NYC’s New Energy Efficiency Standards for PTAC Units: What Building Owners Must Know in 2024

NYC Building Owners Face New Energy Efficiency Challenges: Navigating PTAC Compliance in 2024

As New York City continues its aggressive push toward carbon neutrality, building owners are confronting unprecedented energy efficiency requirements that directly impact their PTAC (Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner) systems. The 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (2020 ECCNYS) became effective on May 12th, 2020, while Local Law 97, enacted in 2019 as part of the Climate Mobilization Act, establishes carbon emission limits for New York City’s largest buildings. These regulations are creating a complex compliance landscape that demands immediate attention from property owners and managers.

Understanding the New Energy Code Requirements

The New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) is comprised of New York City local laws and the current Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State (ECCCNYS), with the 2020 New York City Energy Conservation Code becoming effective for all new applications. The 2020 construction code introduces stricter requirements for building envelopes, focusing on improved insulation and air sealing, while HVAC systems are critical to a building’s energy consumption with mandated higher efficiency ratings.

For PTAC units specifically, the standards now require enhanced performance metrics. When measuring energy efficiency for a resistance heat unit, the Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is reviewed, while for heat pump units, the Coefficient of Performance (COP) is the standard measure, with EERs typically ranging from 9.2 to 13.4 and COPs typically ranging from 2.5 to 4.0.

Local Law 97: The Game Changer for Building Emissions

Local Law 97 establishes carbon emission limits for New York City’s largest buildings, with covered buildings that exceed annual emissions limits facing an annual financial penalty of $268 per ton of CO2 equivalent over the limit based on 2024 energy usage and emissions. LL97 mandates that buildings >25,000 SF in NYC must meet emissions intensity limits (in kg CO2e/SF) by building type starting in 2024, with Period 1 covering 2024-2029 designed to impact the top 20% of emitters, while Period 2 runs 2030-2034 and is designed to impact the top 75% of emitters.

This creates an urgent need for building owners to evaluate their PTAC systems. Changing building practices to become more energy efficient can shave off unnecessary energy usage – insulating exposed heating pipes, tuning boilers, operating HVAC systems properly, or switching to LED light bulbs. However, as requirements become stricter, more intensive solutions will be necessary.

PTAC Compliance Strategies for 2024

Building owners must now consider several key factors when evaluating their PTAC systems for compliance:

Expert Solutions from Brothers Supply

For building owners navigating these complex requirements, partnering with experienced HVAC professionals is crucial. As a locally owned and operated business for over 50 years, Brothers Supply has extensive experience and commitment to customer satisfaction, being experts in HVAC installations and repairs. They specialize in servicing and supplying Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) units, a crucial component for many businesses.

Established in 1964, as a family owned business for over 50 years, their extensive knowledge and experience gives them the ability to handle the unique needs of hospitals, hotels, rehabilitation and nursing facilities, real estate organizations, schools and universities, with one-on-one consultation and custom evaluations to help customers find the system that will provide them with optimal service at an affordable price.

When building owners need PTAC Replacement NYC services, Brothers Supply offers comprehensive solutions that address both current compliance requirements and future efficiency standards. With locations at 34-48 31st Street in Long Island City, NY and 335 Oser Avenue in Hauppauge, NY, they provide accessible service throughout the metropolitan area.

Preparing for Future Compliance Periods

After the first compliance period, the emissions limits tighten, with covered buildings required to reduce their carbon emissions by 40% compared to 2005 levels by 2030, increasing to 80% reductions by 2050. This means that PTAC systems installed today must be selected with future requirements in mind.

Buildings will need to consider more intensive solutions like commercial scale heat pumps and renewable energy solutions like solar panels and battery storage, as requirements get stricter and creative solutions will be required to comply with law.

Taking Action Now

Local Law 97 compliance begins in 2024, but implementing energy management strategies for multifamily properties doesn’t happen overnight, so the time to plan is now, as it’s a good time to lay the groundwork for making comprehensive energy-saving upgrades or establishing on-going energy management strategies.

Building owners should conduct immediate assessments of their PTAC systems to identify units that may not meet the new efficiency standards. Conducting energy audits to identify areas for improvement is a critical first step in developing a comprehensive compliance strategy.

Brothers Supply offers 24/7 emergency services, so building owners are never left in discomfort when HVAC issues arise, with customer comfort being their top priority. This level of service is essential as building owners work to maintain compliance while ensuring tenant comfort and satisfaction.

The convergence of NYC’s energy conservation codes and Local Law 97 creates both challenges and opportunities for building owners. By partnering with experienced professionals and investing in high-efficiency PTAC systems now, property owners can ensure compliance, reduce operating costs, and contribute to the city’s ambitious climate goals while maintaining comfortable environments for their tenants.

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