New York City Gone Green

New York City has officially gone green. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has recently declared that the City Council has passed a landmark package of green building legislation. The new legislation supports efforts to significantly reduce New York City greenhouse gas emissions. The four bills passed, formally known as the “Greener, Greater Buildings Plan,” are comprised of mandates for large buildings, both commercial and residential. Large buildings must be in compliance by 2013. “Large buildings” are defined as being properties of at least 50,000 gross square feet, multiple buildings on the same tax lot that together exceed 100,000 gross square feet, and two or more condominiums exceeding 100,000 gross square feet that are governed by the same board of managers.

One bill establishes a New York City Energy Conservation Code applicable to existing buildings under renovation. Another bill requires building owners to annually benchmark their energy efficiency. Further legislation mandates buildings to complete lighting upgrades and sub-meter tenant spaces by January of 2025. The last bill requires large private buildings to conduct energy efficiency audits and undergo retro-commissioning once every 10 years.

Both Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn praised the merits of the bills, saying they will reduce the city’s carbon footprint by about 5 percent, create 17,880 jobs and save consumers $700 million annually in energy costs. Environmentalists and elected officials across the country praise the legislation for its aggressive approach and innovation.

Written by Debra J. Guzov |
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