In order to comply with Local Law 84 (LL84), owners of buildings with entire lots of 50,000 square feet or more (1) as designated by the Covered Buildings List must use a free online benchmarking tool called Portfolio Manager to log energy and water use and submit a compliance report to the City by May 1 of each year.
For example, to comply by May 1, 2013, data would be inputted for calendar year 2012 and the report would be submitted to the City via the "NYC LL84 Benchmarking 2012 Compliance Template." To quickly view specific sections on this page, click on the section titles below.
Submission to the City
Benchmarking Tool – Portfolio Manager
Benchmarking Guidance
Deadlines and Violations
Submission to the City
To complete the benchmarking process, use the new reporting template to generate a Compliance Report that will be provided by the City every year to comply by May 1. The link will prompt you to log in to your Portfolio Manager account where you can create a custom, electronic Compliance Report for LL84. A report needs to be completed for each lot required to benchmark. The report will then be submitted to the City through Portfolio Manager.
Please use the reporting template directly below (NYC LL84 Benchmarking 2012 Compliance) to report calendar year 2012 data for 2013 submission.
Step-by-Step Benchmarking Submission Instructions
For detailed instructions on the benchmarking process and submission for calendar year 2012 reporting, download these guidance documents:
Archived Reporting Templates
The following reporting template links below are to report benchmark data for calendar years 2011 (which was due May 1, 2012) and 2010 (which was due December 31, 2011):
Archived Compliance Report Instructions
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Benchmarking Tool - Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager is a free online benchmarking tool that tracks and assesses energy and water consumption in buildings. Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program, Portfolio Manager can help building owners identify opportunities to make their buildings more energy and water efficient and save money. Portfolio Manager is required for building owners to benchmark their buildings.
Benchmarking Guidance
NOTE: Please check back for updates to these guidance documents for benchmarking for calendar year 2012.
First Time Benchmarking Guidance - REVISED 2/12/13
Never benchmarked before? For detailed instructions on how to begin the benchmarking process, download First Time Benchmarking Guidance (in PDF)
Benchmarking Refresher - REVISED 2/12/13
Benchmarked before, but need a refresher? For detailed instructions on how to continue the benchmarking process for calendar year 2012 data submission for 2013, download 2012 Benchmarking Guidance (in PDF).
Benchmarking “How to” Video
The Association for Energy Affordability (AEA) has provided a free on-line Benchmarking Training Course to help you learn, refresh or deepen your knowledge of EPA Portfolio Manager benchmarking. Although the 13 module training video is free, online registration is required.
Benchmarking Compliance Checklist & User's Guide
Urban Green Council, a nonprofit environmental organization, has created a compliance checklist to comply with the City's benchmarking law. This Local Law 84 Compliance Checklist & User's Guide (in PDF) is intended to help real estate owners, property managers, and others satisfy the requirements of LL84.
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Deadlines and Violations
Benchmarking Compliance Deadline
LL84 requires benchmarking to be completed by May 1 of each year. If you missed the May 1st deadline, you have the opportunity to comply before the next quarterly deadlines of August 1, November 1, and February 1.
Violations for Failed Compliance
The City is authorized to issue a violation for any listed building that has not provided a benchmarking report. Failure to benchmark by May 1 will result in a violation and a penalty of $500. Continued failure will result in additional violations on a quarterly basis and a penalty of $500 per quarter with a maximum of $2,000.
2013 Violations
For the third year of LL84, the benchmarking deadline is May 1, 2013.
Check this section for updates about violations.
2012 Violations
For the second year of LL84, the benchmarking deadline was May 1, 2012. There will no longer be any extensions for this deadline. Building owners that did not comply by May 1 were sent violations with a $500 penalty in mid-August. The violation will be dismissed with the payment of the $500 penalty and submittal of the calendar year 2011 compliance report to the City. Download a 2012 sample violation notice (in PDF).
The Benchmark Help Center has compiled a short table of common questions regarding compliance. Download the Benchmark Compliance FAQ document (in PDF).
2011 Violations
For the first year of LL84, the benchmarking deadline was August 1, 2011, with an extension until December 31, 2011, to help building owners comply for the first time. Building owners that did not comply by December 31 were sent violations with a $500 penalty. The violation will be dismissed with the payment of the $500 penalty.
Download a sample violation notice (in PDF).
Benchmarking Violation Challenge Form
The Department of Buildings accepts contests to violations within 30 days of being issued a violation. Use the Violation Challenge Form (in PDF) from the DOB website if you would like to challenge a violation you received for failing to submit your benchmarking report.
Other LL84 Benchmarking Links
About LL84
Covered Buildings (Buildings Required to Benchmark)
Energy and Water Data Collection
Where to Get Help
Benchmarking Scores and Reports
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