What is Local Law 97 (LL97)

Local Law 97 (LL97) is a landmark building performance standard, enacted by New York City in 2019, that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large commercial and multifamily buildings (25,000 square feet or greater) by 40% by 2030. 

Why was Local Law 97 passed?

NYC’s building stock accounts for more than two-thirds of the city’s carbon emissions, so achieving this goal would slash the city’s overall emissions by 26%, or the equivalent of San Francisco’s current carbon emissions. The law reflects New York City’s commitment to fighting climate change and working towards a more sustainable future.

Who is affected?

Local Law 97 targets New York City’s worst-performing buildings by establishing a carbon “limit” based on building type and floor area. For every ton of carbon emitted beyond this cap, building owners are fined, thereby incentivising building improvements. Since the vast majority of building carbon emissions come from energy (e.g. electric, natural gas, steam) usage, energy improvements are key to meeting Local Law 97. The fines leveraged are significant, in many cases essentially doubling the cost of the energy that cause the emissions to exceed the cap.

Sources: 

• https://www.urbangreencouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/LL97-Summary_2.8.2023.pdf
• https://climate.cityofnewyork.us/subtopics/buildings/

When does Local Law 97 take effect?

Local Law 97 caps take effect starting in 2024, with a less stringent cap, targeting only the worst culprits. In 2030, the cap lowers further, which will then target the majority of the existing building stock in NYC.

How can Bueno help with LL97 reporting?

Bueno brings a decade of experience helping buildings and businesses meet building performance standards like Local Law 97. Energy efficiency and operational improvements are one of the cheapest and fastest ways to reduce a building’s carbon emissions. Bueno’s leading Smart Building Analytics platform leverages building data to help reduce a building’s energy and carbon footprint, while Bueno’s continuous services help track and maintain these savings. This level of technology and data transparency helps communicate progress towards sustainability goals and manage financial risk. With Bueno, you can ensure that your annual LL97 assessment and benchmarking goes smoothly.