Identify client’s needs and benchmarking
In New York City, Local Law 97 is a groundbreaking piece of legislation that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. Compliance is essential and complex, and it has ambitious goals and stringent requirements. At the heart of this process are design professionals—licensed architects and professional engineers—who play an indispensable role in helping building owners navigate the intricacies of this law. Here’s a closer look at their key responsibilities:
Certifying Emissions Reports
One of the primary tasks of a design professional under Local Law 97 is certifying annual emissions reports. These reports, submitted by building owners, must be verified for accuracy, ensuring that all data, calculations, and compliance measures meet the established emissions limits for the year. This certification process is crucial for maintaining the integrity and reliability of emissions data.
Ensuring Compliance
Design professionals must ensure a building’s reported emissions comply with Local Law 97’s stringent requirements. They assess whether buildings are within the prescribed emissions limits and provide necessary certifications. If adjustments or extensions are needed, they also help determine if an application for a deadline adjustment should be filed.
Bringing Technical Expertise
With their deep understanding of building systems, energy usage, and emissions calculations, the architect brings invaluable technical expertise to the table. They can create comprehensive plans for retrofitting or renovating buildings to meet emissions standards. This includes preparing detailed drawings and specifications for implementing energy-efficient systems and practices.
Advisory Role
Beyond technical duties, the architect often serves as an advisor, helping building owners identify energy efficiency and decarbonization opportunities. They guide owners in making informed decisions to enhance their building’s energy performance, leading to compliance and potential cost savings.
Submitting Compliance Documentation
Another critical responsibility is submitting compliance documentation to the relevant authorities. This includes certified emissions reports and any additional information required by regulatory agencies, ensuring all submissions meet the regulatory standards and deadlines.
Staying Informed
The landscape of environmental regulations is ever-changing. Architects must stay informed about updates and changes to Local Law 97 and related regulations. This continuous education ensures they provide accurate, up-to-date guidance to building owners, helping them stay compliant and avoid penalties.
Benchmarking: The First Step Toward Compliance
Benchmarking is foundational in understanding and improving a building’s energy performance. Under Local Law 97, this involves comparing a building’s energy usage to similar structures or established standards. The process begins with gathering energy data and calculating emissions using specified factors.
Using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager, buildings are rated and graded as follows:
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- A: Score ≥ 85
- B: Score 70-84
- C: Score 55-69
- D: Score < 55
- F: Buildings that fail to submit required benchmarking information
- N: Buildings exempt from benchmarking or not covered by the Energy Star program
Identifying Problems and Decarbonization Opportunities
Once benchmarking is complete, the next step is analyzing the data to identify carbon footprint hot spots and potential violations. The architect conducts site walkthroughs to pinpoint elements like inefficient windows, air leaks, outdated mechanical systems, and wasteful lighting and plumbing fixtures. Building owners can significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions by addressing these areas.
Lighting and Electrical Upgrades
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- Integrate green electrical generation systems such as wind-catching electrical systems and solar panels.
- Specify energy-efficient lighting fixtures.
- Install timer or sensor lighting switches to reduce unnecessary energy use.
- Mechanical Heating and Cooling Enhancements
- Install energy-efficient mechanical systems.
- Replace windows with energy-efficient alternatives.
- Implement geothermal or heat pump systems.
- Locate and seal any air leaks.
- Add reflective window coatings or façade solar screening.
Water Efficiency and Site Sustainability
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- Restore green spaces, roof decks, and green terraces.
- Integrate rainwater collection tanks on rooftops.
- Implement gray water reuse systems in the building.
- Install tankless efficient water heaters.
- Specify energy-efficient plumbing fixtures.
Creating and Implementing a Plan of Action
The architect, working with design consultants, coordinates the implementation of all identified problems and proposed solutions in a comprehensive set of plans, which are then submitted to the New York City Department of Buildings for approval. During the construction phase, design professionals ensure that contractors follow the plan of action and perform all required inspections to guarantee compliance with Local Law 97.
Reporting Emissions
Building owners must report their emissions annually, with the first report for 2024 due by May 1, 2025, and every year after that. This report must be certified by a registered design professional, who will determine whether the building complies with the emissions limits for the reported calendar year.
By working closely with the architect, building owners can ensure they meet the requirements of Local Law 97, improve their energy performance, and contribute to New York City’s ambitious climate goals.