that fail to comply. The first compliance deadline is May 1, 2025, and buildings must meet their target emissions targets by the end of 2024, which is now less than three years away. Identifying and implementing carbon reduction measures and energy upgrades can be a multi-year process; we recommend that you work with a registered design professional as soon as possible to prepare to avoid steep penalties over the coming years.
Free Benchmarking Estimate: If you have questions or would like a free estimate to benchmark your building's energy usage, please contact RAND at 212-675-8844 or info@nullrandpc.com. For more information, visit RAND's Fact Sheet on New York City Benchmarking Law.
Jim Marcinek is a Project Manager on RAND's Energy Team.
