As part of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, Local Law 87 (LL87) requires buildings larger than 50,000 gross square feet to undertake energy audits and retro-commissioning procedures (GGBP) periodically. This law aims to educate building owners about their energy usage through energy audits, which are surveys and assessments of energy use, and retro-commissioning, a procedure to ensure proper system installation and functioning.

Energy audits and retro-commissioning will give building owners a much more thorough insight into their buildings’ performance and benchmark annual energy and water use, eventually driving the market towards increasingly efficient, high-performing structures.

Energy Efficiency Report (EER) – All you need to know!

“Every single EER submitted to the DOB in 2013 that the Mayor’s Office reviewed recommended at least one efficiency measure – and some had multiple measures – that had under a three-year payback. That means if implemented, the efficiency savings will pay for the capital cost in less than three years. Many of those are ‘no-brainer’ measures to implement because you’ll start saving money almost immediately. –Jenna Tatum

A covered building’s owner is required to submit an energy efficiency report (EER) in accordance with Local Law 87 (LL87) by December 31 of the reporting year and every tenth year after that. The Department of Buildings must receive electronic submissions of the Professional Certification Forms and Data Collection Tools that make up the EER (DOB).

Forms for Professional Certification

A Professional Certification Form contains details on a building’s filing status, the composition, credentials, and professional seal of the audit and retro-commissioning teams, whether a building was exempt from an audit and/or retro-commissioning, and the owner’s statement of compliance. Energy Audit and Retro-commissioning Data Collection Tools both require the completion of a Professional Certification Form.

Data collection tools for energy audits and retro-commissioning

The data collection tools for energy audit and retro-commissioning are both Excel spreadsheets.

The spreadsheets below are included in the Energy Audit Data Collection Tool:

• Introduction (instructions to fill out the tool)
• Information about the team submitting the work
• Energy-saving measures for equipment and building information (ECMs)
• End Use Analysis
• Equipment inventory

How do I select the right consultant to perform this work?

Your property manager will look into service providers and get several bids from consultants to undertake the audit and study (unless the board instructs differently). Numerous structures make reference to the Multifamily Performance Program Partners of NYSERDA who have a track record of completing this job. In the end, you want to pick a consultant who has performed LL87 on structures of a size and type comparable to yours. Ask prospective consultants for a customer list, previous Energy Efficiency Reports (EERs), and instances of energy savings from clients who followed their advice to help evaluate the caliber of their work. The Cotocon Group has extensive experience in NYC Local Law 87 Compliance.

Look out for these available incentives!

Your building can qualify for NYSERDA and Con Edison programs to assist pay for the energy audit and implement the efficiency measures suggested in the audit if it satisfies specific criteria. Your audit consultant should be educated about the programs that are available and offer a list of incentives that apply to their report. Alternatively, your property manager can examine the NYC Carbon Challenge Handbook for Co-Ops and Condos, which is available for download at www.nyc.gov/mcc-multifamily, or speak with our team on (212) 889-6566.