Following NYC’s consecutive heat waves this month in what’s proving to possibly be the hottest summer of our lifetime, local officials are working to ensure all New Yorkers stay cool during these intense times.
A new law could amend the administrative code of the city of New York to require landlords to provide their tenants with cooled and dehumidified air. If the building doesn’t already have central cooling, owners will be mandated to install cooling systems in their residential units.
Building owners would have four years to install the necessary systems from the bill’s date of implementation. If for some reason a landlord is unable to provide the mandated cooling systems due to “undue hardship” they could apply to receive additional compliance time to fulfill the law’s requirement. Those who do not comply would be subject to civil penalties.
Moreover, building owners would be held to an indoor temperature minimum of 78°F when its 82°F or above outside from June 15 to September 15. The city would request routine pre and post enforcement reports on the law’s compliance and continue to educate owners and tenants of what is required under the bill.
Daytime temperatures in NYC can be anywhere from 1-7°F hotter than any rural counterpart due to a concept called the urban heat island effect. To clarify, it’s the city’s dense concentration of pavement, buildings and other surface areas absorbing so much heat that makes it so hot in New York.
As we know, severe heat can pose major health risks for individuals. Hopefully, if approved the safety of New York residents will improve during these intensely heated months.