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New York City’s large buildings continue to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, with many on track for stricter 2030 goals.
A recent Urban Green Council analysis finds that 92% of large buildings in New York City - more than 25,000 square feet - will comply with the carbon emissions limit the city established through Local Law 97, set for 2024. It's the fifth straight year of decreased energy consumption for such buildings. Based on 2023 energy and water usage benchmarks, the data demonstrates impressive compliance in office and multifamily buildings: 93% of office buildings and 94% of multifamily buildings already meet 2024 targets.
These improvements can be credited to a mix of energy efficiency upgrades, better practices in operations, and accuracy in the reporting of energy data. Urban Green Council CEO John Mandyck mentioned that for most commercial buildings, implementing best practices like lighting upgrades, sub-metering, and regular maintenance have been enough to pass the 2024 standards.
The analysis also shows that energy consumption in NYC's large buildings has decreased by 15% since 2010, and carbon emissions have reduced by 26%. The Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice released data indicating that 63% of large buildings are already above the 2030 emission reduction targets. These buildings are putting in measures to meet the stricter emission thresholds set for the 2030-2034 compliance window.
While many buildings are progressing significantly, it is still quite a challenge to meet the much stricter emission limits set for 2030. In this regard, building owners are being incentivized to transition heating and hot water systems towards electrification by taking advantage of beneficial electrification credits. This change, coupled with continued energy efficiency improvements, will be crucial to meeting future emission targets.
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