Category : Regulations/News

Energy Alert:
ENERGY STAR Scores Are Changing

June 2018 ENERGY STAR will be re-calculating almost all commercial building scores this summer, which will impact your properties’ standing. All the changes in source data will result in lower scores generally across the US. ALL scores will adjust as of August 26th when updates to 1-100 ENERGY STAR scores launch. After August 26, buildings will have to … Continue reading Energy Alert:
ENERGY STAR Scores Are Changing →

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Compliance Checklist – Your 5-Step Guide To Avoiding Fines

No matter where your business is located across the country, staying on top of new and updated regulations is key to avoiding fines, which can add up. Take note of the date a law goes into effect, and the date at which enforcement starts. Give yourself enough time to get ready to be in compliance. Here’s your … Continue reading Compliance Checklist – Your 5-Step Guide To Avoiding Fines →

This entry was posted in All, How To Guides, Regulations/News and tagged hotels, NYC, regulations. Bookmark the permalink.

Regulation Alert: Fines Being Issued To NYC Businesses

In NYC, inspectors are currently out in force issuing fines for non-compliance of the city’s new organics law, and gearing up to enforce updated waste and recycling rules in a few months. NYC hotels seem to be bearing the brunt of penalties issued as they are more likely to have food operations covered under the city’s … Continue reading Regulation Alert: Fines Being Issued To NYC Businesses →

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Compliance Guide For NYC Hotels

ORGANICS New rules began enforcement Jan. 2017. Fines are being issued now. The new business organics rule applies to hotels and businesses with food and beverage operations. Law includes hotels over 150 rooms with any size back-of-house food preparation and delivered provisions. Law does NOT cover retailers if their end product destination is the consumer. For … Continue reading Compliance Guide For NYC Hotels →

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Regulation Updates: NYC’s Energy Efficiency Laws Expand To Cover More Buildings. Is Yours Affected?

Oct 2016–NYC’s expanded energy efficiency laws will now cover more buildings than before. An additional 10,000 properties to be more precise, covering nearly 350 million square feet. Chances are that your NYC building, portfolio of buildings, or your tenants WILL BE AFFECTED by these newest changes so take note. For this next round, newly compliant properties under LL84 will not be … Continue reading Regulation Updates: NYC’s Energy Efficiency Laws Expand To Cover More Buildings. Is Yours Affected? →

This entry was posted in All, Regulations/News and tagged benchmarking, Energy, LL84, LL88, NYC, regulations. Bookmark the permalink.

Alert: NYC Benchmarking Reports Due May 1 – Updated Checklist and Guide

Properties in NYC preparing to comply with Local Law 84 (benchmarking) by May 1 may be interested in the new benchmarking compliance checklist and guide from the Urban Green Council. It explains some of the auto upload features within the new Portfolio Manager. In particular, clients using internal resources for their LL84 compliance will want … Continue reading Alert: NYC Benchmarking Reports Due May 1 – Updated Checklist and Guide →

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Two-Week Extension To Apply For ENERGY STAR Certification

With the federal government shutdown over, access to the EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool is now restored. The deadline to apply for 2013 ENERGY STAR certification has been extended. Commercial buildings now have until Wednesday, December 4 to apply. Read the ENERGY STAR notice here. Access to Great Forest’s Sustainability Metrics platform and Utility … Continue reading Two-Week Extension To Apply For ENERGY STAR Certification →

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Boston: Latest City in Energy Benchmarking Drive

If you have properties in Boston, note that it is the latest city to require buildings to disclose their energy use. Boston now follows seven other cities (NYC, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Austin, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Seattle) and two states (California and Washington) that have energy benchmarking laws. Buildings owned by the city are required to … Continue reading Boston: Latest City in Energy Benchmarking Drive →

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D.C. Finalizes Benchmarking Regulations; Signs Sustainability Act

Washington D.C. has begun the new year with several moves on the green front. The Sustainable D.C. Act of 2012 was signed into law. Great Forest was part of the working group on waste and recycling that submitted recommendations to the Mayor. Backed with $4.5 million to implement sustainability projects across the District, the plan … Continue reading D.C. Finalizes Benchmarking Regulations; Signs Sustainability Act →

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NYC Gas Conversions Proceed Despite Hurricane Sandy Disruptions

Great Forest has learned that despite recovery from historic service disruptions, efforts to switch customers to cleaner heat continue with three fast-approaching deadlines to file initial applications with Con Edison under NYC’s Clean Heat program. The NYC Clean Heat Program is a free outreach effort from the Mayor’s Office to help your building comply with … Continue reading NYC Gas Conversions Proceed Despite Hurricane Sandy Disruptions →

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D.C: Benchmarking Compliance Update

Following on the heels of NYC’s Local Law 84 (2009), D.C.’s benchmarking rules will soon need to be acted upon. Buildings over 150,000 sq feet may need to report as early as January 2013. The basic structure of benchmarking follows the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager guidelines. For D.C., as in New York, we expect … Continue reading D.C: Benchmarking Compliance Update →

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D.C. Benchmarking Update

While there is still no official confirmation of benchmarking reporting deadlines for D.C., we want to remind property owners and managers in the nation’s capital to begin planning now. As we mentioned in ourlast update, deadlines could fall as early as Jan. 2013 for buildings larger than 150,000 sq. feet. Fines for missing reporting deadlines … Continue reading D.C. Benchmarking Update →

This entry was posted in All, Regulations/News and tagged benchmarking, Energy, Washington DC. Bookmark the permalink.

Over Nine Million Sq. Feet Benchmarked. Now What?

While benchmarking may not yet be mandatory across the country, its benefits are clear. Over the past few months, we completed benchmarking energy use in over nine million square feet of commercial space in New York to meet the August 1 deadline for compliance with the state’s Local Law 84. So what’s next for benchmarked … Continue reading Over Nine Million Sq. Feet Benchmarked. Now What? →

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NYC’s Proposed New Energy Efficiency Laws

City officials estimate that building owners would save approximately $750 million a year in energy costs with new legislation proposed under the Mayor’s “Greener, Greater Buildings Plan for New York City.” The plan, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and make buildings more energy efficient, targets some 22,000 buildings in NYC larger 50,000 sq ft. These older … Continue reading NYC’s Proposed New Energy Efficiency Laws →