Unlock Energy Efficiency with K2M’s Comprehensive Commercial Energy Audits & Local Law Compliance Services

At K2M, we specialize in delivering top-tier energy management services that include comprehensive audits, operations and maintenance, retrofit and local law compliance studies. Our goal is to minimize your operational costs by optimizing energy consumption across your facilities.

Why Choose K2M?

• Proven Expertise: With extensive experience performing energy audits for the federal government, higher education institutions, multifamily high-rises, and various other facility types.
• ASHRAE Level Standards: Our audits adhere to the rigorous ASHRAE Level 1, 2, or 3 standards, ensuring thorough and accurate assessments.
• Financially Driven Solutions: We evaluate all energy measures based on cost versus benefits, lifecycle payback, and return on investment, providing you with clear, financially sound recommendations.

Our Process

Baseline Energy Model Development:

We conduct site visits, analyze utility bills, interview maintenance staff, and review existing drawings and specifications. This comprehensive approach allows us to meticulously calibrate a baseline energy model that accurately reflects actual usage and operational characteristics, forming the foundation for our energy-saving strategies.

Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) Modeling:

Our engineers then use advanced energy modeling software such as Trane Trace and Carrier HAP to simulate and analyze potential energy savings. Our measures are categorized into three groups: Low Cost / No Cost, which provides immediate savings with minimal investment; Investment with Less Than 10-Year Payback, offering cost-effective solutions with quick returns; and Payback Greater Than 10 Years, focusing on long-term investments for sustained energy efficiency.

Benchmarking Analysis:

We provide benchmarking analysis using the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) to compare your building’s performance to others of similar occupancy and use, helping you understand where you stand and identify opportunities for improvement.

Local Law Compliance Services

Local Law 97 of 2019 (LL97) – Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Limitations and Reporting All NYC buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to meet new GHG emissions limits beginning in 2024. These limits get stricter over time with newer, lower limits every five years beginning in 2030. Significant financial penalties are imposed for exceeding these limits, with penalties in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range for larger buildings. K2M offers a suite of services to satisfy annual compliance requirements and help buildings reduce or eliminate their projected penalties for exceeding GHG emissions limits.

• Assessments: Experienced energy auditors will assess your building and its energy performance to determine your current and projected GHG emissions profile, forecast future penalties, identify energy reduction strategies to reduce those penalties, potential incentive programs to mitigate costs, and provide a clear pathway for complying with LL97.
• Annual Reporting Services: Prepare and file your annual GHG emissions report with NYC DOB to ensure you meet all reporting deadlines. The current deadline to file without penalty is May 1st, 2025. Failure to file on time will result in a $0.50 per square foot penalty assessed on a monthly basis.
• Prescriptive Energy Conservation Measure (PECM) Verification: Experienced energy auditors will verify and document existing conditions to satisfy the PECM compliance pathway. Observed deficiencies will be identified for implementation.
• Adjustments, Extensions, and Exemption Services: Certain buildings are eligible for adjustments, deadline extensions, or exemptions to their emissions limits. As your chosen design professional, we can represent you before the NYC DOB when submitting these requests.

Local Law 87 of 2009 (LL87) – Energy Audits & Retro-Commissioning (RCx) All NYC buildings over 50,000 square feet are required to perform energy audits, retro-commission all major HVAC equipment, and submit an Energy Efficiency Report (EER) every ten years. The EER is due in the year corresponding to the last digit of your building’s tax block number. For example, if your building’s tax block ends in ‘5’ your EER is due December 31, 2025. Failure to submit an EER can result in a penalty of $5,000 per year. In addition to financial penalties, failure to file the required annual energy consumption reports will result in violations that can impact your building’s ability to close out work permits and obtain certificates of occupancy. Our team of trained energy auditors and RCx agents are ready to prepare and file the EER on your behalf. In addition to complying with the law, the energy-saving opportunities identified in our audits can help you reduce your annual energy expenditures. Our RCx agents will functionally test all major equipment to ensure it is operating optimally, helping you minimize your operational and maintenance costs.

Local Law 84 of 2009 (LL84) – Energy Benchmarking Law All NYC buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to submit their annual energy and water use in the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online benchmarking tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager® (ESPM), by May 1st of every year. This annual filing must be prepared by a licensed design professional. The benchmarking process allows building owners to easily identify inefficient buildings in comparison to others and identify those with the greatest potential to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to financial penalties, failure to file the required annual energy consumption reports will result in violations that can impact your building’s ability to close out work permits and obtain certificates of occupancy.

Local Law 33 of 2018 (LL33) – Energy Grades All NYC buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to display energy efficiency scores and letter grades in their building’s entrance. Scores and grades are based on the building’s actual energy consumption as documented in the LL84 benchmarking process. K2M will prepare and file all related reports concerning your building’s energy consumption. Additionally, for buildings looking to improve their scores and grades, our experienced energy auditors can identify potential energy conservation measures.

Local Law 88 of 2009 (LL88) – Lighting Upgrades and Sub-metering All NYC buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to make upgrades to lighting power allowances and controls. No later than January 1, 2025, lighting systems in covered buildings shall be in compliance with this law. K2M lighting auditors can document compliance, identify any equipment that is non-compliant and needs to be upgraded, identify potential incentive funds, energy savings, and O&M benefits when upgrading lights, and file the required compliance report attesting that the lighting system is in accordance with the law. On and after January 1, 2025, the electrical consumption of each covered tenant space shall be measured by one or more sub-meters. K2M energy auditors can prepare the mandated compliance report to attest to the fact that all meters have been installed in accordance with the law. For buildings that have not installed meters, our electrical engineers can design the required upgrades and oversee their installation. In addition to annual financial penalties, failure to file the required compliance reports will result in violations that can impact your building’s ability to close out work permits and obtain certificates of occupancy.