If you’re a building owner or property manager in New York City, you’ve heard about Local Law 97. This law passed in 2019, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings by setting strict emissions caps for certain types of buildings. To comply with Local Law 97, building owners will need to monitor and report their energy usage and possibly complete renovations to their buildings to meet new codes.

However, when all the work is finished, there are ongoing monitoring and reporting guidelines that must be met. Latitude Compliance reviews some of these guidelines and what you need to know to remain compliant.

What is Local Law 97?

Local Law 97 is part of New York City’s larger efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. The law sets emissions caps for buildings over 25,000 square feet based on their occupancy class. The caps will begin in 2024 and gradually become stricter over time. By 2030, covered buildings will need to reduce their emissions by 40% from their 2005 baseline.

What Are the Monitoring Requirements for Local Law 97?

To comply with Local Law 97, building owners must monitor their energy usage and emissions. The monitoring requirements will depend on the size and type of building, but all covered buildings must install and maintain energy meters that can measure electricity, natural gas and steam usage.

Additionally, covered buildings will need to submit annual energy usage reports to the city using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool. These reports will include information on the building’s energy use intensity (EUI), which is a measure of how much energy the building uses per square foot.

What Are the Reporting Requirements for Local Law 97?

In addition to monitoring their energy usage, building owners will need to submit annual emissions reports to the city. These reports will need to include information on the building’s emissions, which will be calculated using the EPA’s eGRID emissions factors. The emissions reports will also need to include information on the building’s compliance with the emissions caps set by Local Law 97.

The first emissions reports will be due in 2025, and building owners will have to submit them annually thereafter. If a building exceeds its emissions cap, the owner will need to take corrective action and submit a compliance plan to the city.

NYC Building ESG Compliance Annual Monitoring Service

Local Law 97 represents a significant change for building owners and property managers in New York City. To comply with the law, building owners will need to monitor their energy usage and emissions and submit annual reports to the city. While the monitoring and reporting requirements may seem daunting, they are necessary to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

At Latitude Compliance, we specialize in ESG compliance and offer comprehensive services to ensure that your NYC building meets the LL97 standards. We are committed to supporting you throughout the entire compliance process and beyond. Our team will review your compliance plan to ensure it is designed, executed, and operating as intended.

In addition, we provide annual ESG compliance monitoring services to ensure that your building remains in compliance. Our team conducts a yearly review and prepares a detailed compliance report which is submitted by the appropriate deadlines to avoid penalties and keep you within compliance guidelines. With our services, you can have peace of mind knowing that your building is in good hands.

Posted on behalf of Latitude Compliance