In 2005 New York City passed a law (Local Law No. 86) making a variety of green building and energy efficiency requirements for municipal buildings and other projects funded with money from the city treasury. The building requirements (described in detail below) apply to new construction, building additions, and substantial reconstructions of existing buildings. Substantial reconstruction is defined as a capital project that involves construction work affecting at least 50% of the floor area or that involves rehabilitation work in at least two of the three major building systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing). The construction cost values below are adjusted annually for inflation. Program regulations were adopted in 2007 and then amended slightly in 2009 to reference updated green building rating standards. In June 2011 the Mayor issued Executive Order No.149 allowing the Mayor's Office of Environmental Coordination (MOEC) to evaluate developments affecting the green buildings industry and based on these developments, promulgate rules that increase the stringency of the current standards or expand the types of capital projects subject to the standards.

A series of additional laws enacted in 2009 make further requirements for publicly- and privately-owned existing buildings.

General Specifications

- All new municipal construction or major reconstruction projects with an estimated capital cost of more than $2 million, except schools and hospitals, must meet LEED Silver certification standards.

- Non-municipal projects meeting the above criteria and receiving at least 50% of project costs or $10 million from the city treasury must also meet LEED Silver certification standards

- Projects with an estimated construction cost of $12 million - $30 million, schools excluded, must achieve an energy cost reduction of 20% above LEED Credit EA1 or the New York State Energy Construction Code (ECCCNYS), whichever is more stringent; and achieve an additional 5% energy cost reduction if the payback period is less than 7 years.

- Projects with an estimated construction cost of more than $30 million, schools excluded, must achieve an energy cost reduction of 25% above LEED Credit EA1 or ECCCNYS, whichever is more stringent; and achieve a further energy cost reduction of 5% if the payback period is less than 7 years.

Project Specific Requirements: These apply in cases where the general requirements are not triggered.

- Capital projects involving the installation or replacement of a boiler with an estimated construction cost of $2 million or more, or lighting with an estimated cost of $1 million or more, must be designed and constructed to reduce energy use by at least 10% above LEED Credit EA1 or the ECCCNYS, whichever  is more stringent.

- Each capital project, other than those covered by the preceding clause, that involves the installation or replacement of HVAC comfort controls with an estimated cost of $2 million or more must be designed and installed to reduce energy costs by 5% above LEED Credit EA1 or ECCCNYS, whichever is more stringent.

Design your own solar array in New York using the HaHaSmart design DIY tool and see how much it will cost using the price checker tool.