Energy Benchmarking
What is an Energy Benchmarking Ordinance? How Does it Help me Save Energy?
An energy benchmarking ordinance is a policy tool that requires building owners to track and report their building's energy performance data on an annual basis. This data is then compared to a set of established benchmarks, such as the Energy Star score, to evaluate how well the building is performing in terms of energy efficiency.
The goal of an energy benchmarking ordinance is to raise awareness about a building's energy consumption and identify opportunities for improvement.
The goal of an energy benchmarking ordinance is to raise awareness about a building's energy consumption and identify opportunities for improvement. By tracking energy usage and comparing it to similar buildings, building owners and managers can gain a better understanding of how their building is performing and identify areas where they can reduce energy consumption and costs.
Energy benchmarking ordinances also help to create a more competitive market for energy-efficient buildings.
Energy benchmarking ordinances also help to create a more competitive market for energy-efficient buildings. By making energy performance data publicly available, potential tenants and buyers can compare buildings based on their energy efficiency and make more informed decisions. This creates an incentive for building owners to invest in energy efficiency improvements and make their buildings more attractive to tenants and buyers.
Overall, energy benchmarking ordinances are an effective tool for promoting energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption in buildings. By increasing transparency and creating incentives for energy-efficient building practices, they can help save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
What are Some Examples of Energy Benchmarking Ordinances?
There are several energy benchmarking ordinances in effect in different cities and states across the United States. Here are some examples:
New York City: The NYC Benchmarking Law requires owners of large buildings to annually benchmark and report their energy and water usage. The data is made public to encourage competition and incentivize energy efficiency improvements.
San Francisco: The San Francisco Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance requires non-residential buildings over 10,000 square feet to benchmark and disclose their energy usage annually. The city provides free resources to building owners to help them comply with the ordinance and reduce their energy consumption.
Chicago: The Chicago Energy Benchmarking Ordinance requires commercial, institutional, and residential buildings over 50,000 square feet to annually report their energy usage.
California: California's Assembly Bill 802 requires building owners to disclose their building's energy use data to the state and to tenants when requested. This applies to commercial and multi-family buildings.
These are just a few examples of energy benchmarking ordinances, but many other cities and states have similar policies in place or are considering implementing them to encourage energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For additional information check out our Benchmarking Services page.
Dena Energy can help you with all state and local benchmarking and exemption applications. Contact us today for a no-cost no-obligation consultation.
Phone: (408) 658-0774
Email: info@dena.energy