Technology to Implement in Retail & Residential Buildings for LL97 Compliance

Carbon emissions are increasing global temperatures with the evident effect of climate change. Concerned authorities are addressing these concerns differently, and the New York Local Law 97 is an excellent example of such attempts.  

Laws like these are the need of the hour, with the NYC building sector contributing to 70% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the city. This has raised concerns among building owners trying to ensure effective compliance with this 2024 law. 

However, compliance with the NYC LL97 is not that big of a challenge, especially when technological advancements have made things easier. This blog will explore ways to use the latest technologies for seamless compliance with the law. So, let’s dive in!       

What Is The NYC Local Law 97 All About?

The NYC Local Law 97 was enacted in 2024 and applied to every over 25.000 square feet in New York City. There are more than 50,000 such buildings in the city, including residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.

The primary intent behind passing the law was to set new greenhouse gas emission intensity limits for buildings. It aims to reach a 40% reduction in city emissions by 2030 and an 80% by 2050 from the baseline levels from 2006. While the law has already been passed, its full effect and potential will be evident in 2030 when it comes into full effect with strict conditions.       

Buildings exceeding these limits will have to pay hefty fines, giving owners a financial incentive to reduce carbon emissions. The city also offers extensions, exemptions, and essential resources to qualified owners to help them comply with the law. This will also yield many long-term benefits for building owners in the city in terms of increased property value and lower utility costs.    

Ways You Can Use New Technologies To Comply With New York City Local Law 97

With proper resources and intent to save on costs, there are many areas where you can leverage the potential of the latest technologies for better compliance with the NYC LL 97. So, let’s check out so,e of these strategies to help you out:

1. Using IoT to Monitor Current Energy Use and Emissions 

Before you start working on reducing your emissions, you must first get a clear idea of your existing emissions and energy use. This is where the Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology can be a game changer for you. You can place IoT devices across the building to monitor carbon emissions and energy use.   

This is the first step in helping you prepare your building for compliance with New York City Local Law 97. You can use these data and insights and leverage the expertise of a Local Law 97 consultant to determine areas where you could lower emissions and take proper measures to address them. Using IoT devices to monitor your energy use and emissions is critical to meeting all compliance needs.   

2. Use Technology To Find Ways To Reduce Energy Consumption And Emissions  

Thanks to the latest technological advancements, there are numerous ways you can leverage their potential to find new ways to reduce energy consumption. For instance, you can use the latest automated management software to manage your building’s energy configurations automatically. This means the solution will automatically turn things off when not in use to reduce energy consumption.       

Besides that, you could even use advanced intelligent lighting solutions to reduce energy consumption. Then, IoT-powered sensors are used to optimize the building’s lighting and other appliances based on occupancy. These sensors can manage everything from lights to HVAC systems to ensure nothing goes to waste.      

3. Integration of Renewable Energy Technologies

The renewable sector has come a long way in a relatively short period. Hence, it only makes sense that you integrate renewable energy sources that focus on harnessing the sun’s or wind’s energy.      

This helps you lower carbon emissions, reduce energy consumption, and enhance your building’s valuation in the long run. Integrating renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines also qualifies you for many government incentives and tax deductions. 

4. Using Better And More Advanced Energy Storage Solutions 

Without proper energy solutions, there is no promising way to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy consumption. These performant solutions are very important in helping your building store extra energy from renewable sources.    

This will allow your building to save more energy during periods with lower demands and make up for increased demands with the extra energy. Besides that, these solutions can also go a long way in terms of offering backup power during power outages. This, in turn, will help you save on energy bills and avoid any wastage that could attract penalties under Local Law 97.  

5. Consider Smart Grid Integration 

Equipping your building with a smart grid solution is another very effective way to save energy and lower emissions. These systems will enable your building to be part of different demand response programs by optimizing energy use based on price signals and grid conditions.    

This dynamic adjustment of energy consumption in response to the fluctuations in supply and demand enables you to create a sustainable energy ecosystem. Smart Grids also play a crucial role in promoting efficient electricity use and strengthening commitments towards a sustainable future. 

6. Use Data Analytics and Machine Learning 

Data analytics and machine learning are becoming a go-to tool for almost everything in this age. Hence, it is no surprise using these technologies is a great way to lower energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions.

You can use these technologies to determine trends in energy use and gain valuable insights with ML-powered devices. This will help you create the perfect carbon plan to lower emissions and meet all your local Law 97 compliance needs with little to no effort. 

Final Thoughts

Lowering carbon emissions and energy consumption will not be an easy task for the residents of New York City. However, with Local Law 97 in place, building owners have no alternative but to comply or pay penalties.

Thankfully, you can easily use this information to leverage the potential of the latest technologies to meet all compliance needs. You can even leverage the expertise of The Cotocon Group, offering Local Law 97 consulting services to make things simpler.