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Energy Use Benchmarking and Auditing

MCLI Recommendation: “Local legislative bodies should require energy use disclosures for larger commercial buildings (e.g., buildings larger than 50,000 square feet and multifamily buildings), and require benchmarking information to be made publicly available in a format that is easy to understand so that it can be readily used in rental and purchase decisions.”

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22 resources

Example Local Governments

Salt Lake City Energy Benchmarking & Transparency Ordinance

Salt Lake City’s Energy Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance requires all commercial buildings above 25,000 sf to benchmark and report their energy consumption. Beginning in 2020, Salt Lake City wi...
Resource Local Governments

Model Ordinance Language and Decision Framework for Improving the Performance of Existing Buildings

This 2018 model law presents sample language that can be used by jurisdictions interested in drafting a comprehensive existing building performance policy that encompasses provisions for benchmarking,...
Example Local Governments

Atlanta’s Benchmarking and Auditing Requirements

Atlanta’s Code of Ordinances (2016) requires both energy benchmarking and auditing. Benchmarking is required for city-owned buildings over 10,000 sf or certain classes of buildings over 25,000 sf. The...
Example Local Governments

Executive Order on Comprehensive Energy Management of Salt Lake City Facilities

In addition to benchmarking requirements, the Comprehensive Energy Management of Salt Lake City Facilities Executive Order (2015) requires further energy audits, retrocommissioning, building operator ...
Example States and State Governments

Washington’s State Energy Benchmark Law

In addition to benchmarking requirements for private buildings, Washington’s State Energy Benchmark Law (2009) put in place strict requirements for public buildings, including mandatory investment-gra...
Example Local Governments

Boulder Building Performance Ordinance

The Boulder Building Performance Ordinance (2015) requires owners of commercial and industrial buildings to: annually rate and report the energy use of their buildings; perform periodic energy assessm...
Example Local Governments

Berkeley’s Energy Savings Ordinance (No. 7397)

Berkeley’s Energy Savings Ordinance (No. 7397)(2015) requires energy assessments at time of sale for medium, small, and single family buildings, and will phase-in all buildings by building size and ye...
Example Local Governments

Boston’s Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance

Boston’s Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (2013) requires that buildings report energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and water use to the city using Portfolio Manager (or an equival...
Example Local Governments

San Jose’s Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance

In addition to benchmarking requirements, San Jose’s Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance (2018) requires auditing for buildings that do not meet performance standards (including an Energy ...
Resource States and State Governments

Institute for Market Transformation

The Institute for Market Transformation is a Washington, DC think tank that works to catalyze widespread and sustained demand for high-performing buildings. They work in partnership with businesses, p...
Example Local Governments

Orlando Benchmarking and Auditing Requirements

In addition to benchmarking requirements, Orlando’s Ordinance 2016-64 requires buildings owners to conduct an energy audit or retrocommissioning every five years, unless their building receives an ENE...
Example Local Governments

San Francisco’s Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance

In addition to benchmarking requirements, San Francisco’s Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance requires ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits every five years for commercial buildings ove...
Example Local Governments

Reno’s Energy and Water Efficiency Program

In addition to benchmarking requirements, Reno’s Energy and Water Efficiency Program requires that all buildings not receiving an Energy Star score of at least 50 must conduct an energy audit and retr...
Example Local Governments

Columbus Benchmarking Ordinance (2020)

Columbus OH’s Energy and Water Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance (2020) requires new energy benchmarking, including requiring building owners to report data on building size, energy usage and ut...
Resource Executive Branch

EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool

EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool is designed to measure and track energy and water consumption, as well as greenhouse gas emissions, for either one or a whole portfolio of buildings. This leve...
Resource Local Governments

WegoWise database

WegoWise maintains a database of US city benchmarking ordinances.
Example Local Governments

Los Angeles’ Existing Buildings Energy and Water Efficiency Program

In addition to benchmarking requirements, Los Angeles’ Existing Buildings Energy and Water Efficiency Program requires public, non-residential, and multifamily buildings to conduct energy and water au...
Example Local Governments

Seattle’s Building Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Program

In addition to benchmarking requirements, Seattle’s Building Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Program (2010) requires “tune-ups” of nonresidential buildings greater than or equal to 50,000 gross squa...
Example Local Governments

New York’s Executive Order 88

New York’s Executive Order 88 requires that public buildings of more than 20,000 sf benchmark their energy consumption annually. Buildings that receive low scores are required to undergo ASHRAE Level ...
Example States and State Governments

Hawaii’s Benchmarking and Retrocommissioning Requirements

In addition to benchmarking requirements, Hawaii’s HB 1464 requires retrocommissioning on public buildings at least every five years.
Example Local Governments

NYC’s Benchmarking, Auditing, and Retrocommissioning Requirements

NYC Local Laws 133 (2016), 33 (2018), and 87 (2009) establish benchmarking, auditing, and retrocommissioning requirements for buildings in the city. NYC’s Local Law 133 (2016) requires owners of large...
Resource States and State Governments

ASHRAE’s Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits

ASHRAE publishes Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits. These standards describe three levels of energy audits, which are frequently cited in defining the scope of a required energy audit.