NYC’s forward-thinking energy code is a critical building block for a low-carbon future.
New York City can only reach its ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals by making buildings significantly more energy efficient. The energy code regulates building design and construction to do just that. Every three or so years, NYC adopts a more stringent code that requires new and renovated buildings to perform better.
The latest version of the New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) went into effect on May 12, 2020 and is one of the strictest in the nation. In a city where over 50,000 buildings are constructed or renovated each year, the 2020 NYCECC will likely deliver the largest carbon savings of any energy code in the country.
What is the energy code?
The energy code regulates building systems that most impact energy use: the envelope, heating and cooling, hot water, lighting and power. The code specifies requirements for each system to ensure a baseline of efficiency is built in, but complying with its numerous prescriptive requirements can be complex and restrictive. Because of this, future energy codes will focus less on checklists of requirements and instead on the buildings’ total
energy performance.
Download the full brief for a deeper dive into the 2020 NYCECC and its requirements.
Download the What’s New in the 2020 Energy Code? brief
Read the two-page PDF