N.Y.
Energy Law Section 11-103
Applications
1.
(a) The state energy conservation construction code adopted by the state fire prevention and building code council and consisting of a building energy code for residential buildings throughout the state and a building energy code for commercial buildings throughout the state is continued until amended or a new code is adopted and effective.(b)
The code shall apply to the construction of any new building. The code shall also apply to an addition to, and alteration of, any existing building or building system; provided, however, that the code shall not be interpreted to require any unaltered portion of the existing building or building system to comply with the code. The code shall be subject to such other exceptions as may be adopted by the state fire prevention and building code council provided that such exceptions shall not prevent the attainment of the compliance goals set forth in section 410(2)(c) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.2.
(a) The state fire prevention and building code council is authorized, from time to time as it deems appropriate and consistent with the purposes of this article, to review and amend the code, or adopt a new code, through rules and regulations provided that the code remains cost effective with respect to building construction in the state. In determining whether the code remains cost effective, the code council shall consider (i) whether the life-cycle costs for a building will be recovered through savings in energy costs over the design life of the building under a life-cycle cost analysis performed under methodology as established by the New York state energy research and development authority in regulations which may be updated from time to time, and(ii)
secondary or societal effects, such as reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, as defined in regulations. Before publication of a notice of proposed rule making establishing the methodology or defining secondary or societal effects, the president of the authority shall conduct public meetings to provide meaningful opportunities for public comment from all segments of the population that would be impacted by the regulations, including persons living in disadvantaged communities as identified by the climate justice working group established under Environmental Conservation Law § 75-0111 (Climate justice working group)section 75-0111 of the environmental conservation law. For residential buildings, the code shall meet or exceed the then most recently published International Energy Conservation Code, or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings; and for commercial buildings, the code shall meet or exceed the then most recently published ASHRAE 90.1, or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings.(b)
When adopting the first amended version of the code next following the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand twenty-two that added this paragraph and any subsequent codes, the state fire prevention and building code council shall use its best efforts to adopt provisions for residential buildings that achieve energy savings greater than energy savings achieved by the then most recently published International Energy Conservation Code and to adopt provisions for commercial buildings that achieve energy savings greater than energy savings achieved by the then most recently published ASHRAE 90.1, both at levels recommended by the New York state energy research and development authority, provided that the state fire prevention and building code council determines that such advanced energy savings can be achieved while still meeting the cost effectiveness considerations contemplated by this subdivision.3.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the state fire prevention and building code council in accordance with the mandate under this article shall have exclusive authority among state agencies to promulgate a construction code incorporating energy conservation features and clean energy features applicable to the construction of any building, including but not limited to greenhouse gas reduction. Any other code, rule or regulation heretofore promulgated or enacted by any other state agency, incorporating specific energy conservation and clean energy requirements applicable to the construction of any building, shall be superseded by the code promulgated pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this section shall be deemed to expand the powers of the council to include matters that are exclusively within the statutory jurisdiction of the public service commission, the department of environmental conservation, the office of renewable energy siting or another state entity.4.
The secretary of state is authorized to issue written interpretations of the code upon written request of a permit applicant or the official responsible for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the code. Subsequent enforcement of the code shall be consistent with such written interpretations.
Source:
Section 11-103 — Applications, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/ENG/11-103 (updated Jul. 8, 2022; accessed Apr. 13, 2024).
