United States. Starting next summer, nearly every store and restaurant in New York City will be required to keep front doors and windows closed while their air conditioners and refrigeration systems are running.
The requirement, which became law last Wednesday, Oct. 28, is intended to address a ubiquitous and ecologically sound summer feel: the alluring blast of cold air draws sweaty passers-by into the colder confines of an enterprising merchant's store.
"It's the middle of summer in New York City, which is 90 degrees (farenheit), you can walk through a store, and the door is open and the air conditioning is blaring. That's losing a lot of energy. That's having its own impact on global warming," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a ceremony held at City Hall before signing the bill.
Store owners who violate the rules would face fines ranging from $250 for a first offense to $1,000 for a heinous violation. The move is an extension of an earlier law passed by the City Council, which restricts "the co-mixing of indoor and outdoor air" only in large-scale chain stores.
The new law includes exceptions for restaurants with outdoor space to eat. Cafes and counter-type shops are also excluded.
