Compliance with the NYC Greener Greater Buildings PlanBeginning in 2009, the City of New York passed several Local Laws collectively known as the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan. As part of the City’s larger sustainability plan, PlaNYC, the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan radically changes the landscape of building efficiency — and building efficiently — in NYC. Several SWA leaders participated on the Mayor’s PlaNYC Task Force as expert industry consultants in the formation of the new laws; we approach compliance with the most sophisticated understanding of the new requirements and their future implications. Local Law 84 (Benchmarking Buildings Over 50,000 sf)
As of May 2011, private building owners are required to annually benchmark any buildings over 50,000 sf. Owners of buildings must request information on commercial tenants’ separately metered energy uses for the previous 12 months and tenants are obligated to provide the requested information. SWA professionals walk owners and developers through the compliance process by benchmarking and preparing all of the necessary research and documentation for reporting to the City. Local Law 85 (New York City Energy Conservation Code and TR8 Progress Inspections)
On December 28, 2010, the 2010 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (ECCCNYS) went into effect, surpassing the 2009 New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) in stringency. The updated codes support the City’s goal of reducing greenhouse emissions 30% by 2030 by setting energy efficiency standards for new construction and existing building alterations. It also requires Progress Inspections to ensure compliance with the Energy Code. Contractors and design teams must ensure that their drawings, specifications and as-built buildings meet all the requirements of the City’s Energy Code. SWA is City-approved to conduct the Energy Code Compliance Progress Inspections required by the new law. By working with SWA, owners and developers can pair Energy Code Compliance Progress Inspections with SWA’s design and oversight of retrofit implementation service, commissioning, and incentivized energy efficiency programs such as NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program or its Commercial New Construction programs, thereby pursuing high performance, compliant design while maximizing funding opportunities. Because of our role in the development and review of these and other regulatory changes on both the City and State levels, SWA demonstrates a familiarity and deftness with the new code. Local Law 86 (LEED® Certification for City-Funded Buildings)In October of 2005, New York City adopted Local Law 86, one of the country’s earliest green building laws. Local Law 86 requires construction projects receiving City funding to achieve various levels of LEED certification and sets rigorous energy and water standards for major capital upgrades. SWA has extensive experience providing LEED certification services to public entities across the spectrum, from affordable housing apartment buildings to public schools. Local Law 87 (Auditing & Retro-Commissioning in Buildings Over 50,000 sf)Beginning in 2013, commercial building owners will also be required, every ten years, to conduct and submit an energy audit and retro-commissioning report on all buildings over 50,000 sf to the Department of Finance. SWA professionals are prepared not only to conduct a Local Law 87-compliant energy audit and to perform required retro-commissioning, but also to provide design and oversight of retrofit implementation and to submit all necessary documents and records for full compliance.
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