The New York City Council's [1] Environmental Protection Committee [2] will convene on Friday morning to consider four landmark legislative proposals that together comprise the "Greater, Greener Buildings Plan."

New York City HallBroken into four bills sponsored by Council Members Garodnick, Gennaro, Recchia and Mark-Viverito, the plan seeks to significantly reduce carbon emissions from the city's buildings. Ranging from the upgrading of lighting systems to the creation of an energy code for environmental standards, the NYC Green Buildings Plan [3] is a crucial step in meeting the Big Apple's climate change goals.

NYLCV has long called attention to this issue. Studies have shown that nearly 80 percent of the city's greenhouse gas emissions come not from cars, but from buildings. [4]

Our Policy Director, Joshua Nachowitz, will testify before the City Council in support of the green buildings package. With the backing of Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn, Council Member Gennaro and others [5], we hope to see the legislation adopted in the near future.