Bill May Fine Businesses With A/C For Keeping Doors Open

A bill that would fine city business owners $200 for leaving their windows or doors open while air-conditioning systems are running is being discussed in the City Council.

Proposed by Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who represents the Upper West Side, the bill was drafted to "help conserve energy and reduce strain on the electric grid, especially during peak demand periods, by prohibiting commercial establishments from unnecessarily opening their doors or windows while air conditioning is on."

"It just makes sense intuitively," Brewer said. "I find it strange to be walking in front of a store, particularly a large one, and feel a blast of cold air coming of the door. It's like cooling the sidewalk. It's a senseless waste."

But some local business owners, who often keep their doors open to attract passing customers, raised questions about the proposal.

"I understand it's good to save the environment and stuff, but I don't think you should get fined for leaving the door open," said Jennifer Downing, a cashier at Haagen Dazs on Broadway at 113th Street. "I mean, you're already losing money for letting the air conditioning out."

For Maya Salle, an assistant manager at Aerosoles, a women's shoe store on Broadway at 113th Street, leaving the door open is beyond her control. "In the summer, according to corporate policy, if the temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or over, we have to leave the door open during peak business hours," Salle said. "So I guess we'd get fined every day."

Brewer said that the bill was open to amendment to accommodate exceptions for stores like sidewalk cafes who, by policy and nature of business, must keep their stores open.

The bill does not detail how the law would be enforced, although Brewer said that the Department of Environmental Protection would likely play a central role, as well as police inspectors on the street, who would issue tickets just as they would for any other open violation.

"But this isn't about slapping stores with fines," Brewer said. "It's about encouraging people to put less burden on our very burdened electrical grid and to prevent blackouts and brownouts."

Brewer drafted the new bill in accord with PLANYC 2030, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's 25-year sustainability plan to provide cleaner energy to New York City.