Super Says
Are you from the city?
No, I was contracted by the building to help avoid penalties from the city.
You walk into a laundry room and a tenant is doing their laundry. They just give you a questioning stare.
Hi, I'm just looking at the lights
Are there any rebates?
No. They are all gone.
You need to know what is inside of a fixture but you can't see the bulbs:
"I don't know"
"I think its LED"
Can you open it? Do you have a spare?
"The whole building is the same. We can skip it."
I do at least need to see a majority of the floors to check for closets and electric rooms and take photos.
You see a closet, and you ask if the super can open it. They say, "Why do you need to look in there? It's just a regular bulb."
LL88 covers the whole building
1. If you can open it I need to grab a photo
2. If they can't get it open ask follow up Qs: Is there a switch? What kind? Show examples. Is it like this bulb or that one?
You are walking in the hall and pass a tenant who says, "What are you doing?"
I'm just looking at the lights
No, this is for our evaluation, report, and submission. Depending on the amount that needs to be done we could potentially provide a proposal, but our report will also include a materials list and recommended electricians.
When you ask what type of bulb is this and they say "its LED" and you REALLY think its fluorescent. What do you do?
1. Ask if they can open the fixture or grab a closer picture
2. Ask if they have spare bulbs kickin around somewhere
Commercial Tenant: "Can you come back later?"
See if there is flexibility to come back after auditing another space.
"What are we doing today?"
I need to look at all the lights except inside apartments. This includes commercial spaces.
"Are we getting new lights?"
I'm not sure, I'm just here to count your lights.
You go to enter a commercial space and they refuse to give you access because they don't know you. What do you do?
2. Ask the building staff to introduce you
3. Let them know that if you are not allowed access, they should be aware that the building may incur penalties that could potentially impact them
"They come on at night and turn off during the day"
Ask if there is a timer or a photocell, have they ever had to change the settings, is it the timer with the metal circle and the screws? Can they show you where the control is located?
"Do you need to see every room?"
"Is this for LL97?"
While LL88 and LL97 do look at energy consumption I am here for LL88 which is lights and switches.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" >:(
Let them know that building staff is aware or that you checked in with security. Potentially call building staff to come meet you and confirm your presence.
"This is so much work and is going to be very expensive! How are we supposed to do all this?"
Sympathize with them and let them know that we are passing along requirements from the DOB. If they would like more time the penalties are not as bad as some other LLs and let them know the penalty structure.
You ask if they have done a lighting upgrade and they say "yes, everything was upgraded" but you are noticing a lot of fluorescents.
Just write it down as what it actually is, double check that you are correct with photos or back stock
"Who's going pay for installing all these sensors?"
It is the building's responsibility to comply with LL88, but we will provide an actionable SOW and a list of materials to help make the process easier!
"I don't have time for this. Are you good? You don't need me, right?"
"Oh! Do you need to come look inside my apartment? Everything is LED."
OR
"I'm looking to upgrade my lights inside my apartment. Can you come in and take a look and make recommendations?"
I cannot, but I am happy to notify the building staff!
OR
I may be able to refer you to someone who can help but I currently don't have that information
(Either way, the answer is no. We can't enter apartments)
"Our commercial spaces are less than 5000 sqft so you don't need to see those because they don't need to comply" (They have more than 5000 sqft of commercial spaces all together)
LL88 says that a singular space under 5000 sqft does not need to be submetered, however you have a total larger than 5000sqft.
Also regardless of size it needs to comply with lighting and controls
"Here are all the meters for the apartments" (This building does have commercial spaces)
Vacancy sensors should be fine since they need to touch them to turn them on. For bi-level fixtures, the ones we recommend can have the sensors turned off via remote.