New York City Passes Green Energy Legislation
New York City has just passed legislation that is intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg hails the passing of this green energy bill because it will significantly reduce the city’s carbon count by making buildings more energy efficient.
According to a report released by the Bloomberg administration in 2007, New York City’s buildings - skyscrapers, hotels, stores, office buildings and apartment towers — surprisingly generate the majority of the city’s emissions. 79 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions are emitted by buildings using electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and steam.
The green energy legislation will require owners of buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to conduct energy audits once every 10 years and to make environmental “tune-ups” to operations and maintenance systems.
Proponents of the new energy laws called for building owners to make more costly environmental improvements to their buildings, like major overhauls to heating and ventilation systems or replacing windows, but the line item was dropped because of opposition from building developers and real estate interests.
Environmental groups praised the legislation and said it puts New York City far ahead of other U.S. cities on addressing buildings emissions.
“It’s one of the most comprehensive, aggressive efforts anywhere in the country,” said Donna De Costanzo, a senior attorney specializing in energy policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The council also passed a measure creating a New York City energy code that existing buildings will have to meet whenever they make renovations.
A third bill requires buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to upgrade their lighting systems to comply with the new energy code by 2025.
source: Associated Press 2009
