See what we’ve been up to lately!
2023
New building energy data hub
In December, we redesigned and doubled the content of our online NYC building data hub. We also updated the existing visualizations with the latest NYC benchmarking data. The data hub now gives readers a concise snapshot of the latest trends in NYC building energy use, and also allows readers to choose between different topic-specific “data stories.” The new design also allows us to easily add new stories over time. In 2024, we plan to add information from NYC’s building audit data (Local Law 87).
LL97 rules finalized
On December 18, the NYC Department of Buildings published the final version of the newest package of rules for Local Law 97. The rules offer a new credit for beneficial electrification, define “good faith” criteria for determining mitigated penalties, give clarity to buildings that must meet the law’s prescriptive path, and add guidance for complying with Local Law 88 lighting and submetering requirements.
City of Yes approved
On December 6, the New York City Council voted to approve City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, a set of 17 citywide zoning changes that will make it easier to decarbonize NYC’s buildings. Urban Green convened over 60 experts to help inform the Department of City Planning on the proposals that will better enable energy-efficient design, electrification, solar and battery storage.
Urban Green awarded Buildings UP! prize
Urban Green Council was a Phase 1 winner of the Buildings UP Prize for our proposal to catalyze heat pump water heater conversions in multifamily buildings across NYC’s environmental justice communities.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office, Buildings UP awarded over $22 million in prizes and technical assistance for Phase 1 proposals to accelerate the deployment of equitable, widespread energy efficiency and efficient building electrification upgrades. We are one of 39 teams chosen in the Equity-Centered Innovation pathway, and we look forward to working with Con Edison, RiseBoro Community Partnership and other community stakeholders on this project!
NYS all-electric new construction
On May 2, New York became the first state in the nation to require all-electric new construction. Included in the long-awaited $229 billion state budget, the legislation builds on New York City’s groundbreaking Local Law 154 of 2021—which Urban Green helped shape—with some key variations. Read more about this major climate victory here.
PlaNYC release
On April 20, Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC Office of Climate and Environmental Justice announced the release of NYC’s new sustainability plan, PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done. The plan outlines 32 initiatives focused on three main areas: protection from climate threats, improving quality of life, and building the green economic engine. We’re proud to support the Mayor and MOCEJ on the new plan, which will deliver a healthy, equitable and resilient future for all New Yorkers.
City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality
On March 30, we convened experts to provide input to the NYC Department of City Planning on their upcoming citywide zoning text amendment that aims to accelerate decarbonization. The proposals, known as City of Yes for Carbon Neutrality, include recommendations from Urban Green’s 2018 Zone Greener report and entered public review in April.
The proposed changes in the amendment are critical because they will update NYC’s zoning regulations to make our world-leading efforts to prepare for climate change easier and ensure that zoning does not stand in the way of climate progress. Read our letter of support with AIA New York and the New York League of Conservation Voters here.
We drive innovative policy
Our policy work drives green building progress in New York City and State.
We advance electrification
We're helping set the stage for electrification in NYC through our research, policy and education.