Tabla de contenido
- LL97 covers most buildings over 25,000 ft² (or groups on one tax lot over 50,000 ft²). Emissions limits are set per occupancy class in kg CO2e per ft² per year, with a stricter second period: Occupancy 2024–2029 cap 2030–2034 cap Business (B) 0.00846 0.00453 Multifamily (R-2) 0.00675 0.00407 Mercantile (M) 0.01181 0.00403 Assembly (A) 0.01079 0.00420 Storage (S) 0.00403 0.00110 The penalty for exceeding the cap is $268 per metric ton CO2e per year, with no cap on the fine. Citywide goals are 40% below 2005 by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
- Washington DC BEPS — building performance standards with compliance deadlines by type. Boston BERDO 2.0 — emissions caps with a 2050 net-zero target and a carbon-credit trading option. Denver and several states have adopted or proposed BPS frameworks. EU — the EPBD drives the supply side via ZEB; national renovation mandates add performance floors.
- Ventilation and heating dominate most building emissions. Cutting the ventilation load with a membrane ERV or wheel, then electrifying the remainder with heat pumps, is a primary LL97 compliance lever — directly supporting the decarbonization sequence. Track savings with the metering discipline in carbon accounting for HVAC so the emissions math holds up to audit.
Building Performance Standards (BPS) are laws that cap a building’s greenhouse-gas emissions and tighten the cap over time, with penalties for exceeding it. The flagship is New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97) of 2019; this article summarizes how it works and the role of heat recovery in compliance.
LL97 covers most buildings over 25,000 ft² (or groups on one tax lot over 50,000 ft²). Emissions limits are set per occupancy class in kg CO2e per ft² per year, with a stricter second period:
| Occupancy | 2024–2029 cap | 2030–2034 cap |
|---|---|---|
| Business (B) | 0.00846 | 0.00453 |
| Multifamily (R-2) | 0.00675 | 0.00407 |
| Mercantile (M) | 0.01181 | 0.00403 |
| Assembly (A) | 0.01079 | 0.00420 |
| Storage (S) | 0.00403 | 0.00110 |
The penalty for exceeding the cap is $268 per metric ton CO2e per year, with no cap on the fine. Citywide goals are 40% below 2005 by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
- Washington DC BEPS — building performance standards with compliance deadlines by type.
- Boston BERDO 2.0 — emissions caps with a 2050 net-zero target and a carbon-credit trading option.
- Denver and several states have adopted or proposed BPS frameworks.
- EU — the EPBD drives the supply side via ZEB; national renovation mandates add performance floors.
Ventilation and heating dominate most building emissions. Cutting the ventilation load with a membrane ERV or wheel, then electrifying the remainder with heat pumps, is a primary LL97 compliance lever — directly supporting the decarbonization sequence. Track savings with the metering discipline in carbon accounting for HVAC so the emissions math holds up to audit.