Construction firms are poised to play a key role in cutting New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions as large building owners move to comply with a local law limiting emissions from their properties. But some concerns remain around the law and the way it will be carried out.
The NYC Dept. of Buildings recently released an advisory board report with recommendations for city officials on implementing Local Law 97, which adds GHG emission limits for most buildings larger than 25,000 sq ft starting in 2024. Even stricter standards would take effect in 2030 under the law. City officials passed the law in 2019 as part of the Climate Mobilization Act to advance the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The report was prepared with input from an advisory board of architects, engineers, owners, environmental advocates and others working with DOB.