New York City Council - Benchmarking

Energy Audit

Local Law 87 requires owners of Covered Buildings to file energy efficiency report with the City every ten years. The report must focus on the building’s “base building systems” that use energy and/or impact energy consumption including the building envelope, HVAC systems, elevators, hot water and electrical and lighting systems. The energy audit must be performed by or under the supervision of a registered design professional and must be at least as stringent as the Level II Energy Survey and Engineering Analysis of the 2004 Edition of Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits published by ASHRAE. The “ASHRAE audit” requires analysis of base building systems and will identify measures that would reduce energy use and/or the cost of operating the building.

With certain exceptions for newer buildings, the first energy efficiency report for existing buildings is due, starting in 2013, in the calendar year with a final digit that is the same as the last digit of the building’s tax block number. Therefore, if the building’s tax block number ends with the digit “9,” then the first energy efficiency report for that building must be filed in 2019. The Owners may submitan energy efficiency report in 2013 in order to achieve early compliance.

Commercial buildings can utilize the NYSERDA Flextech (technical assistance) program to help pay for up to 50% of the costs of this study which can be used for early compliance in addition to other programs that can help pay for the cost of implementation of identified measures. Multifamily Buildings that are currently participating or planning on participating in NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program and/or have completed or in the process of completing an Energy Reduction Plan (ERP) per NYSERDA’s guidelines, will meet the Department requirements for early compliance. Currently NYSERDA will help pay for the cost of the energy assessment for multifamily buildings (between $5,000 to 10,000) and for measures ($600 per residential unit) that reduce the energy consumption at the building by 15%.INFORMA energy will work with the building to participate in this program and obtain all eligible incentives towards the audit and implementation of energy reduction measures. We recommend early compliance in order to take full advantage of the sources available for funding.

Retro-commissioning

In addition to the energy efficiency report, the Covered Building will need to ensure that retro- commissioning (i.e. a systematic process for optimizing the energy efficiency of existing base building systems through the identification and correction of deficiencies in such systems, including but not limited to repairs of defects, cleaning, adjustments of valves, sensors, controls or programmed settings and/or changes in operational practices) is performed on the base building systems prior to filing an energy efficiency report. The results of the Energy Audit will provide a list of equipment that will need to undergo retro-commissioning and be included in a separate retro commissioning report documenting completion of work.

Scope of Informa ServicesBenchmarking:

Review the buildings energy consumption (electricity, natural gas, oil, steam, etc.) and complete registration and setup of the building within the US-EPA Portfolio Manager, and submission of reporting with Local Law No. 476-A each year.

1.Initial (ASHRAE Level I) Assessment:

While not a requirement of the NYC energy legislation, if the building desired, we will visit the site and perform an initial site assessment (ASHRAE Level 1) of all Base Building systems to identify energy saving opportunities prior to a more comprehensive energy audit (ASHREA Level II). Base Building Systems will include but not limited to the building envelope, HVAC systems, elevators, hot water heating, electrical and lighting systems. This phase combined with the benchmarking, will allow us to gain familiarity with the property, its energy consumption, potential enrollment in the Flextech (commercial buildings) or Multifamily Performance Program (multifamily buildings), and measures that the property may want to implement. Upon completion, we will document findings in a summary report, discuss results and enrollment within any applicable incentive programs, and requirements/costs for a more the more comprehensive energy audit and retro-commissioning work.

2.Energy Audit (ASHRAE Level II)/ Retro-commissioning Identification:

Perform an ASHRAE Level II energy audits. Commercial buildings will be completed per ASHRAE guidelines by or under supervision of a Professional Engineer (PE) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM). Multifamily buildings will be completed by a Multifamily Building Analyst, as certified by the Buildings Performance Institute (MFBA). The audit will contain an energy simulation modeling of potential energy efficiency measures, applicable sub-metering feasibility and CHP Screening. The Energy Audit and report will be completed per NYSERDA’s Energy Reduction Plan Guidelines which will meet or exceed the NYC/ASHRAE Level II guidelines.

The results of the energy audit will also include a list of base building system equipment that need to undergo a retro-commissioning process and a proposal to complete these activities that are specific to the individual building systems.

3.Retro-commissioning:

Perform retro-commissioning of base building system as required.