Creation of an Energy Efficiency Program for Businesses - Fall

Team Members: Julie Bannerjee, Andre Turner, Laurelle Ahn, Dafna Bareket, Sarah Burns, Olga Gavryliuk, Jenna Lewein, Charlotte Mendes, Mima Mendoza, Nadine Moussallem, Christina Paton, Mike Tuckfelt

New York City faces significant climate and economic challenges due to high energy consumption and aging infrastructure, with buildings responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions. Small businesses often lack the financial and technical capacity to invest in energy efficiency, despite potential long-term cost savings. Int. 1515 addresses this barrier by allowing businesses to apply civil penalty payments toward approved energy efficiency upgrades. This approach creates financial incentives for small businesses to adopt efficiency measures while advancing municipal climate goals and reducing emissions.

Program design analysis demonstrates that integrating the initiative into existing city administrative systems improves feasibility and minimizes implementation costs. The program’s inspection, compliance, and evaluation framework ensures energy efficiency measures are properly implemented and deliver measurable savings. Targeting small businesses increases participation among a previously underserved sector and expands the city’s overall energy efficiency impact. Increased adoption of efficiency technologies reduces operating costs for businesses, improves economic competitiveness, and lowers emissions. Effective implementation strengthens climate resilience while demonstrating how regulatory incentives can accelerate sustainability transitions in urban economic sectors.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.