NYC Accelerator Service Provider Expo and Symposium Provides Unique Platform for Innovative Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Solutions
October 21, 2024
New York, NY – The Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) announced today that as part of its efforts to provide support to building stakeholders looking to achieve Local Law 97 (LL97) compliance, its partner, the NYC Accelerator, hosted its first-ever all-day service provider expo and symposium on Wednesday, October 16. “LL97 Compliance: NYC Accelerator Service Provider Expo and Symposium” attracted over 370 attendees to the John Jay College campus in Hell’s Kitchen. Guests participated in breakout sessions tailored to their building type, discovered the latest services and technologies from service providers, and networked among industry experts and government representatives. Since LL97 was first passed in 2019, the city has conducted extensive outreach to property owners with events like this, holding hundreds of information sessions online and in-person across the five boroughs, all with the goal of creating a more sustainable and healthier future for all New Yorkers.
“As we’ve seen with recent storms, carbon pollution is leading to increasingly frequent and more severe extreme weather,” said New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “Buildings in New York City are responsible for more than 65 percent of our emissions, and 90 percent of the buildings we have today will be around in 2050, which is why they must be updated. Modernizing our buildings means they will be cleaner, greener, quieter, and safer from harmful pollutants while reducing the need for costly utilities, creating jobs, and improving the health of our environmental justice communities.”
“NYC Accelerator events like this year’s expo and symposium continue to be a pivotal platform for educating and providing valuable insights and resources for those seeking sustainable solutions to comply with LL97,” said NYC Accelerator Program Manager Simon Mugo. “We are thrilled with the turnout and the level of engagement from both exhibitors and attendees and want to thank our community partners for the vital roles they play in achieving the city’s emission reduction goals.”
“The success of Local Law 97 hinges on the city’s ability to mobilize property owners and connect them with green retrofit professionals, so they can get to work on reducing carbon emissions from our city’s largest buildings,” said New York City Department of Buildings Deputy Commissioner for Sustainability Laura Popa. “Along with our partners at MOCEJ and NYC Accelerator, DOB has participated in hundreds of public events and stakeholder meetings to spread the word about both the legal requirements these property owners face, as well as the ways the city can be a resource to help them achieve compliance under the law. With hundreds of stakeholders in attendance, this symposium is yet another example of how the administration is prioritizing educational outreach as a critical component of our mission to maximize the impact of this important climate law.”
Highlights of the Event:
• Interactive Learning: The Department of Buildings (DOB) detailed what is being proposed in the third rules package for LL97 during the general session and the expo also offered three engaging breakout sessions on best practices, incentives, and financing for multifamily affordable, multifamily market rate, commercial, and manufacturing and industrial building audiences.
• Innovative Solutions: Over 60 service providers and capital providers and six community partners, including DOB, the NYC Sustainability Help Center, National Grid, NYSERDA, Con Edison, and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development exhibited their cutting-edge green technologies, services, financing incentives, and sustainable solutions that can be implemented in co-op and condo buildings, providing attendees with a firsthand look at their applications and benefits.
• Enable Connections: Building owners, managers, technology providers, and government representatives were offered two dedicated opportunities to network, share experiences, and discuss challenges and solutions related to LL97.
The focus on reducing carbon emissions is providing a boost to the city’s workforce development as seen with the number of approved vendors in NYC Accelerator’s Service Provider Program, which has almost doubled in the last year (260 and growing) as they work with building owners to provide innovative solutions for LL97 compliance. Since the beginning of the Adams administration, NYC Accelerator has assisted 22,000 buildings and helped start 25,000 retrofit projects, reducing carbon emissions by 19,400 tons and saving building owners more than $5 million in avoided penalties.
To learn more about NYC Accelerator, please visit: accelerator.nyc.
CONTACT: Kimberly Winston, [email protected], 917-853-6832
Rebecca Hankins, [email protected]
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About NYC Accelerator: NYC Accelerator is a program of the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) that provides free technical assistance to help building owners identify and navigate energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to meet their carbon emission targets. In addition to personalized guidance on energy upgrade projects, NYC Accelerator assists owners in applying for financing, identifying available incentive programs, and providing free training opportunities to building staff and service providers.