Los Angeles EBEWE - Energy and Water A/RCx Exemption
Audits and Retro-Commissioning (A/RCx)
Los Angeles Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency (EBEWE) ordinance requires the performance of audit and/or retro-commissioning (RCx) for subject properties on a 5-year basis. There are two sets of requirements for energy and water. To learn more, checkout out our EBEWE post. Do keep in mind that the reports are due on December 1 every year for buildings due for compliance.
In 2024, buildings whose LADBS ID ends in either 6, or 7, must file their A/RCx report by December 1. Buildings with LADBS ID ending in either 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 or 5 that have not received an exemption, are considered to be non-compliant.
Exemption from Energy or Water Requirements for EBEWE
It is important to note that there are provisions to receive exemptions from EBEWE A/RCx compliance requirements. Note that all exemptions must be certified by, or performed under the supervision of, a licensed professional engineer in California. The conditions for receiving an exemption are described below.
Fill out this form and we will review your eligibility for an exemption.
Energy Exemptions to the Audits and Retro-Commissioning (A/RCx):
ENERGY STAR Certification: The building has received this certification from the EPA for the year of the building’s compliance due date.
ENERGY STAR Certification: The building has received this certification from the EPA for two of the three years preceding the building’s compliance due date.
For buildings not eligible to receive an ENERGY STAR score, the building must perform 25% better than the national median provided by the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) (if this score exists) of similar building types.
The building has reduced its Source Energy Use Intensity (EUI) by 15% when compared to the five years before a building’s compliance due date.
A building that does not have a central cooling system or has an aggregate cooling capacity of less than 100 refrigeration tons (1,200,000 Btu/h), can receive exemption if four of the six following measures were implemented (in compliance with applicable state/municipal code) within the five-year compliance period:
Lighting,
Pipe insulation,
Cool roof,
Demand response,
Solar thermal, and
Domestic hot water.
The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years from its first due date, based on its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy.
Water Exemptions to the Audits and Retro-Commissioning (A/RCx):
The building has reduced its water use intensity by at least 20% when compared to the five years prior to the building’s compliance due date.
A building with a cooling system that does not operate by the consumption of water as part of the cooling process and where two of the three following measures were implemented (in compliance with applicable state/municipal code) within the five-year compliance period:
Low-flow faucets and shower heads,
Washing machines, and
Water closets and urinals
The building’s water use conforms to the LA Municipal and Title 24 Code in effect at any time during the five-year compliance cycle.
The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years from its first due date, based on its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy.
Note that it is the building owner's responsibility to make sure to submit their Requests for Exemptions with enough lead time to address any issues/corrections so that the Exemption Request will be approved on or before the Compliance Due Date.
Dena Energy can help you with EBEWE compliance and exemption applications. Contact us today for a no-cost no-obligation consultation.
Phone: (408) 658-0774
Email: info@dena.energy