Although the costs of auditing were raised by opponents to the bills earlier this year, mandatory energy audits are now required every ten years, though buildings certified under LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance or which receive EPA’s Energy Star label are exempt. It’s this exemption that’s of particular interest to us here at GRELJ; here’s the pertinent text from the body of the bill:

No energy audit is required if the building complies with one of the following as certified by a registered design professional:

• The covered building has received an EPA Energy Star label for at least two of the three years preceding the filing of the building’s energy efficiency report.

• There is no EPA Energy Star rating for the building type and a registered design professional submits documentation, as specified in the rules of the department, that the building’s energy performance is 25 or more points better than the performance of an average building of its type over a two-year period within the three-year period prior to the filing of an energy efficiency report consistent with the methodology of the LEED 2009 rating system for Existing Buildings published by USGBC, or other rating system or methodology for existing buildings, as determined by the department.

• The covered building has received certification under the LEED 2009 rating system for Existing Buildings published by the USGBC or other rating system for existing buildings, as determined by the department, within four years prior to the filing of the building’s energy efficiency report.

Legislation which incorporates LEED into local-level legislation is something we’ve noted frequently here at GRELJ, and a couple of recurring issues immediately come to mind with Int. 967.

First, although the bill does allow buildings to earn certification under “other rating systems as determined by [DOB],” the bill does not provide any input on what those other systems might be, or how DOB will “determine” those that would qualify a building for the exemption. Does this language sufficiently address non-delegation doctrine concerns? (i.e., a private third-party organization is effectively determining whether an energy audit is unnecessary under Int. 967 by proxy).

Second, there is no language that allows the legislation to track changes in LEED; for example, if USGBC releases a next-generation LEED system subsequent to LEED 2009, what happens? We have noted this specific issue recurring in various types of legislation. For example, when we wrote about San Francisco’s decision to reconsider its LEED-driven green building ordinance, we pointed out that “LEED itself continues to be a moving target and policymakers must guide themselves accordingly when considering the merits of [LEED-driven] legislative activity.”

Finally, could design professionals balk at signing off on the energy audits given that LEED-EBOM is subject to the same Minimum Program Requirements which, if violated by the building owner, could result in a decertification proceeding, the consequences of which remain unclear?

These questions are obviously theoretical at this point and are designed to elicit your thoughts in the comments. However, I want to stress that the New York City legislation emphasizes the import of assessing and understanding LEED-related risks as the rating system continues to permeate into the private sector in a variety of legislative contexts.

Just as a side note for your reference, the other three bills that constitute the “Greener, Greater Buildings Plan” are:

• Int. 564: New York City Energy Conservation Code. Closes the “50 percent loophole” in the current New York City Energy Code, which does not require owners who renovate less than 50 percent of their building’s total space to comply with the most current – and energy-efficient- version of the Code.

• Int. 476: Benchmarking. Requires buildings to perform an annual assessment of their water and energy use using EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool for the purpose of comparing themselves with their peers, but exempts certain buildings for which public disclosure would be problematic (i.e. high energy users such as data centers).

• Int. 973, Lighting Retrofits and Submetering. Requires large tenants to be submetered and lighting systems to be upgraded during renovations (whether or not those renovations contemplate electrical work) or, at the latest, by 2025. Residential tenants are exempt. Renovations where construction costs are less than $50,000 are also exempt.

Other than the revisions to the Energy Conservation Code under Int. 564, the legislation applies to all New York City buildings larger than 50,000 square feet (or buildings that stand on the same tax lot and, together, are larger than 100,000 square feet).

• GGBP Passes City Council (Urban Green Council)

As you may know, the NAIOP study evaluated a handful of energy efficiency measures as implemented across the same building type in three different U.S. climate zones in order to determine the feasibility of 30 to 50 percent reduction targets over ASHRAE 90.1. The energy model used in connection with the study considered enhanced wall and roof insulations, varying levels of exterior glazing, efficient windows, reduced air infiltration, reduced lighting power densities, efficient HVAC equipment; and photovoltaic electricity energy generation.

The results were as follows:

Chicago: 23 percent in energy savings; $188,523.45 cost increase; 8.8 year payback;

Baltimore: 21.5 percent in energy savings; $165,148.13 cost increase; 11 year payback;

Newport Beach: 15.8 percent in energy savings; $169,898.13 cost increase; 12.2 year payback.

In a press release detailing the results of the study, NAIOP president Thomas J. Bisacquino said that “[w]ith the results of achieving higher efficiency targets differing so greatly across the climate zones, the study reveals that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to mandatory energy reductions does not work in legislation or other mandates. It is important that policymakers and others realize the economic consequences that imposing mandated targets will have on the development industry.” As I noted above, many commentators decried the study’s methodology, arguing that it failed to consider numerous other energy efficiency strategies, including site orientation and other passive design techniques. For example, on his blog, Jerry Yudelson said that “It’s all about integrated design; that’s why NAIOP’s study is plain wrong as a general rule. You have to “build it in, not bolt it on, meaning that if you take a conventional building and attempt to add energy-savings features to standard design, it’s always going to be less and less cost-effective to go beyond, saving 15% more savings.”

Regardless of the resulting furor, I think it is important to note the study’s results for a few reasons. First, ConSol used the Department of Energy’s EnergyPlus Version 2.2 simulation tool in order to derive its results. The study was based on a projection and not actual data. Second, other studies promulgated by some of the organizations that decried the NAIOP study have also been heavily criticized. For example, as we noted last fall over at gbNYC, NBI’s highly touted study only obtained data from 22 percent of the LEED-certified buildings in the country, compared it to a national database (CBECS) that includes buildings dating from the early part of the 20th century, and then compared the median energy consumption for LEED buildings to the average of the pool of comparable buildings. This study was widely disseminated for the proposition that LEED buildings were performing 25 percent better than comparable buildings with respect to energy efficiency. Interestingly, according to CoStar, USGBC issued a statement in response to the NAIOP report that LEED-certified buildings are “proof-positive that you can achieve 30 percent and greater energy efficiency using integrated design with little or no additional first costs.” CoStar also quoted Dave Hewitt, executive director of the New Buildings Institute, that the study was “artificially constrained to suggest that you can’t get there from here.”

I don’t disagree that integrated design is green design and will likely lead to higher efficiencies, but I do think that one point to take from the NAIOP study, in the context of commercial real estate, is that passive solar design or other integrated design features that were mentioned in the response to the study may not be possible for certain types of building stock. Particularly here in New York City- or in the rest of the country where new construction has grinded to a halt- the “bolt it on” types of green improvements may be the only option. In that context, the NAIOP study may be particularly useful to policymakers who are considering mandating the 30 to 50 percent improvements in efficiency that the study was specifically contemplating. If those improvements are not possible, or are more difficult than many believe, design professionals, contractors, and consultants may also be exposing themselves to significant liability absent sufficiently protective language in their construction agreements. From the lawyer’s perspective, I think the critical points to take from all of this are that until we get studies that are grounded in actual performance-related data, it is dangerous to advocate for policies that are based on energy models. Moreover, I think it emphasizes the importance of transactional risk management – in the form of a fully vetted construction agreement- in connection with green building projects that aim for increasingly higher levels of energy efficiency.

While the results and merits of this particular study continue to be debated, what is clear that building performance, contracts, and risk management will intersect significantly as we move forward during the course of 2009. I am also curious to see what NAIOP’s reaction to the backlash will be – if any – and whether any building science experts (like Henry Gifford and Joseph Lstiburek, whose work we have referenced previously over at gbNYC) chime in.

• Commercial Developers Try to Debunk Green Building (Fast Company)
• A Hog in a Tuxedo is Still a Hog (Architecture 2030)
• Experts Reject NAIOP Study, Citing Flawed Analysis (CoStar)
• Yudelson Associates Blog
• Study Shows ASHRAE 30 Percent Difficult to Meet (BD+C)

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”) offers multiple opportunities for property owners, developers and other stakeholders in the green building arena. There are tens of billions of dollars in funding initiatives for green building in the Recovery Act. Many of the provisions are complex and the specific projects that are to be have yet to be fully provided. That being said, the commitment to green building is clearly apparent throughout the Recovery Act and a quick summary of the critical green building funding proposals are detailed below:

• Federal Building Efficiency: At least $4.5 billion is allocated to the U.S. General Services Administration (“GSA”) to convert GSA facilities to “High-Performance Green buildings”, thus making federal buildings more energy efficient. Pursuant to that certain GSA Memorandum to Assistant Regional Administrators, PBS Regional Realty Service Officers from Samuel J. Morris, III, Acting Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Real Estate Acquisition – PQC, dated December 27, 2007, the GSA has adopted the U.S. Green Building Council’s (“USGBC”) LEED certification system and has set a goal that new construction or substantial renovation of a building or leased space over 10,000 rentable square feet receive at least LEED Silver certification.

• Establishment of Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings: $4 million in funds were set aside for the establishment of the Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings within the GSA, which office was created by the 2007 Act. The Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings may have the longest lasting impact on the green building movement based upon the future actions it will take regarding federal government office space and buildings overseen by the GSA

• Green Building Training: $3 million has been allocated for a green building training and apprenticeship program for federal buildings.

• Renovation of Department of Defense (“DOD”) Buildings: A portion of the $4.2 billion in funds to modernize various DOD facilities will go toward green building related improvements.

• Local Government Energy Efficiency and Conservation: $6.3 billion in grants to help state and local governments make investments that make them more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions.

• Energy Star Appliances: $300 million to provide consumers with rebates for buying energy efficient Energy Star products to replace old appliances.

• Public Housing Capital Fund: $4 billion is allocated for the Public Housing Capital Fund to retrofit the public housing projects to make them more energy efficient.

As detailed above, the specific projects that will receive allocations pursuant to the Recovery Act have not been fully released. A multitude of websites are being increasingly utilized and/or created in order to provide up-to-date information as to the available Recovery Act projects. The website www.fedbizopps.gov is an excellent resource for federal projects. As of March 1, 2009, conducting a “Quick Search” using the term “LEED” results in 313 specific federal opportunities. Another useful site is www.recovery.gov, which provides specific details regarding the Recovery Act, including a useful tool that contains links to each of the individual state websites that have been created in connection with the Recovery Act. Here at GRELJ, we will continue to track the Recovery Act and keep our readers aware of where things go from this relatively early point forward.

Geoff White is a Senior Associate in the Commercial Transactions and Real Estate Group at Frost Brown Todd. He is a contributing author to Green Real Estate Law Journal. He also oversees the Green Building Series on the Frost Brown Todd’s Construction Law News website. Mr. White is licensed to practice law in Kentucky and Ohio and is a member of the Kentucky Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. Learn more about Geoff at http://www.frostbrowntodd.com/geoffwhite/