Energy disclosure law in New York City

Facilities ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 571-583
Author(s):  
Eunhwa Yang ◽  
Yong-Cheol Lee ◽  
Qi Li

Purpose This paper aims to primarily analyzing the state and pattern of current energy benchmarking progress on commercial buildings since the New York City’s energy disclosure law, Local Law 84: Benchmarking has been implemented. It then compares the yearly benchmarking progress of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified and non-LEED-certified buildings as well as ENERGY STAR-certified and non-ENERGY STAR-certified. Design/methodology/approach For thorough analytics, the authors combined and examined four sources of data: New York City Local Law 84: Benchmarking, Primary Land Use Tax Lot Output, US Green Building Council and US Environmental Protection Agency. The data sets were combined using two primary keys: the Borough, Block, Lot (BBL) number and the building address. Four years of energy use intensity values were obtained and normalized by shrinking the range of deviance in weather. Findings The findings indicate a significant improvement in the benchmarking progress when controlling building size, building type, year of construction or the most recent renovation and the presence of renovation. Interestingly, there is no significant difference in the energy benchmarking progress between LEED- and non-LEED-certified buildings. Possible reasons are explored and discussed. Originality/value From a methodological perspective, the study benefited from data disclosure as well as open data sources and used secondary data with a relatively large sample size. Many studies in the construction industry are based on the case-study approach, which may affect generalizability and causality of research findings. This unique approach illustrates the potential of secondary data analysis in the industry.

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Jae Suh ◽  
Annie R. Pearce ◽  
Yuhyun Song ◽  
Young Hoon Kwak ◽  
Jung In Kim ◽  
...  

Green building certification is a useful way to support objective evaluations of the sustainability of a building. Both the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Energy Star certifications are designed to reduce the negative environmental impacts of buildings and provide positive economic benefits to certified buildings. Given that a demonstrable positive economic impact is also required to satisfy one element of the triple bottom line of sustainability for these certifications, this study examined the economic impact of LEED and/or Energy Star certified office buildings on the market values of adjoining buildings in Manhattan, New York City (NYC), using a spatial analysis based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) and a statistical analysis utilizing R-Project. The study's findings reveal a positive impact for LEED and/or Energy Star certified office buildings on their adjoining buildings, pointing to the need for future research to investigate the spillover effect of LEED and/or Energy Star certified office buildings on other buildings in their neighborhood from a socio-economic standpoint.


mBio ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e00624-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon H. Williams ◽  
Xiaoyu Che ◽  
Ashley Paulick ◽  
Cheng Guo ◽  
Bohyun Lee ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHouse mice (Mus musculus) thrive in large urban centers worldwide. Nonetheless, little is known about the role that they may play in contributing to environmental contamination with potentially pathogenic bacteria. Here, we describe the fecal microbiome of house mice with emphasis on detection of pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes by molecular methods. Four hundred sixteen mice were collected from predominantly residential buildings in seven sites across New York City over a period of 13 months. 16S rRNA sequencing identifiedBacteroidetesas dominant and revealed high levels ofProteobacteria. A targeted PCR screen of 11 bacteria, as indicated by 16S rRNA analyses, found that mice are carriers of several gastrointestinal disease-causing agents, includingShigella,Salmonella,Clostridium difficile, and diarrheagenicEscherichia coli. Furthermore, genes mediating antimicrobial resistance to fluoroquinolones (qnrB) and β-lactam drugs (blaSHVandblaACT/MIR) were widely distributed. Culture and molecular strain typing ofC. difficilerevealed that mice harbor ribotypes associated with human disease, and screening of kidney samples demonstrated genetic evidence of pathogenicLeptospiraspecies. In concert, these findings support the need for further research into the role of house mice as potential reservoirs for human pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in the built environment.IMPORTANCEMice are commensal pests often found in close proximity to humans, especially in urban centers. We surveyed mice from seven sites across New York City and found multiple pathogenic bacteria associated with febrile and gastrointestinal disease as well as an array of antimicrobial resistance genes.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisol Gonzalez ◽  
Ronald Feinstein ◽  
Carina Iezzi ◽  
Martin Fisher

Abstract Purpose: The threat of childhood obesity has never been greater. Behavior changes implemented during childhood and adolescence are believed to be the most successful means of thwarting the progression of this epidemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a public health campaign that promotes awareness of clinical guidelines for nutrition and physical activity. The campaign is based on a concept developed by the Maine Center for Public Health referred to as “5-2-1-0 Healthy”. The simple clear message of this concept outlines steps families can take to help prevent and treat childhood obesity. The purpose of the present study is to determine the current level of compliance and health education needs of a middle school population related to the “5-2-1-0” concept. Methods: A modified version of the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) was distributed to students at a private, nonsectarian, middle school in New York City. The school is located in the borough of Manhattan, but includes youngsters from all five boroughs of the city. The questions were grouped and analyzed according to “5-2-1-0” categories. Surveys were scored, and the association between targeted questionnaire items and demographic variables (i.e., sex and grade) was examined. Results: All 140 students completed the survey, and there was great variability in their responses to both the nutrition and physical activity questions. Of all students, 65% reported eating one cup or more of fruit daily, and 38% reported eating one cup or more of vegetables daily. There was no statistically significant difference reported in consumption of fruits or vegetables by gender or grade. Over 60% of students indicated <2 h of DVD/video or computer/video game time per day, while 10% indicated more than 3 h per day for each. A significant difference existed in the screen time reported between grades (more screen time by the older students) and a statistically significant difference also existed in the amount of physical activity reported by gender and grade (more physical activity by males and younger students). There was no difference in the reported consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by gender or grade. Conclusion: In a cohort of middle school students in New York City, there was great variability in compliance with the principles represented by the “5-2-1-0” concept. Changes in health behaviors were noted as students went from 6th to 7th to 8th grade, with physical activity decreasing and screen time increasing. Consequently, health curriculum topics for middle school students should focus on physical activity and screen time, while continuing to emphasize the need for proper nutrition.


2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 1542-1545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Chen ◽  
Kalyan D. Chavda ◽  
Roberto G. Melano ◽  
Michael R. Jacobs ◽  
Michael H. Levi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTWe report the nucleotide sequence of a novelblaKPC-2-harboring IncFIIK1plasmid, pBK32179, isolated from a carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniaeST258 strain from a New York City patient. pBK32179 is 165 kb long, consists of a large backbone of pKPN3-like plasmid, and carries an 18.5-kbblaKPC-2-containing element that is highly similar to plasmid pKpQIL. pBK32179-like plasmids were identified in 8.3% of strains in a collection of 96K. pneumoniaeisolates from hospitals in the New York City area.


2021 ◽  
pp. 2150008
Author(s):  
Bita Alizadehtazi ◽  
Korin Tangtrakul ◽  
Sloane Woerdeman ◽  
Anna Gussenhoven ◽  
Nariman Mostafavi ◽  
...  

Urban parks and green spaces provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including social interaction and stress reduction. When COVID-19 closed schools and businesses and restricted social gatherings, parks became one of the few places that urban residents were permitted to visit outside their homes. With a focus on Philadelphia, PA and New York City, NY, this paper presents a snapshot of the park usage during the early phases of the pandemic. Forty-three Civic Scientists were employed by the research team to observe usage in 22 different parks selected to represent low and high social vulnerability, and low, medium, and high population density. Despite speculation that parks could contribute to the spread of COVID-19, no strong correlation was found between the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in adjacent zip codes and the number of park users. High social vulnerability neighborhoods were associated with a significantly higher number of COVID-19 cases ([Formula: see text]). In addition, no significant difference in the number of park users was detected between parks in high and low vulnerability neighborhoods. The number of park users did significantly increase with population density in both cities ([Formula: see text]), though usage varied greatly by park. Males were more frequently observed than females in parks in both high vulnerability and high-density neighborhoods. Although high vulnerability neighborhoods reported higher COVID-19 cases, residents of Philadelphia and New York City appear to have been undeterred from visiting parks during this phase of the pandemic. This snapshot study provides no evidence to support closing parks during the pandemic. To the contrary, people continued to visit parks throughout the study, underscoring their evident value as respite for urban residents during the early phases of the pandemic.


Subject Corporate incentives to cities. Significance Amazon’s abandoment of its second headquarters (HQ2) plans in New York City (NYC) provides insight into limitations of subsidies to attact corporate investment to cities, and the potential value of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as an alternative. Impacts Research showing that firms flock to people, not places, suggests cities should fund services and infrastructure, not firms. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tried to persuade Amazon to return but made little progress and the campaign quickly lost momentum. Amazon employs 6,600 people in Austin, Texas and will add 800 jobs without incentives, early evidence that cities will learn from HQ2/NYC.


mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siqiang Niu ◽  
Kalyan D. Chavda ◽  
Jie Wei ◽  
Chunhong Zou ◽  
Steven H. Marshall ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Ceftazidime-avibactam is a potent antibiotic combination against Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Here, we describe a unique ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant and carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae strain harboring a novel blaKPC-14 variant. This strain was isolated from a New York City patient in 2003, which predates the introduction of avibactam. Despite resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam, the strain was susceptible to imipenem-relebactam and meropenem-vaborbactam. Comprehensive genomic sequencing revealed that blaKPC-14 is harbored on an ST6 IncN plasmid associated with the early spread of blaKPC. IMPORTANCE KPC is currently the most common carbapenemase identified in the United States. More than 40 KPC variants have been described, of which KPC-2 and KPC-3 are the most frequent clinical variants. However, our understanding of the genetic structures and β-lactam resistance profiles of other novel KPC variants remains incomplete. Here, we report a novel blaKPC variant (blaKPC-14) and the complete genome sequence of blaKPC-14-harboring K. pneumoniae strain BK13048, which is susceptible to carbapenems but resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the earliest KPC-producing K. pneumoniae strains exhibiting resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon M Farley ◽  
Kevin RJ Schroth ◽  
Victoria Grimshaw ◽  
Wentai Luo ◽  
Julia L DeGagne ◽  
...  

BackgroundYouth who experiment with tobacco often start with flavoured products. In New York City (NYC), local law restricts sales of all tobacco products with ‘characterising flavours’ except for ‘tobacco, menthol, mint and wintergreen’. Enforcement is based on packaging: explicit use of a flavour name (eg, ‘strawberry’) or image depicting a flavour (eg, a fruit) is presumptive evidence that a product is flavoured and therefore prohibited. However, a tobacco product may contain significant levels of added flavour chemicals even when the label does not explicitly use a flavour name.MethodsSixteen tobacco products were purchased within NYC in 2015 that did not have explicit flavour names, along with three with flavour names. These were analysed for 92 known flavour chemicals plus triacetin by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.Results14 of the 16 products had total determined flavour chemical levels that were higher (>0.3 mg/g) than in previously studied flavour-labelled products and of a chemical profile indicating added flavour chemicals.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the tobacco industry has responded to sales restrictions by renaming flavoured products to avoid explicitly identifying them as flavoured. While chemical analysis is the most precise means of identifying flavours in tobacco products, federal tobacco laws pre-empt localities from basing regulations on that approach, limiting enforcement options. If the Food and Drug Administration would mandate that all tobacco products must indicate when flavourings are present above a specific level, local jurisdictions could enforce their sales restrictions. A level of 0.1 mg/g for total added flavour chemicals is suggested here as a relevant reference value for regulating added flavour chemicals in tobacco products.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 3350-3356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina K. Antonov ◽  
Maria C. Garzon ◽  
Kimberly D. Morel ◽  
Susan Whittier ◽  
Paul J. Planet ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTTopical mupirocin is used widely to treat skin and soft tissue infections and to eradicate nasal carriage of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Few studies to date have characterized the rates ofS. aureusmupirocin resistance in pediatric populations. We retrospectively studied 358 uniqueS. aureusisolates obtained from 249 children seen in a predominantly outpatient setting by the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at a major academic center in New York City between 1 May 2012 and 17 September 2013. Mupirocin resistance rates and the associated risk factors were determined using a logistic regression analysis. In our patient population, 19.3% of patients had mupirocin-resistantS. aureusisolates at the time of their first culture, and 22.1% of patients withS. aureusinfection had a mupirocin-resistant isolate at some time during the study period. Overall, 31.3% of allS. aureusisolates collected during the study period were resistant to mupirocin. Prior mupirocin use was strongly correlated (odds ratio [OR] = 26.5;P= <0.001) with mupirocin resistance. Additional risk factors for mupirocin resistance included methicillin resistance, atopic dermatitis (AD), epidermolysis bullosa (EB), immunosuppression, and residence in northern Manhattan and the Bronx. Resistance to mupirocin is widespread in children with dermatologic complaints in the New York City area, and given the strong association with mupirocin exposure, it is likely that mupirocin use contributes to the increased resistance. Routine mupirocin testing may be important for MRSA decolonization strategies or the treatment of minor skin infections in children.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 2648-2658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Pardos de la Gandara ◽  
Juan Antonio Raygoza Garay ◽  
Michael Mwangi ◽  
Jonathan N. Tobin ◽  
Amanda Tsang ◽  
...  

In November 2011, The Rockefeller University Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), the Laboratory of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and Clinical Directors Network (CDN) launched a research and learning collaborative project with six community health centers in the New York City metropolitan area to determine the nature (clonal type) of community-acquiredStaphylococcus aureusstrains causing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). Between November 2011 and March 2013, wound and nasal samples from 129 patients with active SSTIs suspicious forS. aureuswere collected and characterized by molecular typing techniques. In 63 of 129 patients, the skin wounds were infected byS. aureus: methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) was recovered from 39 wounds and methicillin-sensitiveS. aureus(MSSA) was recovered from 24. Most—46 of the 63–wound isolates belonged to the CC8/Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive (PVL+) group ofS. aureusclone USA300: 34 of these strains were MRSA and 12 were MSSA. Of the 63 patients withS. aureusinfections, 30 were also colonized byS. aureusin the nares: 16 of the colonizing isolates were MRSA, and 14 were MSSA, and the majority of the colonizing isolates belonged to the USA300 clonal group. In most cases (70%), the colonizing isolate belonged to the same clonal type as the strain involved with the infection. In three of the patients, the identity of invasive and colonizing MRSA isolates was further documented by whole-genome sequencing.


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