If you own or manage a building in New York City, you've probably heard about LL84 benchmarking. It’s a key part of the city’s mission to improve energy efficiency and combat climate change. But this law isn’t just about compliance—it’s about making smarter decisions for your property and saving money along the way.
So, what is LL84? And how can you make sure your building is compliant without getting tangled up in technical jargon or paperwork? Let’s break it down together.
Local Law 84 (LL84) is part of NYC’s Greener, Greater Buildings Plan. If you own a large building, you’re required to measure and report your energy and water usage every year. That info gets submitted through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager—a free, easy-to-use online tool from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In plain terms, LL84 benchmarking gives building owners a clearer picture of how efficiently their property is using energy. It’s like a report card for your building—and it helps identify where you can cut costs or improve performance.
Here’s who needs to comply:
You’ve got until May 1st each year to submit your data. Miss the deadline? You could face fines up to $500 per quarter, per property.
Pro tip: You actually get four chances to file—May 1, August 1, November 1, and February 1 of the following year. But each missed deadline adds another fine. If the city makes a mistake and wrongly flags your property, you can challenge the violation with supporting documents.
Sure, staying compliant is important—but LL84 benchmarking can also help you run your building smarter. When you track your energy use, you can find hidden inefficiencies, cut unnecessary costs, and plan upgrades that really make a difference.
It’s also a win for your reputation. Tenants and investors love buildings that are sustainable and cost-efficient. Plus, LL84 connects to other NYC laws, like Local Law 97, that aim to make buildings cleaner and greener.
Since 2020, Local Law 33 (LL33) has made things even more transparent. Now, your building gets a public letter grade based on how energy-efficient it is: