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Local Law 33: Energy Grading 

Local Law 33 of 2018 as amended requires buildings to post energy efficiency scores and grades. These energy efficiency scores and grades are assigned and disclosed annually in accordance with §28-309.12 of the NYC Administrative Code, based on benchmarking reporting consistent with Federal energy efficiency standards.

Covered Buildings

Owners of properties that are listed on the Covered Buildings List for benchmarking compliance as per NYC Department of Finance records.

Covered Buildings List (CBL)

Properties listed in the following Covered Buildings List are required to benchmark their 2023 calendar year energy and water consumption prior to May 1, 2024:

NOTE: The Covered Buildings List is sorted by the 10-digit borough, block, and lot number (BBL) of the property. To find your building on the list, select Control F (CTRL + F) on your computer keyboard to open a search dialog box, and enter the BBL of your property’

Exceptions/Exemptions

Buildings exempted from benchmarking or not covered by the Energy Star program:

  • Multifamily buildings with less than 20 units, enclosed parking, or other property types that are not eligible to receive a 1-100 ENERGY STAR Score
  • Some mixed-use buildings: a multi‐use property can receive the ENERGY STAR Score, but these two conditions apply:
    1. seventy‐five percent (75%) of the Gross Floor Area (GFA) of the property must be comprised of property types that are eligible for an ENERGY STAR Score; and
    2. more than fifty percent (50%) of the GFA must be comprised of one eligible property type (excluding parking)
  • Buildings that contain a data center, television studio, and/or trading floor that together exceed ten percent of the GFA

Properties with New Build or Demolition permits and no TCO in the applicable reporting year, or properties with an ownership change in the applicable reporting year may be eligible for a temporary exemption. To request such exemption email to sustainability@buildings.nyc.gov.

Requirements

To comply with Local Law 33, the energy and water consumption of a building must be benchmarked annually by May 1. The energy efficiency score and grade that is obtained and assigned based on the benchmarking reporting, must be disclosed in the form of a Building Energy Efficiency Rating label (sample), which is issued by the Department of Buildings every year on October 1st, by displaying it annually within 30 days after October 1st in a conspicuous location near each public entrance to the building until October 1st of the following year.

Buildings for which required benchmarking information was not submitted on time will be assigned an ‘F’ grade in the form of the Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label.

The label with an ‘F’ grade must be displayed within 30 days after October 1st in a conspicuous location near each public entrance to such building until October 1st of the following year.

Contact for Questions

Questions pertaining to your Building Energy Efficiency Rating can be addressed by the NYC Sustainability Help Center, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Email Help@NYCsustainability.org or call (212) 566-5584.

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