In New York, 70% of Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHGs) are derived from energy consumed in buildings. Building energy efficiency improvements results in GHG reductions. The latest benchmarking report released on building energy and water use, analyzes the annual data collected under Local Law 84 (LL84). Overall, reductions have not been substantial within the residential sector and trailing the improvements of the municipal and commercial building sector (City of New York, 2017). The LL84 and LL87 initiatives are among the lever the government is using to build awareness and know how for scaled projects across the City. There are also improved energy codes and goals to install solar PV to offset GHGs.
Consolidated Edison (ConEd) is responsible for distributing the power to most of the buildings in New York City. There are 82 sub-zones that are served by approximately the same number of substations. The aging infrastructure can not always meet the growing demands of certain zip codes. When an area is not effectively served, a blackout can occur. The most stressed area is primarily residential and stretches across the border of Brooklyn and Queens. To avoid spending a projected $1.2 billion on a new substation to meet the growing energy demand, ConEd has instead developed the Brooklyn Queens Demand Management (BQDM) Program and will eventually spend $200 million on efficiency projects and incentives within dozens of zip codes.
To address both the City's climate change goals and the safety and security of residents in the BQDM, this analysis uses the LL84 benchmarked data for multi-family residences in the BQDM area to then accelerate a hyper focused investment energy efficiency. Thus providing relief for the energy zone that will protect ConEd and the residents in their homes.