What Is Local Law 84?
The New York City Council passed Local Law 84 (LL84) in 2009 as part of a sweeping effort to increase energy efficiency for the city’s buildings. Also known as the NYC Benchmarking Law, this legislation requires the owners of buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to benchmark and report their energy usage on a yearly basis.
What Is the Purpose of Local Law 84 Benchmarking?
Several factors contributed to Local Law 84’s enactment:
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction: LL84 is a crucial tool for achieving New York City’s quest to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- Cost savings: By encouraging building owners to be more energy efficient, Local Law 84 can help lower operating costs and improve their bottom lines.
- Economic development: Local Law 84 in NYC can help create additional jobs in the energy services provider sector and foster building innovation.
- Protection of residents: The law gives existing and prospective tenants more information regarding the energy efficiency practices implemented by building owners and landlords.
How Do Building Owners Comply With the Law?
Building owners impacted by Local Law 84 benchmarking must gather their energy consumption data for one year and enter it into the free-to-use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, enabling them to compare their building’s energy performance with similar structures throughout the city and nationwide. They must submit the benchmarking report, including an efficiency score and a summary, to the city by May 1 of each year.
What Are the LL84 Noncompliance Penalties?
Building owners who fail to file a benchmarking report by the May 1 deadline may receive a civil fine of $500 for each quarter the information is late, to an annual maximum of $2,000. The inability to display the applicable Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label can result in a $1,250 fine.
UtiliSave Offers Local Law 84 Compliance Consulting Solutions
If LL84 benchmarking impacts your New York City building or business, UtiliSave can help. As a client of our utility cost reduction service, we can complete your benchmarking on time and at no cost, saving time and resources while offering more peace of mind.
As your true benchmarking partner, we’ll accumulate a comprehensive data pool that enables you to make accurate comparisons in relevant areas like energy usage, building size and geographical location. Our services will also allow you to identify areas for future improvement and increased energy efficiency.
Our benchmarking process goes even further than the LL84 mandate — we can help you achieve the coveted ENERGY STAR award, a designation that could increase your building’s value.
Contact Us to Learn More Today
UtiliSave has been an industry leader in utility bill auditing and related services since 1991. We have an extensive track record of helping building owners, property managers, company executives and others find ways to save money and recoup overcharges from their utility billing, so you can trust our team to ensure your business complies with all applicable laws, enabling you to avoid potentially costly penalties.
Contact us online today to request additional information about our Local Law 84 compliance solutions and other services.
