Environmental Law

New York City Says: 'Shut That Door!'

By Dennis Pfaff and Kevin Livingston, Editors

Anyone whose parents have told them to shut the door "or you'll let all the heat (or cold) out" can relate to a new piece of legislation going into effect in New York City.

Simply put, the bill signed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg this week requires many businesses to shut their outer doors when using air conditioning. 

Actually, there is a pretty serious intent here. In a statement, Bloomberg said the new legislation fits with the city's approximately year-old comprehensive sustainability blueprint:

"It is consistent with the goals of PlaNYC, as it seeks to reduce energy consumption and summer peak load demand, thereby helping to enhance the reliability of our electrical infrastructure."

The bill itself calls the prohibition "a sensible energy conservation measure" that is intended to also reduce peak power demands during hot weather and limit "local contributions to global warming."

According to an analysis by the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council, which supported the legislation, just one business leaving a standard sized door open could waste about $1,000 in energy costs and squander a full ton of carbon dioxide emissions in a single summer. Both the group and the legislation itself cited estimates from the Long Island Power Authority that the practice wasted up to one-quarter of the store's air conditioning.  In a statement Eric Goldstein, director of the NRDC's New York urban program, said:

“This new law will help businesses do the right thing for New York City, for energy costs, and for the environment. This is one more example of New York City’s leadership in the energy efficiency arena, and one that will hopefully be imitated by other cities across the nation."

At first, businesses maintaining an open-door policy will get a warning. But then, further violations could draw fines that escalate up to $400 for each door left ajar. The bill also exempts small establishments that are not part of a chain and restaurants open to outdoor seating areas.

It's been a busy year in New York for energy efficiency and renewable initiatives. Gov. David Paterson, as Climate Law Update recently reported, signed a series of bills to encourage more small renewable projects, as well as provide tax incentives for New York City building owners to install solar power systems or "green" roofs. Bloomberg also made news not long ago by floating plans for putting wind turbines on the city’s bridges and tall buildings, as well as in its waters. And, as noted elsewhere on our favorite climate law site today, there's a potential that the state could double its wind capacity.
 

--Dennis Pfaff of Thelen

Full post as published by Climate Law Update on September 04, 2008 (boomark / email).