New York Launches Energy Code Performance Pilot Study
By John Lashley
The New York City Department of Buildings’ newly formed Office of Sustainability has launched a Performance Pilot Study. Conducted in partnership with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the performance-based study responds to diminishing returns from the energy code’s prescriptive requirements. To help New York City achieve its aggressive goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, the Performance Pilot Study seeks to replace the current, prescriptive codes with a 100% performance-based version of the New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC).
The intent of the Performance Pilot Study is to develop a system performance trade-off path that is less intensive than energy modeling, with a compliance documentation effort similar to that of a COMcheck report. Current compliance paths are tabular analysis, COMcheck, and energy modeling.
Eligibility for Performance Pilot Study
New buildings of at least 25,000 square feet with any of the following occupancy types are eligible to participate in the Performance Pilot Study:
- Office
- Retail
- Multifamily
- School buildings
This program is separate and voluntary and does not replace NYCECC compliance required for filing construction documents or securing construction permits.
Total System Performance training is offered to all participants. The training offers an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to gain insight into the practice and methodology of the performance trade-off path in development. Participants will be afforded use of new energy compliance tools, software programs, and the like.
Any questions regarding the pilot program can be sent to EnergyCodePilot@buildings.nyc.gov. The next information session webinar is Friday, August 20, 2021.