Sustainable Building News - December 8, 2023

Sustainable Building News

December 8, 2023

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Gas Hookups Phased Out For New Construction

Did you know that Nearly
40% of New York City carbon emissions come from the fossil fuels
used on furnaces, boilers, and hot water heaters?

In order to meet NYC's ambitious carbon emissions reduction
goals, the City Council passed

Local Law 154 of 2021, which phases out the use of natural
gas and fuel oil in newly constructed buildings for cooking,
heating and service hot water, which impacts appliances such as
cooking ranges and clothes dryers.

The first phase of the law goes into effect January 1, 2024, when all new construction projects for 1- and 2-family homes, as well as new buildings less than seven stories high, will need to comply. The law will apply to all other new building construction projects beginning on July 2, 2027.

For more information on Local Law 154,

visit our website here, and

see a FAQ about the new regulations here.

Local Law 97 Rules Package

Carbon emission limits
for larger buildings, as required by

Local Law 97 of 2019, officially go into effect on January
1, 2024. Ahead of this important milestone DOB released a
proposed second rule package for Local Law 97, providing clear
guidance for enforcement, "Good Faith Efforts," affordable
housing , beneficial electrification and more.

The regulations in this
proposed agency rule were informed by the collaborative work of
the city's Local Law 97 Advisory Board and Climate Working
Groups. As part of the rulemaking process, a public hearing was
held, where New Yorkers were able to weigh in on the regulations
and suggest potential changes.

Stay tuned, because the
Department's review of these public comments is wrapping up, and
we will be publishing a final version of the rule in the near
future.

For more information about Local Law 97 visit our website.

Contact NYC Accelerator for
free 1-on-1 guidance

City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality

The New York City
Council recently approved City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality,
a major sustainability focused branch of Mayor Adams' three-part
City of Yes plan to modernize the city's zoning in order
to foster a greener, more affordable, and more prosperous city.

This measure brings
innovative updates to our City's zoning regulations, removing
regulatory barriers for building owners looking to implement
green building retrofits, and smoothing their path on the road
to comply with Local Law 97.

The City of Yes for
Carbon Neutrality plan outlines 17 reforms that facilitate
climate action and clean energy, including:

Facilitating a
Renewable Energy Grid – removes obstacles that limit rooftop
space allowed for solar panels, as well as opening up 8,500
acres of parking lot space for solar panel installation.

Creating Cleaner
Buildings – lightens onerous restrictions on the height and
thickness of walls that restrict building electrification
and retrofits for greater efficiency, enabling retrofits for
over 50,000 buildings.

Supporting Electric
Vehicles and Micromobility – more than doubles the
commercially zoned land where electric vehicle charging
facilities can be located, adding an additional 400 million
square feet of potential charging space.

Modernizing Water, Compost, and Recycling Regulations – expands the use of permeable paving and rain gardens, cuts red tape and eliminates uncertainty for recycling and composting.

For more information, read the Department of City Planning's Press Release.

Sustainable Roofs

New Yorkers have two
great options for putting their rooftops to
environmentally-friendly use: solar panels and green roof
systems.

Solar panels generate electricity that acts as a renewable
energy source to reduce the demand on NYC's electrical grid, and
green roofs use vegetation to absorb rainwater and reduce
the heat island effect. Additionally, installing a green roof or
solar panel project may qualify building owners for a property
tax abatement.

These rooftop projects require DOB permits, and the
installations require building owners to hire a Professional
Engineer or Registered Architect to assess whether the
building's structure can maintain the weight of the project.

Filing an application
for these jobs is now easier than ever, because as of November
15, 2023, both solar and green roof filings can be filed through
the DOB NOW: Build, our online public portal.

Find out more by reading our service notice.

Winter Is Coming - Get Prepared

Fall is almost finished,
which means winter is around the corner. Don't forget to change
your household habits accordingly. Here's a list of tips that
will help you stay comfortable and save money.

Open curtains to get
heat from the sun during the day, and close them to keep out
cold at night.

Cover drafty windows
with plastic covers or heavy drapes.

Set thermostat to
cooler temps while you're sleeping or not at home.

Seal air leaks
around windows, doors, plumbing, etc.

Schedule
tune-ups/maintenance for your heating systems to make sure
they're running efficiently.

Keep fireplace
dampers closed.

Keep hot water
heater set to 120 °F.

For information on NYSERDA's Residential Energy Assessment Programs, visit nyserdera.ny.gov

For more information on sustainability,

visit us online.

Jimmy Oddo, Commissioner

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