Resources For Residents & Communities

Did you know that New York State has legal requirements that protect small businesses and residents by setting minimum energy efficiency standards for our buildings? Much like New York’s other building codes that are designed to keep inhabitants safe and healthy, the 2020 Energy Conservation Construction Code   is designed to help New Yorkers live their best lives by mitigating long-term energy use, utility costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Some local governments across New York have even adopted more rigorous building energy codes that go above and beyond the State’s minimum efficiency standards. NYStretch and the various Local Laws in New York City are great examples of these additional energy efficiency requirements

Clean and Resilient Building Codes Ensure Energy Equity

Historically, energy codes and appliance standards have not served the needs of underserved communities. With the passage of the Climate Act, one of NYSERDA’s key tasks is to create opportunities to provide New York’s underserved communities with access to the benefits of clean energy. To that end, NYSERDA is actively collaborating with trusted community stakeholders and partners to ensure that our updated building energy codes respond to the specific needs and concerns of underserved communities. New York’s Climate Act requires that Disadvantaged Communities receive a minimum of 35%, with a goal of 40%, of the benefits of spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs, projects, or investments in the areas of housing, workforce development, pollution reduction, low-income energy assistance, energy, transportation, and economic development.

Developing and advancing more equitable building energy codes will:

• Add necessary training and enforcement resources to municipal governments in underserved and environmental justice communities
• Provide additional grant funding to communities that are participating in the Clean Energy Communities Leadership Round 
• Address time and resource constraints faced by code enforcement officers
• Improve the consistency of energy code compliance across zip codes
• Allow for streamlined and transparent building plan reviews and inspections
• Help realize the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s (Climate Act) mandate of ensuring equity in our climate actions

When it comes to energy, knowledge is power.

• Clean Energy Communities Leadership Round - Supports local governments with grant funding and expertise on their paths to building greener communities.
• Build Better Field Guide - Explains building practices to reduce energy bills and create quieter, more comfortable, and healthier homes.
• Community Outreach Resources

If you are interested in learning more about NYSERDA’s Building Energy Code activities, we encourage you to visit the other pages on this website or contact [email protected] for more information.