Planning for energy-efficient measures in your new construction and major renovation projects can enhance both the long-term impact on the city and your financial performance. 

This proactive approach adds value to your property and also prevents relevant fines linked to local energy regulations. It helps make your buildings future-ready and, thereby, more appealing to prospective buyers.

Everything To Know About The Local Energy Laws

NYC has rules to cut building emissions and save energy, making people more comfortable. Knowing and following these laws can save money and avoid construction delays. Here are some important regulations:

1. Starting in 2024, Local Law 154 bans gas and oil appliances in new construction and big makeovers.
2. Local Law 97 sets carbon cut goals for most 25,000+ sq. ft. buildings from 2024.
3. Local Laws 92 and 94 need new buildings and big roof changes to use roofs for solar or green features.

These laws collectively aim to reduce carbon emissions from buildings and improve community well-being. They require building owners to monitor, report on, and decrease their energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Price Factor

Eco-friendly construction often faces criticism due to the initial expense of features like solar panels and advanced technology. However, over time, green buildings prove their worth. They can generate savings exceeding the initial investment by four to six times during their lifespan. 

Moreover, the benefits extend beyond financial gains, as they play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting both communities and the planet’s overall health and sustainability.

The Increasing Need For Passive House Buildings

Passive House buildings focus on smart design to be super energy-efficient. They not only meet Local Law 97 standards but also create a healthier, more comfy, and cost-effective place. Core principles include top energy efficiency, going beyond LL97 rules, and boosting building quality.

Passive House construction uses several key principles to enhance energy efficiency and create a safe, comfortable indoor environment.

1. Continuous Insulation

This means adding insulation to the building in a smart way to stop heat from escaping. It makes the building perform better in terms of staying warm, lasting longer, and being strong. This way, you don’t need as much extra heating.

2. Airtight Building Envelope

Creating an effective air barrier prevents heat loss due to air leakage. It lowers heating and cooling costs and minimizes condensation risks. It enhances indoor comfort.

The issue is how people see upfront versus long-term costs. It’s easy to look at the expenses being made at the beginning, neglecting the recurring cost that follows. Green buildings save money with efficient energy use, potentially saving $130 billion for everyone. Plus, they make workers happier and more productive. Better lighting, cleaner air, and safe materials in LEED-certified buildings improve employee well-being and job performance.

Reduction In Waste

Green architecture tries to use less energy, water, and materials when building and using buildings. In California, commercial buildings create a lot of waste, so it’s important to reduce waste when building. Good building designs can also help people make less trash, like having bins for compost.

To reduce the amount of wood going to waste, a group called the Neutral Alliance made a website called dontwastewood.com. It has information for different people involved in wood recycling. When buildings are old and not needed anymore, you can take them apart carefully to save materials and make less waste.

To save water, we can reuse “greywater” for things like watering plants or flushing toilets. Collecting rainwater does a similar job. We can also turn waste into fertilizer at special plants, like they did in Germany. This helps save money on treating wastewater and makes the soil healthier. It even helps remove some of the gasses causing climate change.

Energy Efficiency Impact

The effects of energy efficiency can be summarized as follows:

       1. Cost Savings

Being energy-efficient is good for the environment and your wallet. It means lower energy bills for building occupants, making properties more attractive to buyers. This financial benefit motivates both homeowners and businesses to invest in energy-saving technologies.

       2. Reduced Environmental Impact

When buildings in NYC use less energy and switch to renewable sources, it greatly reduces their impact on the environment. If the whole city focuses on using energy efficiently, it can cut down on emissions a lot, which matches the city’s climate goals and global sustainability promises.

        3. The Energy Efficiency Imperative

Attaining net-zero emissions depends on adopting energy efficiency measures as the initial step in a company’s decarbonization journey. This strategy, on the other hand, reduces costs and emissions while improving workplace productivity and environmental quality. 

Prioritizing energy efficiency globally can achieve over 40% of the required emissions reductions in the energy sector to meet climate goals by 2040. Energy-efficient buildings promote employee well-being through passive design and optimal temperatures. 

Thus, it reduces the number of employees who take leave and improves the rate of turnover. This boosts productivity and alleviates financial burdens.

        4. Buildings And Sustainability

Sustainable buildings need all their parts, like lights, AC, and energy, to work together smoothly. Technology helps collect and use data to save energy automatically. Checking regularly makes AC last longer and work better.

Designs That Are Performance-driven

When designing buildings, engineers blend quality and numbers to meet standards. Many countries use green rules to guide designs, focusing on how buildings perform. This teamwork between decision-makers, designers, and users makes designs better. It boosts efficiency and improves building performance through a precise and scientific process.

Enhanced Resilience

Energy-efficient buildings are built to handle tough weather and power problems. They use energy storage, distributed energy sources, and smart grids to make sure they have a reliable power supply and can recover quickly from any issues.

High-Performance Windows and Doors

Despite their smaller surface area, windows and doors have a significant impact on space-heating energy. They balance natural light and insulation using advanced glazing systems, like triple-pane windows with low-E coatings and insulated frames.

Continuous Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery

This system keeps indoor air clean by swapping indoor and outdoor air efficiently. It also removes moisture, carbon dioxide, and pollutants. Good HVAC filters reduce airborne particles, which is good for health.

Thermal Bridge-Free Design

Passive House stops heat from escaping at important spots, using methods like extra insulation and materials that prevent heat from getting out. 

These principles make energy-efficient buildings with cozy interiors, lower heating bills, better air, and lasting strength against tough conditions.

Parting Words

To fight climate change and be resilient, The Cotocon Group helps NYC Building Owners focus on using energy wisely. This means improving older buildings, designing new ones with sustainability in mind, and making helpful policies. If NYC does this, it can lead the way in sustainable city development and inspire other places to do the same.

Though it’s a tough journey, the gains are substantial: saving the environment, making money, and having a better life. Together, we can make NYC and the world more energy-efficient and sustainable.

FAQs

1. Why prioritize energy efficiency?

Prioritizing energy efficiency cuts costs, reduces emissions, and boosts employee well-being.

2. What’s the impact of energy efficiency?

Energy efficiency has less environmental impact and promotes cost savings. It gives improved resilience.

3. Is green building expensive?

Initial costs are slightly higher, but long-term benefits outweigh them.

4. What are NYC’s energy regulations?

NYC has laws like LL97. This law urges for carbon reductions in buildings that have a comparatively larger size.

5. What is a Passive House building?

Passive Houses are highly energy-efficient buildings. Passive House buildings have good comfort and air quality.