San Jose Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance (EW BPO)
San Jose Building Performance Ordinance
The Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance (EWBPO) is a policy implemented by the City of San Jose to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability. The ordinance requires non-residential buildings over 20,000 square feet and multifamily buildings with five or more units to disclose their energy and water usage and to conduct energy and water audits at specific intervals. The reporting deadline for compliance with the ordinance is May 1st every year for reporting energy use in the previous year.
The reporting deadline for compliance with the ordinance is May 1st every year for reporting energy use in the previous year.
The EWBPO requires buildings to report their energy and water usage through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Buildings must also provide access to this data to prospective tenants, buyers, lenders, and the general public.
The ordinance mandates that buildings undergo energy and water audits at least once every ten years, with the first audit due three years after the ordinance goes into effect for each building. The audits are intended to identify opportunities for energy and water savings and to recommend measures to improve building performance. The audit reports must be submitted to the City and made available to the public.
The EWBPO also requires buildings to comply with the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), which sets minimum requirements for energy and water efficiency in new construction and renovations. Buildings must meet or exceed these standards when undergoing major renovations or when obtaining new permits.
The EWBPO allows for exemptions for certain buildings, such as those with special use or occupancy requirements. It also provides financial incentives for buildings that voluntarily exceed the ordinance’s requirements, such as rebates and expedited permit processing.
In summary, the Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance is a policy implemented by the City of San Jose to promote energy and water efficiency in non-residential and multifamily buildings. The ordinance requires buildings to disclose their energy and water usage, conduct energy and water audits at specific intervals, and comply with minimum efficiency standards. The EWBPO is part of the City’s larger Climate Smart San José initiative, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability.
Annual Benchmarking Reporting Links
The reporting links can be found on City of San Jose website.
San José BPO Beyond Benchmarking
The newest ordinance in San José is the Beyond Benchmarking program. This program requires an audit or retro-commissioning (RCx) for underperforming buildings (i.e. buildings that do not meet the energy and water usage performance requirements). This program also has a deadline of May 1.
Dena Energy can help you with San Jose BPO and Beyond Benchmarking compliance and exemption applications. Contact us today for a no-cost no-obligation consultation.
Phone: (888) 302-3362
Email: info@dena.energy