26 Apr NYC Local Law 88: Lighting and Submetering Your Way to Compliance

New York City has been in pursuit of implementing rules and regulations to create a greener and more sustainable environment for tomorrow. Local Law 88 is one such regulation that targets to achieve a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions. 

This NYC regulation is not only compliance but a standard that is set to achieve a more sustainable urban environment. LL88 focuses on the nonresidential and tenants’ electrical usage, encouraging them to ensure their buildings are more energy efficient and prepared for a greener future.  

New York boasts of being one of the first cities in the US to implement mandatary submetering for commercial buildings. This article will help you educate on the crucial aspects of this law and how it can lead to the nation’s energy management revolution. 

Understanding NYC Local Law 88

NYC LL88 is a section of a much broader Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP) initiated in 2009 to target energy efficiency in the existing buildings of New York City. Under this regulation, buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to implement submetering and upgrade lighting based on the standard of energy efficiency.

The regulation targets two of the most critical aspects of the nonresidential buildings’ energy consumption. The first is the lighting, which accounts for a huge portion of the building’s electrical load, and the second is the transparency of energy usage via submetering.  

Thus, the preliminary aim of Local Law 88 is to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, helping the city hit its climatic goals.

Understanding Lighting Upgrades

Under these regulations, buildings are required to replace their existing lighting system with energy-efficient alternatives by 1st January 2025. This comprises replacing backdated fluorescent and incandescent lights with LED technology. This innovative LED technology not only consumes limited energy but also sustains longer.  

To meet the regulations of NYC LL88, the initial step that the property owners are required to take is to determine which of their properties come under the law. Basically, the properties that meet any of the following requirements are obliged to LL88:

• If the owner owns single buildings with at least 50,000 ft2 of floor space.
• If there are groups of two or more buildings under the same tax lot, complementing a minimum 100 of 000 ft2.
• If there are groups of two or more buildings under the condominium form of ownership, with a minimum of 100,000 ft2. 

It must be noted that the lighting system components need not be upgraded if they already meet NYC Energy Code requirements that are applicable after 1st July 2010. The same term is applicable for the areas with a lighting power density that meets the code’s requirement as long as they are completely separated from the rest of the building.

It’s also crucial to note that the version of the NYC Energy Conservation Code of 2016 has made lighting controls compulsory in multiple commercial applications, described in section C405. It lists the optimum allowable lighting power densities, which vary based on the type of occupancy. In residential spaces, the NYCECC needs a minimum of 75 % of lighting systems to use high-efficacy lamps and fixtures.

Also Read: Lighting And Submetering Improve Energy Efficiency

Understanding Submetering

By the implementation of submetering, buildings are required to install energy submeters for each tenant space larger than 5,000 square feet. This helps make energy consumption more transparent and encourages tenants to be more mindful of their energy consumption.

Commercial tenant buildings and spaces meeting one of the following terms shall come under the compliance of submetering:

• If the spaces above 10,000 ft2 are rented to the same person, covering one or more floors.
• If the floors above 10,000 ft2 of area are rented to two or more than two persons.

Apart from meter installation, the code establishes that the tenants must be provided with monthly statements detailing the electricity they have used and the amount charged. With the installation of a meter, tenants can be conscious of their energy consumption.

However, it’s significant to observe that properties classified under R-2 and -3 are excluded from both lighting upgrades and submetering. They are required to submit a report to the NYC Department of Buildings, proving that their property is excluded from NYC LL88 compliance.

Meanwhile, prayer houses are exempted from lighting upgrades but are responsible for installing meters and reporting requirements. Small residential spaces with 1-3 families are completely executed from NYC Local Law 88, which means they are not even required to submit the exemption report.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Compliance

Implementation of lighting upgrades and installation of submetering requires some actionable steps:

Step 1: Conducting Energy Audit:

It’s crucial to understand the current energy patterns of the building before initiating any upgrades by conducting an energy audit. It can aid in identifying the cost-effective methods.

Step 2: Implement Lighting Upgrades

After conducting the energy audit, plan a replacement project to replace the old lighting with LED energy-efficient models.

Step 3: Installation of Submeter:

Seek help from a professional for the installation of submeters in tenant spaces. This should be initiated by conducting an educational campaign to help tenants understand the benefits of monitoring their energy consumption.

Step 4: Proper Monitoring and Maintenance

The process of compliance still needs to be doesn’t completed with the installation of the submeter and lighting upgrades. Consistent monitoring and maintenance are required to ensure that the system is operating efficiently.

Step 5: Maintenance of Document and Report:

Ensure that all records of upgrades and submeter installation are kept. This documentation will aid in the demonstration of compliance with NYC LL88.    

Conclusion:

Compliance with NYC Local Law 88 is not only abiding by the regulatory requirement but also contributing to the city’s endeavor to create a more sustainable and energy-efficient environment. However, the process may be complex initially, and thus, it’s always advisable to seek professional help to guide you to meet your LL88 compliance. The Cotocon group will help you in this journey of contributing to the city’s sustainable energy consumption endeavor.

FAQs

• What is the Local Law 88 lighting requirement?

The LL88 requires property owners to upgrade their common area lighting to the current NYC  LL88 Code for everyone whose space surpasses 5000 square feet.

2. When was the NYC Local Law introduced?

It was introduced in the year 2009 as a part of a bigger project named Greener Greater Building Plan (GGBP).