Recent N.Y.C. law requires buildings burning No. 4 or No. 6 heating oil, or "heavy" oil, to switch to cleaner burning heating fuels. Buildings burning No. 6 oil will have to switch starting this July and those burning No. 4 will have to switch when they replace their burner or boiler but no later than 2030.
Roughly 60% of the buildings in N.Y.C. burning heavy oil burn No. 6 oil, meaning they will have to switch to a cleaner fuel starting on July 1st of this year. The conversion process requires planning in advance. Converting from No. 6 and No. 4 oil to cleaner fuels reduces boiler emissions substantially and lowers building maintenance and operating costs. Similarly, regular boiler maintenance, fine-tuning of the heating system, pipe and boiler insulation and implementing efficiency upgrades on existing boilers will decrease fuel use and save money. The N.Y.C. Clean Heat program has worked with the N.Y.C. Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Buildings to make it easier than ever to switch to cleaner fuel. These city agencies have streamlined the permitting process to minimize conversion costs for buildings owners. A switch from No. 6 oil to either No. 4 or No. 2 oil is now allowed under a Limited Alteration Application (LAA).
The LAA is a "one-stop" permitting method, making the conversion process easier than ever. Effective July 1st, oil burner installers may file LAAs to change fuel grades for a cleaner oil. LAA permits will be accepted for piping work to change a fuel grade from No. 6 to No. 4 or 2, or from No. 4 to No. 2. This makes the process of converting your building to the cleanest fuel quicker and more cost-effective. N.Y.C. Clean Heat is a free service that will help guide your building through the conversion process, assist with evaluating conversion options, find qualified contractors, assemble financing and coordinate with utilities and fuel providers.
N.Y.C. Clean Heat may be able to help form a cluster with neighboring buildings to get a gas line at no cost/low cost.
Contact NYC Clean Heat To learn more, dial 311 and ask for NYC Clean Heat. To reach the NYC Clean Heat technical director to discuss converting your building, call 212-656-9202 or [email protected].
Isabelle Silverman is an attorney at Environmental Defense Fund, New York, N.Y.


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