Commercial building owners receive a guide on how to lower carbon emissions

In two years, owners of NYC buildings that exceed 25,000 gross square feet will be required to cut gas emissions. To help building owners advance in carbon neutrality, Governor Kathy Hochul partnered with Mayor Eric Adams, President Clinton, and four real estate developers and released a digital playbook.

The online guide gives direct instructions on how to develop a decarbonization plan that will save owners time and money. The playbook also includes examples and lessons learned by Empire State Realty Trust, L+M Development Partners, Hines, and Omni New York, which were chosen to demonstrate the feasibility of retrofits. 

"The Empire Building Playbook will be a critical tool to combat climate change and reduce harmful emissions across our state, all while moving forward with the green economy, creating clean energy job opportunities, and making the most iconic buildings in the New York skyline more sustainable,” Governor Hochul said. 

NYC buildings produce over 70 percent of the city's greenhouse gas emissions, Reuters reports. Local Law 97, which came into effect in 2019, aims to reduce the emission produced by the city’s tallest buildings. The law covers buildings over 25,000 square feet, which must reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. 

The new guide, developed by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, focuses on ways to decrease gas emissions by reducing, recycling, and storing heat and replacing fossil fuels with electric power. 

The step-by-step process, outlined in the playbook, can be applied to existing commercial buildings. Moreover, the guide calls to provide additional support to tenants by investing in climate-friendly office spaces. 

Resources:

“NY unveils “playbook” for building owners to cut emissions,” by Suzannah Cavanaugh (The Real Deal, 2022)

“How to comply with looming emissions law? “Start yesterday,” by Suzannah Cavanaugh (The Real Deal, 2022)

“Governor Hochul Announces Playbook for Advancing Carbon Neutrality in High Rise Buildings,” by Governor Hochul (New York State, 2022)

“In first, New York caps climate emissions from buildings,” by Sebastien Malo (Reuters, 2019)