New York City
City Scorecard Rank
5
New York City, NY
69.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 6 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Summary List All
New York City adopted OneNYC plan in 2019. New York City previously formally adopted the One City: Built to Last and 80x50 plans.
Last updated: September 2021
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
OneNYC includes a goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. One City: Built to Last includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% below 2005 levels by 2025. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects the city will not achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
New York City also releases annual greenhouse gas inventories.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.
Renewable Energy Goal
The city is subsumed to New York State's commitment to 100% clean electricity by 2040. The OneNYC 2050 Plan includes a goal to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050. The One City: Built to Last includes a goal to install 250 MW of private sector solar capacity by 2025.
Last updated: September 2021
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement with multiple clean energy initiatives to marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
Local Laws 60 and 64 of 2017 required the city to establish an Environmental Justice Advisory Board, which has since been created. The Board consists of residents of environmental justice communities and environmental justice experts. The Board will work to create a citywide Environmental Justice Plan and will help the city incorporate environmental justice concerns into decision-making.
Equity Accountability Measures
Executive Order 45 (2019) requires city agencies to annually report on key equity indicators.
Intro. 886-A sets up an Interagency Working Group to create a citywide Environmental Justice Plan that provides guidance on incorporating environmental justice concerns into city decision-making, identifies possible citywide initiatives for promoting environmental justice, and provides specific recommendations for City agencies to bring their operations, programs and projects in line with these concerns.
Last updated: September 2021
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
New York City is currently building a district heating system and microgrid at the Red Hook East and West public housing complexes that integrate combined heat and power. The city is also pursuing a microgrid at the Hunts Point Distribution Center that includes solar and energy storage. The New York City Housing Authority also grants access to community solar subscriptions through its ACCESSolar program. New York City also requires city-supported community solar to provide direct bill discounts to low-income residents.
Last updated: September 2021
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
New York City’s One City: Built to Last plan has a goal to coat 10 million square feet of rooftops white by 2025 to mitigate the effects of the city’s urban heat island.
UHI Policies and Programs
The city installs cool roofs at no cost to qualifying building owners through the NYC CoolRoofs Program. The city also provides cash and property tax incentives to property owners that agree to permanently protect undeveloped land through the city’s Conservation Easement Program.
Last updated: September 2021
Buildings Policies
Score: 24 out of 30 points
Buildings Summary List All
New York City has the authority to adopt building energy codes and enforces the 2020 New York City Energy Conservation Code. The city has included both solar- and EV-ready provisions in its city codes. The city has established a comprehensive energy code compliance verification process. Additionally, the city requires both commercial, multifamily, and groups of buildings on a single lot to benchmark and disclosure energy data. New York City also requires building owners to conduct several additional above-code energy-saving actions.
Last updated: June 2021
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of New York allows local jurisdictions to adopt building energy codes that are more stringent than the minimum state standards. The 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York (2020 ECCCNYS) is the minimum mandatory code for residential and commercial buildings. ECCCNYS 2020 is as stringent as the 2018 IECC for residential buildings and ASHRAE 90.1-2016 for commercial buildings. New York City Local Law 32 compels the city to pass a stretch code that is at least 20% more stringent than the state code. To learn more about the building energy codes required in the State of New York, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
New York City has adopted the 2020 NYCECC. The city based the code on the 2020 New York State energy code with strengthening amendments. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 49.8. New York City advocates for more stringent building codes at the state level through the NYC Green Codes Task Force, which recommends specific amendments to the state code.
Residential
Residential construction must comply with the 2020 NYCECC. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 47.0. New York City advocates for more stringent building codes at the state level through the NYC Green Codes Task Force, which recommends specific amendments to the state code.
Solar-readiness policies
In 2019, New York City passed complementary laws (Local Laws 92 and 94 of 2019) requiring all new buildings and those buildings undergoing major roof renovations to be covered with solar panels, green roofs, or some combination of the two. Requirements apply to new construction, vertical and horizontal extensions, and full roof decking replacements.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
The city’s building code requires newly constructed parking garages and lots to install the electric space and conduit at 20 percent of the parking spaces to install electric vehicle charging stations.
Low-energy use requirements
New York City Local Law Introduction No. 1253 was amended to limit greenhouse gas emissions for existing buildings.
Local Law 86 requires certain buildings that receive funding over certain threshold amounts from the City meet LEED Certification standards.
Last updated: August 2021
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
New York City has no full time employees dedicated solely to energy code compliance. The city requires plan review, third-party site inspection, and performance testing to verify code compliance. New York City also provides upfront support on energy code compliance through training sessions and pre-permit consultations with plan reviewers.
Last updated: June 2021
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Building performance standards
Local Law 97 (formerly Intro 1253) of 2019 sets emissions caps for buildings larger than 25,000 square feet, beginning in 2024, which will cut carbon emissions at least 40 percent by 2030 and over 80 percent by 2050 from the affected buildings. Buildings that do not comply will face fines set at $268 per ton of emissions that are in excess of the individual building’s cap in a given year. By 2030, this law is projected to reduce New York City’s carbon emissions by 6 million tons.
Retrocommissioning requirements
Local Law 87 of 2009 mandates that buildings 50,000 gross square feet or larger undergo periodic retrocommissioning measures.
Retrofit requirements
NYC Local Law 88 of 2009 requiring lighting retrofits to meet current NYCECC standards, and to install electric sub-meters for each tenant space.
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
New York City’s Local Law 84 (LL84) requires commercial buildings larger than 50,000 square feet and groups of buildings on a single tax lot totaling 100,000 square feet or more to benchmark and disclose annual energy data through ENERGY STAR. Local Law 133 expanded LL84 to require buildings 25,000 square feet and greater to benchmark energy usage.
Energy audit requirements
In addition to retrocommissioning, Local Law 87 of 2009 mandates that buildings 50,000 gross square feet or larger undergo periodic energy audits.
Other requirements
Local Law 33 of 2018 requires building owners subject to the city’s benchmarking ordinance to display an “energy efficiency grade” at each public entrance of the building.
Incentives
The city established a property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing program for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The city also offers a J-51 tax abatement and exemption for energy efficient upgrades in affordable housing projects. The city offers a Solar Electric Generating System (SEGS) tax abatement.
Voluntary programs
The city also offers a voluntary program, The Carbon Challenge, that is a public-private partnership between the Mayor's Office of Sustainability and leaders in the private, institutional, and non-profit sectors who have committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 30% or more over ten years. The Mayor's Office provides support, resources, and recognition as participants pursue different energy efficiency improvements, efficient on-site generation, and sustainability initiatives.
Last updated: June 2021
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
The City University of New York offers course credit to participants in a high-performance green building program coordinated by local chapter 94 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), a trade union for construction workers. This program complements the city’s Local Law 87.
The NYC Department of Education offers several sustainability education and workforce programs. Through their Career and Technical Education programs, over 700 hundreds of teachers have been trained in green construction and solar, reaching over 15,000 students. In addition, the Department of Education ran a pilot to use solar installations on their own roofs to employ students as solar summer interns.
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) leverages much of its sustainability contracting to incentivize employment of public housing residents, and hosts a non-profit devoted to green workforce training for NYCHA youth.
The New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability launched an internship program with the City University of New York to train students and place them in building energy management roles in both public and private sector organizations.
City-supported community solar projects all have requirements around workforce development, bill discounts to low-income customers, and/or serving specific environmental justice communities. For NYC Housing Authority, RFP respondents are required to provide discounts to low-income customers for 100% of the energy production, and to include workforce development strategies for low-income residents of public housing. For NYC Economic Development Corporation, their community solar project also has workforce development goals of training Sunset Park residents in solar installation, and to primarily serve customers within the Sunset Park neighborhood.
Last updated: June 2021
Transportation
Score: 22 out of 30 points
Transportation Summary List All
The transportation authority serving New York City is MTA New York City Transit. MTA manages the public transportation system of New York City including bus, rail, and subway service. The New York Metropolitan Transport Council is the MPO in charge of conducting metropolitan transportation planning. Its area of jurisdiction encompasses New York, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley. The New York City Department of Transportation is the city agency charged with managing the city’s transportation network.
Last updated: January 2017
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The City updated its strategic plan, releasing OneNYC 2050 in April 2019. The plan calls for a 70 percent reduction in transportation emissions by 2050 based on a 2005 baseline.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
We have a goal of reducing transportation emissions by 70% by 2050 based on a 2005 baseline.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City’s GHG inventory is released annually.
Last Updated: December 2021
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
PlaNYC, New York City’s zoning code, designates a number of special-purpose districts for the creation of mixed-use development in the city. The New York Zoning Resolution governs citywide land use. Its provisions address a number of policy objectives, neighborhood conditions and growth trends. Recent zoning initiatives have, for example, encouraged affordable housing through Mandatory Inclusionary Housing and fresh food stores. Where unique neighborhood characteristics warrant special provisions, special purpose zoning districts have established regulations that directly address specific policy goals. The intent of special purpose districts range from preserving unique building form to promoting specific uses.
Residential Parking Policies
There are parking maximums in place for new developments in the Manhattan Core. Developers are required to provide less than one/half of a parking space per each new housing unit constructed in NYC with no required parking per multiple dwellings in designated “transit zones.”
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
Many programs offer incentives, whether through a floor area bonus or a tax incentive, for density, affordability, etc. For example, when a district is “upzoned,” Mandatory Inclusionary Housing requirements apply and developers must build and guarantee a percentage of affordable units in any new construction.
Last Updated: December 2021
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
New York has established a goal for 80% of all person-trips to be made by sustainable modes (walking, bicycling, or public transit) by 2050.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The city conducted its first annual Citywide Mobility Survey this spring to gain an in-depth understanding of how New Yorkers get around. The survey found that 64 percent of all trips citywide were made using sustainable modes such as walking, biking, or transit.
Complete Streets
The Department of Transportation (DOT) released Sustainable Streets: Strategic Plan for the New York City Department of Transportation 2008 and Beyond which is a complete streets strategic plan for improved infrastructure and transportation design, operation and maintenance. The plan also lists strategies aimed at improving street safety and reduced environmental impact.
Last Updated: December 2021
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transportation entities that serve the City of New York have received $8,333,225,279.20 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $992.20 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the Authority's service area.
Access to Transit Services
The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of New York's Transit Connectivity Index value is 9.6, scoring 2 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: December 2021
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, New York City does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
ConEdison offers reduced electric rates for businesses that install publicly accessible electric vehicle quick charging stations. There is an additional declining capital incentive for electric vehicles fast charging infrastructure as well.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 162 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 1.9 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
New York City does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
New York City does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: December 2021
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Freight NYC outlines the need to move freight traffic from road to rail and maritime in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Freight trucks currently account for 10% of city-wide transportation emissions. The plan also highlights strategies for greening the freight supply chain through logistics consolidation, carbon neutral shipping and clean vehicle use. NYC also has over 200 cargo bikes operating in a last mile delivery pilot program.
Last Updated: December 2021
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
The city’s R10 Program promotes construction with a focus on location efficiency by providing density bonuses to developments that provide a certain number of affordable housing.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Citibike provided free memberships to essential workers in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Last Updated: December 2021
Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 12.5 out of 15 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All
Consolidated Edison (ConEd), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility serving New York City. National Grid, an IOU, is the primary natural gas utility serving New York City. The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) is the state-wide agency that administers energy-efficiency programs. To help ConEd and National Grid reach the EERS target, New York City is an active promoter of all efficiency programs. On the state level, New York City strongly advocates for additional spending requirements for energy efficiency projects for all of its utilities. The State of New York requires spending and savings targets for its utilities through an EERS and efficiency requirements in utility EEPSs. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the New York page of the State Database.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is the municipally-run utility responsible for providing drinking water, treating wastewater, and managing stormwater for New York City.
Last Updated: June 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, according to EIA and NYSERDA, they achieved 227,033 MWh in total net incremental savings, representing 1.32% of retail sales. In 2019, ConEd spent $126,846,876 on energy efficiency programs, which represents 1.90% of its retail revenue. These savings figures cover the entire New York service territory, not just New York City. We were unable to determine spending from NYSERDA.
In 2019, National Grid NY and NYSERDA reported 29.35 MMtherms of total net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 1.88% of retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, National Grid spent $49,124,544 on energy efficiency, which equates to $27.38 per residential customer. These savings figures cover the entire New York service territory, not just New York City. We were unable to determine spending from NYSERDA.
ConEd offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers. National Grid similarly offers natural gas efficiency programs to residential and business customers.
The City of New York actively partners with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the local utility companies, Con Edison and National Grid, to increase demand for energy efficiency programs across all building sectors. All three entities collaborate with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability to develop a coordinated strategy for NYC’s efficiency programs, including NYC Accelerator, which offers free, personalized advisory services to streamline building retrofits throughout the city. In April 2019, the New York State Utilities issued a joint filing with the Public Service Commission to establish energy efficiency targets and budgets for 2021 through 2025. These targets and budgets facilitate the achievement of New York’s 2025 goals. The City also partnered with Con Ed and National Grid on a holistic technical analysis that evaluated NYC’s energy system and pathways for decarbonization
Last Updated: August 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
NYSERDA offers the EmPower New York program to qualified low-income residential customers in both ConEd and National Grid service territories. This program addresses both electric and natural gas end uses, while providing no-cost energy efficiency solutions including air sealing, insulation, replacement of inefficient refrigerators and freezers, water efficiency measures, thermostats, and new energy-efficient lighting in order to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, the EmPower program includes health and safety checks of smoke detectors and appliances. Households that receive HEAP benefits, utility bill payment assistance, or participate in the federal Weatherization Assistance Program are automatically eligible.
NYSERDA also offers the Multifamily Performance Program provides incentives for owners to incorporate energy efficiency into affordable buildings. A Multifamily Building Solutions Provider will work with the owner to evaluate the building’s systems holistically, creating a customized plan aimed at generating a minimum of 20% source energy savings along with reduced energy bills. ConEd also runs an independent Multifamily Low-Income Efficiency Program that addresses only natural gas end uses. This program provides an energy audit, followed by direct install measures in apartments and common areas, as well as prescriptive incentives for larger-scale HVAC upgrades.
NYSERDA’s low-income programs achieved 4,036 MWh savings while serving 6,605 ConEd customers. In addition, NYSERDA’s low-income programs achieved 0.85 MMtherms savings while serving 4,555 National Grid customers. Additional data on ConEd and National Grid, savings, spending and customers served were not available.
Multifamily Programs
Con Edison offers the Equipment Rebates for Multifamily Buildings in the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program (MFEEP). This comprehensive program provides prescriptive and direct install rebates for lighting, high-efficiency water measures, HVAC maintenance and weatherization, in-unit appliances, occupancy sensors, boilers, control systems, and insulation. The MFEEP offers increased incentives for affordable rate customers. Con Edison partners with local food banks to distribute LEDs through the food banks’ distribution networks.
National Grid offers a multifamily program that provides no cost direct install of high-efficiency showerheads, faucet aerators and thermostatic radiator valves. It also provides rebates for high-efficiency natural gas heating and water heating, insulation, programmable thermostats, boiler reset controls, steam traps and custom efficiency measures.
NYSERDA’s Multifamily Performance Program provides incentives for owners to incorporate energy efficiency into affordable buildings for ConEd and National Grid customers. A Multifamily Building Solutions Provider will work with the owner to evaluate the building’s systems holistically, creating a customized plan aimed at generating a minimum of 20% source energy savings along with reduced energy bills. For projects that could reach deeper energy savings, the High-Performance Component targets a minimum of 40% source energy savings with a maximum post-construction source energy use intensity (EUI) of 100 kBtu/sq ft./yr.
In 2018, NYSERDA launched the RetrofitNY initiative. The goal of this program is to drive market transformation by industrializing and standardizing the design and construction processes to achieve deep levels of cost compression, which will drive large scale adoption of deep energy and net zero retrofits in multifamily buildings. RetrofitNY approaches retrofits from a whole building perspective and targets multiple health and resiliency benefits as associated outcomes of building work-scope. NYSERDA funds are used in conjunction with other subsidy and financing offered from local, state and federal sources as a financing package coordinated through relevant affordable housing agencies.
In 2018, ConEd’s multifamily program achieved 42,162 MWh savings, while spending $25,000,000 and serving 3,510 customers. National Grid’s multifamily program achieved 0.77 MMtherms, while spending $2,658,767 and serving 3,416 customers. NYSERDA’s multifamily program achieved 13,602 MWh savings for ConEd customers and 0.4 MMtherms savings in 2018 for National Grid customers. Customers and spending for NYSERDA’s programs in 2018 were not available.
In 2019, National Grid’s multifamily program achieved 1.22 MMtherms, while spending $3,887,665 and serving 5,319 housing units. Spending, savings, and customer data was not available for National Grid and NYSERDA.
Last Updated: June 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
ConEdison developed software to aggregate electric energy usage by building address for automated entry into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and for use by building managers to better help commercial and multifamily customers with benchmarking and compliance with Local Law 84.
The city of New York provides community wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through their Inventory of New York City Greenhouse Gas Emissions website. The website includes data on stationary energy (i.e., energy used by buildings and other stationary sources, as well as fugitive emission from natural gas distribution within city limits), transportation (i.e., on-road transportation, railways, marine navigation, and aviation within city limits), and waste (i.e., wastewater treatment within city limits and solid waste generated within the city).
The Mayor's Office of Sustainability has advocated for data access in filings submitted to the Public Service Commission and Joint Utilities. The efforts have resulted in the 4/50 threshold, where tenant waivers are required if a building has 4 accounts or fewer of if any one account makes up 50% or more of total energy consumption in that building. The city recently submitted comments to the Public Service Commission on the creation of a statewide Integrated Energy Data Resource to provide a solution to data access needs.
Last Updated: August 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2019, ConEdison adopted a goal to transition to 100% carbon-free energy sources by 2040. To achieve this goal, ConEd will need to reduce emissions by 4.76% annually from 2019 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
New York City participates in utility rate cases and PSC proceedings related to clean and renewable energy, such as on hydropower, public policy transmission planning, value of distributed energy resources, offshore wind, and on specific policies that impact renewable energy such as Reforming the Energy Vision, the Clean Energy Fund, and the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. New York City has also been involved in capacity valuation proceedings at the NYISO and pushing for fair treatment of energy storage resources. In its Roadmap to 80 x 50, New York City states that it “will continue to look to ConEdison as a partner in achieving 80 x 50, and will continue to advocate for utilities to build upon these improvements and accelerate the transformation necessary for a 2050 grid that is renewables-based, affordable and reliable.” In addition, the City has been involved in the development of Con Edison's Climate Change Vulnerability Study and related efforts to integrate resiliency in the utility's near- and long-term planning.
New York City also engages with NYSERDA on the structure and implementation of renewable energy programs and advocates for transmission of large-scale renewables directly into the City’s electric utility territory. The City is currently undertaking a Community Choice Aggregation feasibility study, as required by Local Law 182 of 2019. The study was delayed due to COVID-19 and is expected to be completed in late 2021.
Last Updated: June 2021
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
City-wide water efficiency and goals
While the City of New York, which is a municipal water utility, does not jointly administer energy and water efficiency programs with private energy utilities, the energy utilities themselves offer water efficiency programs as a way to reduce both water and energy usage. Consolidated Edison provides energy-efficient and low-flow devices through their energy efficiency programs. National Grid has a Commercial Direct Install Program, which offers commercial customers no-cost installation of high-efficiency water and energy savings measures.
In 2019, NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the updated Water Demand Management Plan, a citywide program targeting a 5% overall reduction in water consumption citywide by October 2022. The plan consists of multiple strategies and more than 21 initiatives to achieve a target reduction of approximately 50 million gallons per day.
Water plant efficiency and self-generation
DEP completed energy audits at all 14 in-city wastewater treatment plants and has accepted over 130 energy conservation measures (ECMs) that have the potential to reduce energy use by 2.9 MMBTU per year. While there is no set annual “target” for energy efficiency, the Agency is currently working on an integration study to align those ECMs with State of Good Repair (SOGR) plans and projects so that ECMs are completed concurrently with ongoing, necessary maintenance and repair work at the 14 in-city plants. Additionally, DEP had a target to beneficially use 60% its anaerobic digester gas for thermal and/or electric energy by 2017. DEP currently produces over 3.5 billion cubic feet of anaerobic digester gas (ADG) per year, approximately 60% of which is made of methane. DEP beneficially uses approximately 40% of the produced anaerobic digester gas (ADG). These efforts support the reduction target set by PlaNYC, where city government buildings are to reduce their GHG emissions by 30% by 2017 from a 2005 baseline. Internally, DEP has implemented a Standard Operating Procedure to govern energy conservation and GHG reduction design considerations during the project design lifecycle, from the selection of the designer to commissioning of the installed equipment. Energy design guidelines for unit processes or equipment accompany the SOP and provide guidance on how to increase energy efficiency with any new facility construction or reconstruction projects.
At the Owl’s Head WWTP, there are three 1.6 MW dual fuel engines to generate electricity at the plant which offset approximately 40% of the plant’s electric needs. Moreover, The Coney Island WWTP has four 1.6 MW engine generators. These cogeneration units have been in service for over 30 years. The plant is generating over 80% of total electric power from these engines and utilizes nearly 100% digester gas production at plant. Looking ahead, DEP is designing a 16 MW cogeneration system at the North River WWTP which will be operated at an average of 10 MW and will use ADG and utility natural gas. The system, which will be in operation by 2020, will meet the plant’s base electrical demand and all thermal heating needs.
Last Updated: March 2020
Local Government Score:
5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
New York City’s One City, Built to Last: Transforming New York City’s Buildings for a Low-Carbon Future plan drives citywide climate and energy action. The city also released the 80x50 Roadmap to guide long-term climate and energy planning.
Climate Mitigation Goal
New York City’s government is subsumed by its city-wide goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Local Law 97 of 2019 established interim targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations 40% by 2025 and 50% by 2030, relative to a 2005 baseline. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects that the city will not meet its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a municipal energy reduction goal.
Renewable Energy Goal
In the One City, Built to Last plan, New York City commits to installing 100 megawatts of solar capacity on city-owned rooftops by 2025. The City also commits to 100% clean electricity by 2040, including for local government consumption.
Last updated: May 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
New York City has legislated fuel efficiency for public fleet vehicles, Local Law 38 of 2005 requires that the most fuel efficient vehicles in class for light and medium duty units be purchased; Local Law 76 of 2013 requires the City to achieve specific benchmarks in improving the fuel economy of City owned vehicles; Local Law 73 of 2013 requires that biodiesel be used in City fleet trucks and also that the City retrofit or replace fleet trucks without diesel particulate filters; and Local Law 75 of 2013 requires the City to report on actual fuel economy for City vehicles, as opposed to the manufacturer’s list fuel economy. Additionally, as part of the NYC Clean Fleet initiative to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2025, this city is planned to operate the largest EV fleet in the country at 2,000+ vehicles. The city has already purchased over 500 EV municipal vehicles. Furthermore, this city implemented a Clean Fleet Transition Policy (CFTP) as part of its published Fleet Management Manual and rules. The CFTP requires that all vehicle replacements be as or more fuel efficient than the vehicle they will replace and that the Chief Fleet Officer approves any requests to replace any vehicle with a less fuel-efficient version. The City now operates over 1,750 on-road electric vehicles, the largest network for any municipal government. Light-duty fleet vehicles purchased during the most recent fiscal year achieved an average fuel economy equivalent of 100 miles per gallon. Additionally, the city met its goal of having 2,000 electric vehicles in its fleet by 2025 in 2019. The goal has now been adjusted to own 4,000 electric vehicles by 2025. New York City’s municipal fleet is currently composed of 24.99% efficient vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
We could not confirm if New York City has adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. However, the city publishes a Street Design Manual, which includes a Lighting Catalogue, outlining options for both new and replacement street and pedestrian lighting for New York City. Additionally, the City of New York provides significant funding for lighting upgrades, including occupancy sensors, daylighting and other controls at City buildings. To date over $63 million has been allocated for lighting-related upgrades at municipal buildings. The Department of Transportation is currently retrofitting all of New York's streetlights with LEDs. New York has upgraded at least 70% of streetlights to LEDs.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
In the One City, Building to Last plan, New York committed to installing 100 MW of solar capacity on city-owned buildings by 2025. The city currently has 16.1 MW of solar installed on city-owned buildings.
Inclusive procurement
New York has established a Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise program. The city set a goal of having $25 billion go toward M/WBEs by 2025 and raised the M/WBE discretionary spending limits to $500,000. Current energy efficiency and clean energy projects coordinated through the Division of Energy Management have been assigned M/WBE goals.
Last updated: May 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
In December 2009, the city council passed four laws, collectively known as the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, that require energy efficiency upgrades to and energy transparency in large existing buildings. In compliance with Local Law 84 of 2009, benchmarking results are reported for all city buildings that are more than 10,000 gross square feet that are owned by the city or for which the city pays all or part of the annual energy bill. In 2015, there was a total of 3,649 benchmarked facilities (288 million square feet). As a result, 95% of local government building square footage is benchmarked in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. As the city benchmarks additional properties beyond the requirements of the law, nearly 99% of New York City buildings are benchmarked.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
The city conducts energy audits and retro-commissioning studies to measure the energy performance of its portfolio and identify opportunities for retrofits. The city then prioritizes buildings with the greatest opportunity for energy savings through a comprehensive retrofit targeting city buildings with the largest energy demands and most complex energy consuming systems. The city’s building retrofit program has completed over 190 comprehensive building energy efficiency retrofit projects to date, with annual energy cost reductions of nearly $10.5 million. Through the City’s Accelerated Conservation & Efficiency (ACE) program, the City invests in high-value energy efficiency retrofit projects in all its buildings. Since it launched in June 2013, ACE has awarded over $140 million for energy efficiency projects that are projected. These projects yield $20 million in avoided energy costs and approximately 45,900 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions reduced.
Last updated: May 2021