Local Law 97 Adjustments - Buildings

Buildings


Code DevelopmentNYC CodesSustainabilityReference

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (LL97)
NYC Benchmarking Law (LL84)
Energy Grading (LL33)
Energy Audits & Retro-Commissioning (LL87)
Lighting Upgrades & Sub-Metering (LL88)
Solar & Green Roofs (LL92 & LL94)
Building Electrification (LL154)
NYC Energy Conservation Code

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (LL97)

NYC Benchmarking Law (LL84)

Energy Grading (LL33)

Energy Audits & Retro-Commissioning (LL87)

Lighting Upgrades & Sub-Metering (LL88)

Solar & Green Roofs (LL92 & LL94)

Building Electrification (LL154)

NYC Energy Conservation Code


LL97: How to File for an Adjustment

Adjustment applications are submitted through DOB NOW Safety. See the Service Update for details on how to open an application for an adjustment in DOB NOW.

LL97 Adjustments Application Filing Guide

To assist Registered Design Professionals and Owners, the LL97 Adjustments Filing Guide covers the technical requirements for completing an adjustment application. Both adjustments for excess emissions due to a special circumstance (Article 320.8) and adjustments for not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare facilities (Article 320.9) are covered in the Filing Guide.

EN97A Calculations Workbook & Instructions

Each application must be accompanied by an excel workbook containing the necessary information about the building’s usage, energy consumption and emissions, the EN97A workbook and instructions on how to complete this workbook.

Questions on adjustments applications should be submitted to GHGEmissions@buildings.nyc.gov.

Questions about the DOB NOW portal should be directed to nyc.gov/dobhelp.

Adjustments to Emissions Limits for Buildings with Special Circumstances

Some buildings have special circumstances that may increase their energy usage and may be able to apply for an adjustment to their emissions limits. Special circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

24 hour operations

operations critical to human health and safety

high-density occupancy

energy-intensive communications technologies or operations

energy-intensive industrial processes typically classified as an unregulated load under the Energy Code.

The adjustment to the annual building emissions limit for 2024-2029 will be equal to 70% of the 2018 building emissions. To be eligible for this adjustment, an applicant must show that the emissions of the covered building for 2018 exceed the 2024 building emissions limit by more than 40%. The excess building emissions also must be attributable to a special circumstance, as listed above, related to the use of the building.

The covered building’s energy performance also needs to be equivalent to that of a similar building in compliance with the 2014 New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC). A plan indicating the covered building’s path to reduce the actual building emissions to comply with building emissions limits for 2030-2035 must also be submitted.

Excessive Emissions due to Special Circumstance is effective for building emissions reports during reporting years 2025-2030, provided that the certificate of occupancy has not been amended after December 31, 2018. Applications for buildings eligible for this adjustment are due by January 1, 2025.

Adjustments to Emissions Limits for Not-for-profit Hospital & Healthcare Facilities

An adjustment to the building emissions limit for both 2024-2029 and 2030-2034 may be granted to not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare facilities. Those facilities must have been in existence and attained their not-for-profit status by November 15, 2019, and for each year that an adjustment is sought.

Not-for-profit classification includes spaces owned or occupied by a not-for-profit hospital or healthcare facility.

For 2024-2029 the adjustment to the annual building emissions will equal 85% of the 2018 reported building emissions. For calendar years 2030-2034 the adjustment to the annual building emissions will equal 70% of the 2018 reported building emissions.

Applications for buildings eligible for this adjustment are due by January 1, 2025.

Helpful Links

LL97 Adjustment FAQs

LL97 GHG Emissions Reduction Info

LL97 GHG Emissions Violations

LL97 Covered Buildings List FAQs