By Frank Fortino With the April release of a blueprint for installing Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries, New York City continues its commitment to sustainability. The Energy Storage Permitting and Interconnection Process Guide for New York City: Lithium-Ion Outdoor Systems guide represents a collaborative effort by the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Fire… View more
By Renee Sosnowski It’s that time of year again. According to the New York City Benchmarking Law, owners of buildings who meet certain criteria must submit annual energy and water consumption data for public disclosure by May 1. This year, thanks to Local Law 133 of 2016, mid-size buildings (more than… View more
By George Crawford Just a few years ago, utilities were priming the LED retrofit pump with high rebates. Rebate funding often covered the entire cost of LED products for qualifying projects. Today rebates are much lower, covering maybe 25% of the cost of LED products for a commercial retrofit—even less for… View more
By George Crawford If you’re a permit expediter, then you know that commercial and residential building owners need to brace for the impending perfect storm—namely, higher NYC taxes and utilities, coupled with lower rents—heading straight for their bottom lines. While the protest period has already passed for the tax assessments issued… View more
By George Crawford With Local Law 88 requiring multifamily buildings in New York City to upgrade common area lighting to energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs), owners and managers will need to develop a compliance strategy. With the deadline some years away—January 1, 2025—many are asking, “Should I do it now or wait… View more
By Andrew J. Pisani The world of building management is a world of projects. As soon as a new building goes up, the que of improvements begins. There’s always new voices and opinions, and new ideas to improve or fix any current issues. While all projects serve the ultimate good of… View more
By Andrew J. Pisani Owners weighing the cost and benefits of LED retrofitting need to review the Tax Code. EP Act 179D is a tax benefit in place which allows building owners to take up to $1.80 per square foot as a tax deduction. Qualifying is based on a building’s ability… View more