Request a proposal In the field. In the documents. On the record.NYC energy compliance
Energy audit, retro-commissioning, corrective-action tracking, and filing support for applicable New York City buildings.
Request a proposalIn plain terms
Local Law 87 requires covered NYC buildings to complete energy audits and retro-commissioning on a ten-year cycle. These are related but distinct tasks: the audit identifies improvement opportunities, while retro-commissioning investigates and corrects the operation of existing base-building systems.
Scope, requirements & reporting
The law generally covers buildings over 50,000 gross square feet, with additional rules for groups of buildings. Verify the property against DOB’s requirements and filing schedule rather than assuming that an LL84 filing establishes LL87 coverage. The Energy Efficiency Report is generally due December 31 in the assigned year.
The audit and required retro-commissioning work must be completed before the Energy Efficiency Report is filed. Access, seasonal testing, controls corrections, insulation repairs, and operating documentation can require several parties. Booking an audit shortly before the deadline can leave too little time to resolve the operational findings.
An audit can identify larger opportunities that need design and funding beyond the immediate retro-commissioning work. KOW can help owners distinguish operational corrections from proposed capital measures and coordinate the findings with planned replacements and emissions planning. Any claimed exemption or deferral needs its own eligibility and documentation review.
The audit identifies conservation opportunities; the retro-commissioning record should document system checks, deficiencies, required corrections, and verification. Keep supporting records aligned with the Energy Efficiency Report. Schedule work around heating and cooling conditions and allow time for controls contractors or maintenance staff to complete corrections before filing.
Decisions supported
What systems and operational conditions require analysis?
Which retro-commissioning deficiencies should be corrected?
What documentation is required for the applicable cycle?
Which findings should inform future capital or performance work?
Typical scope
The final scope follows the property, transaction, program, client requirements, and information available. Typical elements include:
Process
Confirm the property or project, intended use, reliance parties, schedule, available information, and required deliverable.
Review the documents, identify gaps, and coordinate the people and access needed to complete the scope.
Perform the observations, analysis, interviews, and specialist coordination called for by the assignment.
Separate material findings from background information and state the basis, limitations, open items, and follow-up clearly.
Common assignments
Complete technical and documentation support for an owner’s applicable filing period.
Tracking and verification of identified operational or maintenance measures.
Coordinated timing and standardized reporting across multiple covered buildings.
Frequently asked
The normal cycle is every ten years, with the filing year determined under DOB’s schedule. Confirm the property’s block-based cycle, prior accepted filing, and any applicable extension or deferral.
No. Where required, retro-commissioning and the EER submission are distinct parts of compliance. The engagement should identify who performs corrections and who certifies and files the report.
An audit’s proposed capital measures are not identical to required retro-commissioning corrections. Separate the two and check the applicable law, code, and any financing commitments before setting the work plan.
That is risky. Access, seasonal testing, contractor availability, and corrective work take time. Check DOB’s current notices for the applicable cycle rather than relying on an old extension date.
The engagement generally combines an energy audit with retro-commissioning of applicable building systems, followed by the documentation required for the filing process.
Incomplete utility or equipment information, access constraints, controls issues, testing coordination, corrective work, and filing documentation can all affect the schedule.
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