Skip to main content

Beefed-Up NYC Energy Code Will Cut Carbon, Improve Buildings

July 18, 2016
Donna DeCostanzo

New buildings in New York City—both commercial and residential—are about to get a whole lot more energy-efficient, thanks to improvements to the New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC), green-lighted last week by the New York City Council.
NYC 2016
The code governs new construction (and renovations) in the five boroughs. And thanks to this update, which builds upon improved national and New York State building codes, new commercial buildings will be almost 9 percent more energy efficient, while new one- and two-family homes will be as much as 32 percent more efficient, and solar-ready, too. For more details see this post from Chris Halfnight, our colleague at Urban Green Council.
A mind-boggling 32 million square feet of built space per year, on average, has been constructed in the Big Apple over the last 15 years—nearly the size of 15 Empire State Buildings combined, annually. So the improvements the NYCECC will bring about can have a substantial impact on the energy performance of New York City’s buildings well into the future as we work towards meeting the City’s goal of cutting carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
The new code will work its magic in some important ways. First, it focuses on improvements to what architects and engineers call the “building envelope”—essentially, the barrier between indoor space and outdoor space—walls, roofs, windows, and doors. A well-sealed building envelope prevents heated or cooled air from escaping when it shouldn’t, thereby saving energy. The new code helps increase the energy efficiency of new (and renovated) buildings by upping insulation requirements, improving testing for air-tightness, and making sure architects and builders account for air conditioning and heating units that go through building walls (and can thus allow significant energy losses), when they do required energy modeling. Lighting improvements that generate more and better light with less energy are another component of the new code. And all new low-rise residential buildings will, as of October 3rd, when the code takes effect, need to be solar-ready, which means built so they can easily accommodate solar panels on their roofs.
Almost three-quarters of New York City’s carbon pollution comes from our buildings. So these improvements in the NYCECC are just the kinds of changes, along with others, that can help the Big Apple meet its appropriately ambitious climate goals. They can add up to big savings on energy for the home- and building-owners of New York and show the way to cities around the country that look to New York as an energy-savings pioneer, resulting in important carbon savings for us all.

DONNA DE COSTANZO

Director, Northeast Energy & Sustainable Communities, Energy & Transportation program

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Amplify By Guardian - PATHOGEN CLEANING & DISINFECTING

PATHOGEN CLEANING & DISINFECTING Introducing our strongest response to pathogen cleaning... Amplify By Guardian.   Our Amplify By Guardian program provides you, your tenants, guests, and employees with the peace of mind needed to return to your daily activities. Developed in conjunction with industry experts, consultants and our in-house Certified Safety professionals, Amplify By Guardian focuses on the importance of proper disinfecting. Cleaning for health is the main focus and we can offer you several options on how to implement the program. Our cleaning technicians are specially trained in the latest disinfecting techniques under the guidance of our authorized and certified trainers. Emphasis is placed on using the latest EPA List N approved disinfectants and cleaners.  Product effectiveness improves daily and we make sure that we are using the best solution for your space. In addition to the chemicals used, we educate the cleaning technicians on proper dwell times to ensure the
Post a Comment
Read more

Charles A. LoBosco Appointed President of Guardian Service Industries, Inc.

  For immediate release: January 30, 2023 Guardian Service Industries, Inc. New York, NY: Charles A. LoBosco has been appointed to the position of President of Guardian Service Industries, Inc.   Mr. LoBosco has been with Guardian for over ten years where he has overseen numerous business units in both the Janitorial and Security divisions, and provided senior level leadership and advisement across all company lines. Under his leadership, Guardian Security Services has had triple digit growth and is now a formidable and respected provider in the contract security arena. Charles is an industry veteran and SME with over 35 years in the facility services industry. Starting his career in 1986 as a sales and account executive for a large regional service provider, Charles rose quickly in the industry to where he is today after having served in various senior management roles for several companies, including 6 years as President for a national service provider prior to joining Guardian
Post a Comment
Read more

THINKING ABOUT WINTER YET?

Now is the time to start getting your snow removal equipment ready.  Like with most pieces of equipment, preventive maintenance is the best way to stay ahead of the game by reducing downtime and costly repairs during peak season. The following check list will give you a head start in preparing for our first snow fall. Review, repair or replace the following snow removal equipment and restock your supplies as needed. Make sure you have a designated place for keeping all your snow items and that they are properly maintained. Plows  Snow blowers -  Shovels Ice scrapers Sand & salt Sand and salt spreaders Cover your employees – proper clothing and personal protective equipment: Workers should have durable work boots with slip resistant soles Workers performing snow removal should have gloves and safety glasses Remind workers to dress warmly and in layers Train now – make sure all workers are trained on proper snow removal procedures including: Safe equipment operation and maintenanc Pr
Post a Comment
Read more