New Green Building Law for New York

Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 11/1/2005

Are you designing a building system or systems for a construction project for the City of New York?

If so, say hello to the city's new Green Building Law (aka Local Law 86/2005), signed last month by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. According to Steven Winter Assocs., Inc., Norwalk, Conn., the law applies to all city-owned buildings and to projects where the city contributes half of the cost or at least $10 million, including new construction and renovations that affect at least half of the building area and upgrades of at least two major building systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc.). Residential and high-hazard industrial projects are exempt. Projects with final design approval in place after Jan. 1, 2007 must comply.

Covered projects must achieve a minimum LEED rating of Silver (schools and hospitals only need to be LEED-certified), as well as a number of energy and water reduction targets.