Complying with New York City's Local Law 87 (LL87) is more than just a legal requirement; it's a commitment to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. This article explores the intersection of technology and policy, outlining the necessary steps and innovations to meet LL87's mandates effectively.
Introduction
Amid New York City's dynamic skyline lie hidden challenges of energy efficiency and sustainability. NYC Local Law 87, a significant piece of legislation within the city's ambitious sustainability goals, was established to address these challenges head-on. The law requires periodic energy assessments and improvements from the city's larger buildings, making it imperative for building owners and managers to understand its technological demands. Grasping the intricacies of Local Law 87 not only ensures compliance but also paves the way for cost savings and energy optimizations that benefit the entire city.
Background of Local Law 87
Enacted as part of the broader Greener, Greater Buildings Plan in 2009, NYC Local Law 87 targets buildings over 50,000 square feet, compelling them to undergo energy audits and retro-commissioning every ten years. The law aims to cut down on the city's carbon footprint, encourage energy conservation, and promote the use of cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.
Under LL87, an energy audit evaluates a building’s systems — such as heating, ventilation, lighting, and water use — to identify opportunities for energy conservation measures (ECMs). Following the audit, retro-commissioning involves fine-tuning existing systems to ensure they operate as intended and as efficiently as possible. These twin processes spotlight not just energy wastage, but also the potential for significant cost savings through optimized building operations.
Technological Needs of Local Law 87
The comprehensive evaluation required by Local Law 87 demands advanced technological tools. The implementation of sophisticated software to manage and analyze energy consumption data is essential. For example, Energy Management Systems (EMS) provide real-time data monitoring and alerts, enabling building owners to make informed decisions about energy use. Moreover, technologies such as 3D building modeling and thermal imaging cameras have revolutionized energy audit processes by providing detailed visualizations of energy flow and loss within structures.
Energy Audit and Retro-commissioning
An energy audit is a pathway to understanding and improving a building's energy consumption. It offers insights into performance gaps and identifies retro-commissioning opportunities. Technological interventions play a pivotal role here. Automated data collection methods, powered by IoT devices, feed information directly into advanced analytics software, ensuring high precision in audit results. For retro-commissioning, tools like Building Automation Systems (BAS) can adjust operations based on the findings of the audit, optimizing energy use in real time.
A case study exemplifying the successful integration of technology in this process may involve using an advanced EMS to track the energy consumption patterns of a commercial building. Subsequent retro-commissioning measures, guided by the insights gained from the EMS, could include recalibrating HVAC system controls, which in turn could lead to substantial energy and cost savings over time.
Technological Solutions for Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs)
Upon an audit and retro-commissioning, a range of EEMs are typically recommended. These may vary from installing LED lighting and better insulation to upgrading HVAC systems. Technology plays a crucial role in enforcing EEMs. Solutions like smart meters and sensors can closely monitor energy consumption, while software platforms can analyze performance data to ensure the effectiveness of implemented measures.
The impact of EEMs on energy savings can be significant, and their performance must be tracked meticulously. Technologies such as cloud-based energy analytics platforms enable building owners to visually track and quantify the savings achieved through implemented EEMs, hence confirming the value of their investment.
Digital Tools for Compliance Documentation
Compliance with Local Law 87 is incomplete without thorough documentation. This is where digital tools come to the forefront. Cloud-based software simplifies the process of compiling and organizing audit reports, retro-commissioning plans, and compliance submissions. The use of such platforms facilitates a smooth and secure flow of information between building owners, service providers, and regulatory agencies, ensuring that all necessary paperwork is accessible and up-to-date.
Technological Challenges and Solutions
While the integration of technology has streamlined the compliance process for Local Law 87, challenges persist. System integration issues may arise when new technologies are introduced to older building systems. However, through middleware and APIs, these disparate systems can communicate effectively, mitigating such challenges.
Data security is another concern, as compliance documentation contains sensitive information. Robust cybersecurity measures and encrypted data storage solutions have become the norm to protect against breaches, ensuring that building owners can confidently use digital tools for compliance purposes.
The Future of Local Law 87 Compliance: Advanced Technologies
The future of Local Law 87 compliance lies in new and advanced technologies. AI, for example, has the potential to predict building energy consumption patterns and automate efficiency improvements. The IoT ecosystem could lead to even more granular control and monitoring of building systems, helping to preemptively identify areas for energy savings.
As these technologies mature, they will offer unprecedented insights into building operations, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in energy efficiency. Consequently, staying ahead of the technology curve will become more important than ever for building owners and managers aiming for compliance and sustainability.
Conclusion
NYC's Local Law 87 is more than just a mandate; it represents a move toward a more energy-conscious urban environment. Technology is the linchpin in fulfilling the requirements of this law, offering sophisticated solutions to audit, retro-commissioning, and compliance documentation. As we look ahead, it is clear that the integration of advanced technologies will continue to play a transformative role in achieving a sustainable future for New York City. Building owners who embrace these innovations will find themselves at the forefront of energy efficiency, leading the charge toward a greener, more resilient urban landscape.
Opting for both the services is often beneficial for most buildings, since consulting engineers can get all the relevant data about building system operation and energy performance in a single inspection.In simple words, both the terms can be explained as follows:Building commissioning involves keeping all the building systems operational as specified in the design documents and technical specification.Energy audits aim to identify measures that effectively improve the energy performance of the building.In some cases, commissioning can also be thought as the follow-up to an energy audit.
In these cases, energy audit identifies opportunities that would need commissioning as the follow-up.In an attempt to cut down the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, New York City came up with Local Law 87 which mandates commissioning and energy audits of buildings larger than 50,000 sq.
Commissioning is also often carried out after major renovation.
Since there are no major expenditures involved, the payback period is less than 1 year.Terms like recommissioning and retro-commissioning often cause a lot of confusion.
Both the terms refer to commissioning of existing buildings.Energy AuditEnergy audit aims to understand the current energy consumption profile of the building and identify upgrades to reduce the energy consumption without compromising performance.
Energy audit involves building inspection just like commissioning, but the goal is to improve the energy efficiency by exceeding the operating conditions specified in the design documents.The most common energy efficiency measures are:LED lighting retrofitsHVAC upgradation or replacementVariable speed drives for pumps and motorsAutomatic controlsBuilding envelope upgradesApart from building equipment upgrades, building energy inputs play a vital role in improving efficiency.
One application of IoT that has stirred industries for good is energy monitoring.
While it is not an easy feat to conserve energy especially in a large industrial setup; by regularly monitoring energy consumption by machines, floor activity managers can rework their activities and operations to reduce their electricity bills and other operational expenses.IoT powered energy monitoring solution that along with saving electricity also helps in improving operations in a facility.The technology of IoT is going to stay and by garnering its benefits, companies that are either new or are already established can optimize their energy utilization.
This technology is creating smart connections within industrial setups, that allow companies to manage their energy consumption and help them to take smart actions to improve their plant efficiency.
