Report on NYC’s Local Law 95 Compliance Extension and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has revised the 2025 compliance timeline for Local Law 95, which mandates the public posting of Building Energy Efficiency Rating Labels. This extension supports the city’s broader strategy to enhance urban environmental performance. The initiative is fundamentally aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting transparency in energy consumption to advance goals related to clean energy, sustainable urban development, and climate action.

Details of the 2025 Compliance Extension

The temporary modification affects buildings required to benchmark their 2024 energy data under Administrative Code §28-309.12.3. The key details of this change are as follows:

• Mandate: Public posting of the official Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label (E-Grade).
• Original Posting Period: October 1 to October 31, 2025.
• Extended Posting Period: December 1 to December 31, 2025.
• Penalty for Non-Compliance: A $1,250 civil penalty may be issued for failure to post the label within the revised timeframe.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Local Law 95 serves as a critical policy instrument for advancing NYC’s commitment to global sustainability targets. The energy grading system incentivizes improvements in building performance, contributing directly to the following SDGs:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: By making energy consumption data public, the law encourages the adoption of energy efficiency measures, directly supporting Target 7.3, which aims to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This regulation is integral to creating a more sustainable urban environment (Target 11.6) by reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of the city through improved energy management in its extensive building stock.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Promoting energy efficiency in buildings leads to a direct reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This local policy represents a tangible measure to mitigate climate change and supports the overarching objectives of SDG 13.

Compliance Directives for Building Owners

To ensure adherence to the law and contribute to the city’s sustainability objectives, building owners are required to perform the following actions within the new compliance window:

1. Access the DOB NOW portal to download the Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label upon its release in December.
2. Display the downloaded label in a conspicuous location at each public entrance to the building.
3. Complete the posting by the final deadline of December 31, 2025, to avoid penalties.

According to The Cotocon Group, an energy compliance firm, building owners are encouraged to prepare for compliance in advance of the December deadline to prevent last-minute complications.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article focuses on Local Law 95, which mandates the benchmarking and public display of energy efficiency grades for buildings in New York City. This initiative directly promotes energy efficiency, a key component of ensuring access to sustainable energy for all.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The law is a municipal regulation within New York City aimed at improving the performance of its “built environment.” By enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings, the city is working to reduce its overall environmental impact and make its urban spaces more sustainable and resilient.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  Improving energy efficiency in buildings is a critical strategy for mitigating climate change. Buildings are significant consumers of energy and contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Regulations like Local Law 95 represent concrete policy actions at the local level to combat climate change and its impacts.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.

  The entire premise of Local Law 95, as described in the article, is to drive improvements in energy efficiency. The requirement for buildings to benchmark their energy data and display an “Energy Efficiency Rating Label (E-Grade)” is a mechanism designed to encourage building owners to invest in efficiency measures to improve their scores, thus contributing directly to this target.

• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities…

  The article discusses a city-wide compliance law for buildings. By mandating energy benchmarking, the law aims to reduce the overall energy consumption of buildings in NYC. This reduction in energy use directly lowers the city’s environmental footprint, aligning with the goal of reducing the adverse environmental impact of urban areas.

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

  Local Law 95 is a clear example of a climate change measure being integrated into local government policy and planning. The article details the specifics of this law (“Administrative Code §28-309.12.3”), its enforcement (a “$1,250 civil penalty”), and its objective of promoting “energy efficiency in New York City’s built environment,” which serves as a direct climate action strategy.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 7.3: Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label (E-Grade).

  The article explicitly and repeatedly mentions the “Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label (E-Grade).” This grade is a direct indicator of a building’s energy performance. Progress towards Target 7.3 can be measured by tracking the city-wide average E-Grade over time, with an increase in higher grades signifying an improvement in energy efficiency.

• Indicator for Target 11.6: Number of buildings in compliance with energy benchmarking laws.

  The article is centered on the compliance process for Local Law 95, affecting buildings that are “required to benchmark their 2024 calendar year energy data.” The number of buildings that successfully benchmark and post their E-Grades serves as an indicator of the policy’s implementation and reach in reducing the city’s environmental impact.

• Indicator for Target 13.2: Implementation of local energy compliance policies.

  The existence and enforcement of Local Law 95 itself is an indicator. The article details the specific requirements, such as the posting period and the penalty for non-compliance. The successful implementation of this law, as supported by firms like The Cotocon Group, demonstrates that climate change measures are actively integrated into NYC’s regulatory framework.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: finance.yahoo.com