Build a healthy, sustainable environment, indoor and outdoor. Improving the environment and preventing air and water pollution reduce health risks for all New Yorkers. In addition, better use of daylight and improved electrical lighting and mechanical system design allow engineers to use smaller systems, greatly reducing these systems' operational costs over the life of the building. Reducing water and energy consumption, utilizing brownfield land and planting more trees and other vegetation reduce our City's "footprint," enhance our natural systems and absorb carbon dioxide. For Green Buildings events in New York City, check out USGBC New York Chapter, ASHRAE New York or GreenHomeNYC.
Find out more about green building by clicking on the following:
Local Law 86/2005 is the City's "green buildings law" because it requires new buildings and major alterations to be designed according to LEED standards (see www.USGBC.org for more information on LEED). In addition, it has higher standards for energy and water consumption, depending upon the above project types or other alterations. Download 
Local Law 86/2005 (118 kb), and a summary of the requirements (26 kb).
High Performance Building Guidelines, and other reports and manuals from the NYC Department of Design & Construction. DDC’s Office of Sustainable Design continues to perform and report on the research regarding high-performance issues particularly relevant in NYC.
Green Specifications, from the NYC Department of Design & Construction. Download these contract specifications (free) and use them in your next design project, whether it is city construction or not.
Battery Park City Authority Green Guidelines
Since 2000, Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) has required by contract all of its new residential and commercial buildings to be green. In order to implement this with the Solaire, the nation’s first green residential high-rise, and subsequent buildings, BPCA developed Green Guidelines for both residential and commercial/institutional buildings. Take a look at Battery Park City Authority Green Guidelines.
Financial Incentives from New York State and the US
New York State is unique in the financial incentives it provides for green building. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) offers financial assistance for energy-related projects, and the Green Building Tax Credit provides tax incentives to owners.
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United States Green Building Council’s green building rating systems: LEED
On October 3, 2005, Mayor Bloomberg signed into law the Green City Buildings Act which requires most capital construction by the city to be green. The standard will be the green building rating system developed by volunteers from all parts of the real estate and construction industry through the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) – the rating system known as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED. Click on the link and then click on the particular standard which applies to your project.
PlaNYC 2030 is Mayor Bloomberg's major planning initiative for the next quarter century. A major goal of the plan is to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, and 80% of these come from buildngs. Read the plan and find out how you can help.
The premier definition of sustainable development, which includes green building:
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The Brundtland Report, “Our Common Future: The World Commission on Environment and Development,” 1987
