New York City Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Cut Carbon Emissions from Existing Buildings

Strategic Insights -

The city's plan, announced by Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Quinn on Earth Day, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, the largest source of CO2 emissions in American cities. The Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, would create New York City's first Energy Code, improve energy efficiency in existing buildings, and reduce energy costs, ultimately creating thousands of construction-related jobs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The plan would reduce greenhouse gas emissions nearly 5% and save New Yorkers more than $700 million annually in energy costs.
  • The plan would create more than 17,000 construction-related jobs in coming years.
  • The Greener, Greater Buildings Plan includes four bills: Intro 967-A (Audits and Retrocommissioning Bill), Intro 476-A (Benchmarking Bill), Intro 973-A (Lighting Bill), and Intro 564-A (New York City Energy Code Bill).
  • The plan would make buildings' energy performance more transparent, requiring large buildings to "benchmark" their energy and water consumption annually.
  • The plan would also upgrade to more efficient lighting technology by 2025, reducing the reliance on polluting fossil fuels.
  • The New York City Energy Code, to be created by Intro 564-A, would require that new equipment installed during a renovation meet current efficiency standards.
  • The plan has gained broad support from business, labor, and environmental organizations due to its effort to address concerns and refine each piece of the legislative package.
  • Leaders of numerous environmental and planning groups have joined in the call for the Council to approve the package of bills.

Statistics:

  • Buildings account for 80% of New York City's carbon emissions.
  • Energy costs are estimated at $15 billion a year.
  • Almost 20% of the electricity used in New York City's buildings comes from lighting.
  • Electricity usage accounts for 49% of New York City's carbon emissions.
  • The proposal would reduce carbon emissions by nearly 5%.
  • The plan would save New Yorkers more than $700 million annually in energy costs.
  • More than 17,000 construction-related jobs will be created in coming years.

Sources:

  • Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
  • Mayor's Office
  • City Council
  • Natural Resources Defense Council
  • Pratt Center for Community Development
  • Environmental Defense Fund
  • Regional Plan Association
  • New York League of Conservation Voters
  • Urban Green Council (U.S. Green Building Council of New York)
  • UPROSE (United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park)
  • WE ACT for Environmental Justice