The city's consumer affairs department is urging businesses to keep their front doors closed when their air conditioning is on.
Commissioner Julie Menin says a lot of businesses try to lure potential customers inside with cool air on a hot day despite a law in effect since 2008 that requires stores over 4,000 square feet or with five or more locations in New York City to close the door when the air conditioning is on.
About 200 volunteers were educating business people Wednesday about the environmental and financial benefits of keeping doors shut.
There's also a move to strengthen the existing law.
Proposed amendments will be introduced at a City Council meeting on Thursday. They would eliminate business size requirements and increase fines.
The crackdown comes a day after NBC 4 New York's I-Team reported dozens of retailers that purport high environmental standards, including some big name fashion chains, were wasting air conditioning by propping store doors open on hot summer days.
