Nearly 2,900 multifamily houses might face CO₂ penalty two years later; some of them get an A energy efficiency score

Building energy use accounts for nearly two thirds of New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions. And multifamily housing contributes 42.4% of them, after analyzing the latest Energy and Water Data Disclosure for 2020. It also shows that almost 2,900 multifamily house-owners may face median $15943.4 penalties, if they don’t start changing now.

The Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP) eight years ago calls for a 30% reduction in citywide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. To reach that goal, Buildings over 25,000 square feet, or groups of buildings on a single lot of 100,000 square feet are required to file a benchmark report before March 1st every year.

Among all the buildings in that dataset, the type with the largest number is multifamily housing, making up for 66.8%. Although a single residential house may not consume energy as much as senior care community or prison, the total green-house gas emission by multifamily housing is huge, reaching to 9.6 million ton in one year. This is equivalent to 42.2% of the total emission of all buildings in the dataset.

Based on the self-report energy and water consumption data, buildings will receive posters with an energy efficiency rating score (A through D) that must be posted near the door of the building, according to Local Law 33. This score is calculated through the comparison with other same type building nationwide, by energy star portfolio manager.

This score is a good indicator of the building’s ‘green’ level. However, it doesn’t mean that the house owner can be free from penalty if the building gets a letter A. Starting from 2024, building owners can be charged $268 per ton of greenhouse gas emissions above a certain limit. This standard is fixed for all buildings, not adjusting based on the general performance.

For multifamily building, the line is 6.75 kg CO2e/sf. After calculating the gap between the standard limit and the actual emission, it is found that 15.4% of multifamily housing will be fined after two years, if they don’t make any change from now on.

The largest penalty can reach to 11.7 million dollars, going to 165 Elmira Loop, an apartment building in Brooklyn. It can be seen from the chart that most buildings might facing high fines are always those with low energy efficiency score. 14.8% of them only get score 1 in the efficiency rating system.

But it doesn’t mean getting high score is safe from being fined. A building in Bronx, 1018 E 163rd St, can be fined $52,540 two years later, even though getting 98 in efficiency score.

The purpose of the building’s energy rating is simple: to slash greenhouse gas emissions from building; and the answer to increasing the score is simple too, by reducing our energy consumption. But the process of achieving it, especially in residential housings, might be difficult.

For residential buildings, the energy consumption is harder to control. Source energy within public or amenity spaces can be controlled much easier with thermostatic and lighting adjustments based on occupancy, time of day, and seasonable conditions. But in a multi-residential setting, this would be out of reach for a building manager to control or curtail. The Environment Protection Agency estimates that 75% of an average building’s source energy occurs in private spaces.