{"id":2756,"date":"2025-05-02T09:34:23","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T09:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecotocongroup.com\/?p=2756"},"modified":"2026-02-03T09:08:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T09:08:51","slug":"nyc-local-law-97-and-energy-benchmarking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecotocongroup.com\/blog\/nyc-local-law-97-and-energy-benchmarking\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Energy Benchmarking and how it helps with NYC Local Law 97"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

New York City\u2002energy benchmarking laws, Local Law 84 and Local Law 133. ensure that owners of larger buildings track and annually submit their data on energy and water use. These policies are some of the steps that the city is taking toward increasing energy efficiency\u2002and decreasing emissions in order to reach its climate goals. By making benchmarking\u2002the norm, this assessment cultivates transparency and better energy decision-making among property owners. This is an important first step to understanding how a building is performing and making upgrades that help create a cleaner, greener\u2002New York.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/span>Building Energy Benchmarking<\/span><\/h1>\n

NYC\u2019s Building owners are facing a challenging task, i.e., compliance with NYC Local Law 97<\/a>. The law aims to achieve a 40% reduction in City\u2019s GHG emissions by 2030. While challenging, it can also greatly benefit building owners if approached with proper planning and implementation. NYC Local Law 97 and Energy Benchmarking are inter-related and Benchmarking your Building can greatly benefit you in reducing your GHG Emissions.<\/p>\n

Building energy benchmarking is the practice of monitoring a property\u2019s energy and\u2002water consumption and comparing its performance relative to similar buildings. This benchmarking is required annually using the EPA\u2019s\u2002ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool under Local Law 84\/133. It generates a performance score that indicates\u2002to owners whether their buildings are energy efficient or require upgrades. It\u2002fosters continuous improvement, reduces energy costs, and is essential for compliance today and in the future.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/span>Understanding New York City\u2019s Local Law 84\/133<\/span><\/h4>\n

The law mandates buildings that are larger than 25,000 square feet or up to comply with annual energy benchmark reporting. It is a process of measuring, tracking, and reporting buildings\u2019 energy and water consumption using a benchmarking tool. LL84\/133 compliance requires building owners to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. This tool calculates an ENERGY STAR<\/a> score as well as Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions based on a building\u2019s information and utility data. The ENERGY STAR score will also be used to define the building\u2019s Energy Efficiency Rating, or Energy Grade as per NYC Local Law 95<\/a>. This not only helps to reduce GHG emissions and the energy costs of buildings, but it can also increase the asset values of building owners.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Using benchmarking, you can measure your building\u2019s current energy usage against past consumption and compare it to a designated performance level and\/or similar buildings in your portfolio (if applicable). In 2009, New York City became the first city to mandate benchmarking, with the implementation of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Aiding this process, the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s ENERGY STAR\u00ae Portfolio Manager\u00ae benchmarking tool can help you get\u2014and make sense of\u2014the data you need to make the grade. Portfolio Manager works with your building\u2019s aggregated energy-usage data, as supplied by your energy provider. National Grid fully supports this linkage.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

An Accurate Energy Benchmarking can help you in reducing your carbon emissions by up to 35%- Jimmy Carchietta<\/a> \u2013 CEO of The Cotocon Group, LEED AP BD+C, CPHC<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/span>Why grades matter?<\/span><\/h4>\n

When a building scores a low grade, it is an indication of building\u2019s Energy performance. It can help us identify that there is a scope of improvement within the building, whether it is Retro-Commissioning<\/a>, Energy Audits<\/a> or more. Just like with restaurants, an Energy Grade score is soon set to become a standard of what your business is seen as, in terms of people doing business with you.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

<\/span>Using data to our advantage<\/span><\/h4>\n

Building Owners can generate ENERGYSTAR performance documents for each building to get performance insights. We can then use this data to :-<\/p>\n