Navigating Local Law 87 Compliance: Tips for Building Owners and Managers
Practical tips and best practices for building owners and managers to ensure smooth compliance with Local Law 87
Local Law 87 (LL87) is a New York City regulation that requires buildings over 50,000 square feet to undergo an energy audit and retro-commissioning every ten years. Here are some practical tips and best practices for building owners and managers to ensure smooth compliance with LL87:
Start early: LL87 compliance can be a complex and time-consuming process. It's important to start early and give yourself enough time to gather all the necessary information, conduct audits, and complete retro-commissioning tasks. Waiting until the last minute can lead to unnecessary stress and potential non-compliance.
Understand the requirements: Familiarize yourself with the requirements of LL87. Review the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) guidelines and understand what is expected from your building. Make sure you understand the deadlines, documentation requirements, and reporting procedures.
Hire qualified professionals: LL87 mandates that energy audits and retro-commissioning be performed by qualified professionals. Make sure to hire experienced and certified energy auditors and retro-commissioning agents who are knowledgeable about LL87 requirements and have a track record of successful compliance.
Keep accurate records: Maintain detailed records of all energy audits, retro-commissioning activities, and reports. These records may be requested by the DOB during compliance audits. Having organized and up-to-date records will help streamline the compliance process and ensure that you can provide the necessary documentation when needed.
Plan for retro-commissioning implementation: Retro-commissioning involves identifying and resolving operational inefficiencies in a building's systems to optimize energy performance. Develop a plan to implement the recommendations identified in the retro-commissioning report and track progress. Consider budgeting for retro-commissioning implementation in advance to avoid delays or unexpected costs.
Educate building staff: Ensure that building staff, including maintenance personnel and operators, are trained on energy-efficient operation and maintenance practices. Provide regular training sessions to keep them updated on best practices for energy conservation and efficient operation of building systems.
Monitor energy consumption: Implement a system for ongoing monitoring and analysis of energy consumption in your building. Regularly review utility bills and energy usage data to identify trends, anomalies, and potential areas for improvement. Monitoring energy consumption can help identify opportunities for energy savings and ensure that your building continues to operate efficiently beyond the compliance period.
Stay informed about updates: Local laws and regulations can change over time. Stay informed about updates to LL87 requirements, deadlines, and reporting procedures. Regularly check the DOB website or consult with qualified professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest information.
By following these practical tips and best practices, building owners and managers can ensure smooth compliance with Local Law 87 and contribute to more energy-efficient and sustainable buildings in New York City.
Discuss the documentation, reporting, and audit requirements of the law, and provide guidance on how to meet these requirements effectively.
Local Law 87 (LL87) in New York City has specific documentation, reporting, and audit requirements that building owners and managers need to meet to ensure compliance. Here's some guidance on how to meet these requirements effectively:
Documentation Requirements: LL87 requires building owners to maintain documentation related to energy audits and retro-commissioning activities. This may include energy audit reports, retro-commissioning reports, and other relevant documents such as equipment manuals, maintenance records, and operational procedures. It's important to keep these documents organized and readily accessible for review by the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) during compliance audits.
Tip: Create a centralized repository or file system to store all LL87-related documents and ensure that relevant staff members are aware of its location and have access to it.
Reporting Requirements: Building owners are required to submit a report to the DOB documenting compliance with LL87. The report should include information such as the building's energy usage data, audit findings, retro-commissioning measures implemented, and estimated energy savings. The report must be submitted electronically using the DOB's online portal.
Tip: Start early and allocate sufficient time to gather all the necessary data and complete the report accurately. Double-check all the information before submission to avoid errors or omissions that could lead to non-compliance.
Audit Requirements: LL87 mandates that energy audits and retro-commissioning be performed by qualified professionals. Energy audits assess a building's energy usage and identify opportunities for energy savings, while retro-commissioning involves identifying and resolving operational inefficiencies in a building's systems. The audit and retro-commissioning reports must be prepared by certified professionals and follow DOB guidelines.
Tip: When selecting auditors and retro-commissioning agents, verify their qualifications and experience to ensure compliance with LL87 requirements. Clearly communicate your expectations and the scope of work to the auditors and retro-commissioning agents to ensure thorough assessments.
Compliance Audit Requirements: The DOB conducts compliance audits to verify that building owners have met LL87 requirements. During the audit, the DOB may request access to documentation, including energy audit and retro-commissioning reports, as well as other relevant records. Building owners must cooperate with the DOB and provide the requested information in a timely manner.
Tip: Be prepared for compliance audits by maintaining organized and up-to-date records, and ensure that relevant staff members are aware of the process and know how to respond to DOB requests.
Follow-up Actions: LL87 may require building owners to implement retro-commissioning measures identified in the retro-commissioning report. It's important to track and document the implementation of these measures and their impact on energy usage. This information may be requested during compliance audits or included in the reporting requirements.
Tip: Develop a plan to implement retro-commissioning measures and establish a system to track progress and document results. Regularly review and update the plan to ensure timely implementation and compliance.
Summary
effective compliance with LL87 requires diligent documentation, accurate reporting, thorough audits, and proactive follow-up actions. By staying organized, working with qualified professionals, and being prepared for compliance audits, building owners and managers can ensure smooth compliance with LL87 and contribute to more energy-efficient and sustainable buildings in New York City.