NYC’s Climate Mobilization Act Will Make Cities Carbon-Neutral

In our modern society, climate change is a major issue that needs to be taken seriously. Most carbon dioxide emissions are emitted from buildings. Structures are responsible for 39 percent of yearly global greenhouse gas emissions, with 28 percent originating from the operation and maintenance of existing buildings and 11 percent resulting from the construction of new buildings. This problem has been addressed by the Climate Mobilization Act, which was passed by the city of New York.

Moreover, half of New York City’s buildings (about 50,000) are affected by this landmark law known as Local Law 97.

There are various ways in which buildings contribute to pollution of the environment. It’s not just bricks that are used to build things. Buildings also burn fuels to make electricity while they’re in use. Also contributing to global warming is the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are used as cooling agents in air conditioning and refrigeration systems and are highly toxic to the environment.

Due to the continued growth of the world’s population, urbanization has become a more prevalent tendency, resulting in an increase in the number of structures that need to be constructed and maintained, among other things. Only in New York City (NYC) are nearly a million structures totaling 5.75 billion square feet of constructed space. Buildings now account for 70% of NYC’s greenhouse gas emissions.

When it comes to emissions from New York City’s buildings, the Climate Mobilization Act is a big deal.

Overview of Climate Mobilization Act

Carbon restrictions will be set on buildings greater than 25,000 square feet, according to the Climate Mobilization Act (Local Law 97). By 2030, the goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 40% with the implementation of carbon caps beginning in 2024. With time, this will grow more rigorous based on the 2005 baseline.

“80-50” is a catchphrase that refers to a target of an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.

Existing structures will be required to undergo extensive retrofitting as part of the law’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Similar carbon caps had only been applied for new projects prior to the passage of this law. An unprecedented step that could inspire cities throughout the world has been hailed by lawmakers and policy advocates.

Even in places such as Denver and Philadelphia as well as Dallas and Seattle and San Francisco a similar strategy is being used.

Regulations and Penalties Under the Climate Mobilization Act

To comply with the Climate Mobilization Act, building owners must begin reporting their annual GHG emissions beginning in May 2025. Using benchmarking, the study mandates that all buildings keep track of their annual energy and water consumption.

For each tonne of emissions that exceed their permitted limit, building owners may be subject to fines of $268 per tonne. Depending on the severity of the offense, fines might run into the thousands. So how do building owners and managers improve people’s habits?

Compliance with the Climate Mobilization Act is mandatory, and failure to do so not only leads to significant financial penalties, but it also contributes to the longer-term repercussions of rising carbon dioxide emissions.

In What Ways Is Sensor Technology Utilised?

Energy-intensive end uses in the building sector such as space conditioning, appliances, and other plug-in tools are among the fastest-growing end uses in the world, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Building emissions can be reduced by using better energy management tools, which can lower the amount of energy used.

Now comes the hard part: How can facility managers cut back on their use of energy without knowing why their emissions are so high in the first place?

It’s here that sensor technology comes into play.

Retrofitting buildings with sensors that collect data on how building areas and equipment are used is one of the major steps to increase building energy efficiency. When sensors collect data about assets that have an effect on how much energy and resources a building uses, they provide a comprehensive picture of how the facility works. Asset temperature and humidity, space occupancy, the opening of doors and windows, water use, and more are all included here.

Examples include detecting that the lights in Conference Room 3 are still on after everyone has left the building, or that energy use peaks at 3:00 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. With a better understanding of how energy waste is being generated, building managers can make data-driven decisions about how to eliminate it.

Smart Sensors Allow Us to Manage Our Energy More Efficiently

To boost their triple bottom line, building managers throughout the world have begun piloting and adopting sensor systems. Innovative facilities management teams and pioneering technology companies are often involved in these deployments.

Using sensor technology to improve energy efficiency and environmental sustainability is demonstrated in the following six real-world case studies. Building owners who want to stay in compliance with the Climate Mobilization Act can benefit from the use of sensors in these investigations.

Conclusion

The Carbon Neutral City Alliance is comprised of a number of cities, including New York, which is one of them. Climate legislation, such as the Climate Mobilization Act, will become more commonplace as local and federal governments work toward the goal of creating carbon-neutral towns and communities.

Because of advances in sensor technology, buildings are becoming smarter and more energy-efficient, which is a welcome development. Monitoring energy use and making proactive decisions about how to save energy, assure safe water, and decrease waste is made easier by sensors that provide real-time data.

The good news is that sensor technology is becoming more affordable and accessible than ever before, due to businesses such as Sidewalk Labs. New York Metropolis might become a healthier city and a more sustainable planet if all buildings had access to information on what drives their energy consumption.

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