Frequently Asked Questions

NYC Accelerator is a free service that streamlines the path from planning to execution by connecting building owners and managers with vetted experts, financing, incentives, and government programs. We simplify complex requirements and help move projects forward so you can achieve compliance faster.

Start by exploring NYC Accelerator’s program offerings to understand available resources (such as free technical assistance, and Local Law 97 details). You can also sign up for Momentum — a platform that helps move retrofit projects from planning through implementation — to begin planning your project. Whether you explore Momentum on your own or contact us directly, NYC Accelerator can connect you with the right support based on your building and goals.

NYC Accelerator services are free and available to help you plan and deliver building upgrades.

A member of the team will follow up within 2 business days. Providing more details about your building and goals can help us connect you to the right resources more quickly.

NYC Accelerator supports building owners, property managers, co-op and condo boards, and others responsible for building performance. We also work with service providers who support retrofit projects. Many materials will be provided in several languages, please contact us if you are looking for something in a particular language. 

NYC Accelerator supports all buildings across New York City, including multifamily, commercial, campus-style buildings, and institutional buildings.

Even if your building is not covered by Local Law 97, you can still access resources, tools, and guidance to improve building performance and plan future upgrades. For example, if your building is under 5,000 square feet, NYC Accelerator will connect you with your local NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) Clean Energy Hub and explain how they can support your goals.

Local Law 97 (LL97) passed in 2019 to limit greenhouse gas emissions from most NYC buildings larger than 25,000 square feet beginning in 2024. The law includes two primary compliance pathways:  

• Article 320:  Most covered buildings must follow this pathway by meeting annual greenhouse gas emissions limits starting in 2024 that become stricter over a series of phased compliance periods starting in in 2030, 2035, 2040 and 2050.  
• Article 321: Certain buildings, including buildings with more than 35% rent-regulated units and houses of worship, have a one-time obligation to implement 13 prescriptive energy conservation measures specified by the Department of Buildings.   

Property owners can refer to the Covered Buildings Lists posted by the NYC Department of Buildings each year to determine which compliance pathway to follow. 

NYC Accelerator helps you understand requirements, identify next steps, and plan projects that reduce emissions and move you toward compliance with the help of a dedicated NYC Accelerator support staff. Please note that to actually report your emissions, you must follow these three steps: 

1. Pay the Local Law 97 fee with DOB NOW.
2. Share your building’s energy source data through the Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM). 
3. Submit your report using the NYC Building Energy Analysis Manager (BEAM) portal with the certification by and help of a Registered Design Professional (RDP). For support connecting with an RDP, reach out to the NYC Accelerator. 

You can confirm your building’s status using the Department of Building’s Covered Buildings List (CBL) or by working with NYC Accelerator to review your property. 

Buildings that exceed emissions limits may face penalties. NYC Accelerator helps you understand your risk and identify ways to reduce it through project planning, upgrades, opportunities within the law like purchasing offsets and RECs, and exploring potential for penalty mitigation.

New York City has enacted a series of building energy laws that apply to most large buildings. These include: 

• Benchmarking (Local Law 84): Applies to buildings larger than 25,000 sq ft, requiring owners to annually measure and report energy and water consumption to the Department of Buildings, due each May 1. 
• Energy Audits & Retrocommissioning (Local Law 87): Applies to buildings larger than 50,000 sq ft, requiring owners to conduct a professional energy audit and retro-commission base building systems to identify inefficiencies and confirm equipment is operating as designed once every 10 years. 
• Lighting & Submetering (Local Laws 88, 132 & 143): Applies to buildings larger than 25,000 sq ft, requiring owners to update lighting in commercial buildings and common areas of residential buildings, as well as to install electric submeters in non-residential tenant spaces bigger than 5,000 square feet by January 1 2025. Going forward, energy statements must be provided to those tenants on a monthly basis. 
• Building Energy Grades (Local Laws 33 & 95): Applies to all buildings subject to LL84, requiring owners to display an energy efficiency rating near each public entrance that reflects the most recent year’s building energy use by October 1st of each year. 
• Green Roofs & Solar (Local Laws 92 & 94) : Applies to new construction and buildings undergoing roof replacements, requiring owners to cover the full eligible roof surface with a solar PV system, a green roof, or a combination of both at the time of construction or major roof renovation. 

A detailed overview of all of NYC’s building energy laws can be found on this page, and NYC Accelerator is available to answer any questions. 

NYC Accelerator helps you plan and deliver retrofit projects by connecting you to service providers, financing options, and technical resources. We help clarify next steps and move projects from early planning through completion.

No. You can start by understanding your building’s needs and exploring options. When you’re ready, NYC Accelerator can connect you to qualified service providers via our vetted Service Provider Directory and help you bid out your project to find a contractor that best meets your needs.

Common upgrades include heating and cooling improvements, building electrification, insulation, lighting, and building controls. To see a list of recommended upgrades and its impact on your LL97 fines, check out Momentum — NYC Accelerator’s platform for project scoping, bidding, and delivery — which creates recommendations based on your specific building’s data.

You can begin by understanding your building’s performance and planning next steps. NYC Accelerator supports both near-term actions and long-term planning. Create a Momentum account to see upgrade options for your property, along with details on your expected Local Law 97 fine exposure. Or, you can speak with the NYC Accelerator team to learn more about your options and pathways. 

Projects can be funded through a range of options, including mortgages, equipment financing, as-a-service agreements, NYC PACE Financing, and mission-driven lenders such as green banks. NYC Accelerator helps you identify options that fit your project. Check out our Financing Toolkit to get acquainted with the main options. 

NYC PACE Financing allows building owners to finance up to 100% of eligible project costs for energy efficiency upgrades. It is repaid through a property tax assessment and can transfer with the building upon sale. Read more about it here.

Yes. NYC Accelerator connects you to financing options and incentives and helps you understand how they apply to your project. Start by reaching out to NYC Accelerator on our Contact page.

Financing can reduce upfront costs, preserve capital, and help move projects forward sooner while improving building performance. Discuss your options with NYC Accelerator to decide what is best for you.

Multifamily buildings can access financial incentives for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades through utility and state programs, helping reduce project costs and energy use. Explore NYC Accelerator's incentive list. Utility customers can review Con Edison’s incentive program fact sheet, while National Grid customers can reach out to the NYC Accelerator team. 

Some programs support individual upgrades, while others provide higher incentives for projects that improve multiple building systems as part of a broader retrofit strategy. It can get complicated, which is why NYC Accelerator is here to help you wade through the details. 

Incentives are commonly available for insulation, air sealing, heating and hot water systems, building controls, lighting, and electrification measures such as heat pumps. You might see these called "measures" in incentive program overviews.

Incentives can cover a significant portion of project costs, depending on the program and project scope, and are often combined with financing to reduce overall costs. However, they are not available for every project upgrade. Review your property’s profile in Momentum — NYC Accelerator’s free platform for project scoping, bidding, and delivery — or connect with NYC Accelerator to see what is possible for your needs.

Momentum is a free tool that helps you plan and deliver retrofit projects by bringing together building data, upgrade options, cost estimates, and project management tools in one place. Make an account and explore at https://momentum.c15.io/join/nyc-accelerator.

You can assess your building’s performance and LL97 compliance targets, explore upgrade scenarios, estimate costs and savings, and organize your project from planning through implementation.

Momentum helps you understand potential emissions and penalties and shows how different upgrades can reduce your building’s emissions and compliance risk. After creating your Momentum account and adding your building, click “Local Law 97 Fines” to see expected fines over time through 2050. Then, review recommended scopes of work to see how different upgrades will impact your expected fines.  

Yes. You can generate a scope of work, issue an RFP, and compare contractor bids within the platform. 

Review a Momentum deep dive webinar recording here (hint: start at 10:20 to get right into it). NYC Accelerator has also published a series of tutorial videos explaining how to best use Momentum. It is frequently updated, so be sure to check back.

Momentum is designed to serve multifamily, hotels, dorms, and most offices, but the tool is not able to support Class A offices, hospitals, or industrial buildings. Please contact the NYC Accelerator team to get support for your building, whether or not it is served by Momentum.