What is Local Law 97 (LL97)? 

Local Law 97 is a NYC law passed in 2019 that requires existing large buildings (over 25,000 square feet) to reduce their pollution. It uses an amount of emissions allowed by building type per square foot calculation, with emissions thresholds set to ratchet down between 2025 and 2050 to align with the city, state, and global climate targets.  

Is my building covered under LL97? 

If your building is over 25,000 square feet, yes. But if it is part of certain affordable housing programs – or has units that are part of them – there may be different compliance requirements. For example, Mitchell-Lama cooperatives do not need to meet emissions standards until 2035. HDFC co-ops and co-op buildings that also include a certain number rent-stabilized tenants have specific energy efficiency and emissions reductions steps they must take by the end of 2024 in lieu of meeting emissions standards. For more information, check out the City website.

What are the benefits of LL97? 

LL97 will help us meet our climate mandate, as well as “future-proofing” our buildings and making them healthier, better places to live. Buildings contribute the largest amount of any sector to NYC’s pollution, so cleaning up our large buildings will also clean our air. 

I think my building has to comply with LL97 and I have no idea what to do. What’s the first step? 

The NYC Accelerator is a city program housed at the Mayor’s Office that can provide resources and vetted professionals to help you navigate the process. We’re pushing them for a designated co-op team that can help co-ops in particular figure this out. And also, take a deep breath! You have time; most buildings have until 2030  before they will be required to make any improvements, and longer to do the deeper, more comprehensive work. 

Do I need to electrify right away? I hear that’s really expensive, and my building is very old. 

You do not need to electrify right away. There are many steps buildings can take to reduce pollution, and electrification is typically not the first step – among other reasons, electrification is most cost-effective and environmentally friendly if done after building energy efficiency improvements like improved insulation. Depending on your building, it may make sense to take some early steps towards “electrification readiness,” like ventilation improvements and electrical system upgrades. 

Electrification can have a substantial up-front cost, but the Green Co-op Council is organizing for state funding to upgrade all of our buildings and help us electrify. 

We have a management company. What can they do about LL97?

Management companies can also get assistance from the NYC Accelerator. Your board should be actively involved to make sure that the management company is aware of LL97’s requirements. Based on our conversations with co-op shareholders, management companies vary by expertise and approach towards LL97. 

What policies is the Green Coop Council advocating for?

We believe that we need to start with progress we can secure in the near term if we make our voices heard: A re-authorization of the J-51 tax credit and a dedicated team at the NYC Accelerator that knows how co-ops are financed and can work with us effectively.

At the same time, we also know that we need a bigger-picture, more comprehensive solution that uses the state’s planning and fiscal resources to help buildings transition. That’s why we are supporting the Bucks for Boilers Act, which would create a state program to shift all of our buildings off of fossil fuels and towards clean energy and heating solutions.