Know if your property is required to Benchmark annual energy and water use.
The U.S. building sector uses about 40% of the nation’s energy, costing building owners and operators hundreds of billions of dollars every year. But buildings don’t use the same amount of energy, and it’s not entirely to do with size or what the building is used for. Rather, it’s got to do with performance. Shocking statistics show that buildings with a high energy performance use as much as seven times less energy than the poorest performing buildings.
As a result, in less than a decade, Benchmarking and Transparency (B&T) policies have become the focal point of a new policy area that focuses on measuring the long-term energy use of buildings that are a similar size and type. Once energy use has been measured the data is openly shared, encouraging absolute transparency and accountability.
Across the board globally, the EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the most popular free online tool used for reporting.
Building owners, managers, and operators are able to use data collected via these policies to identify ways of cost-effectively reducing energy and water wastage. Local and state governments can use the data to help achieve specific economic goals including improved property values and increased employment opportunities. The data is also an invaluable source for energy efficiency programs.
B&T is such a successful strategy that an increasing number of U.S. cities and other jurisdictions have adopted benchmarking policies that require those in control of the running of buildings to report on energy consumption and openly disclose the energy performance of them. Building energy scores have been equated with nutritional labels used on packaged food and the miles-per-gallon fuel ratings used for vehicles. By sharing this information, those running buildings can make better-informed decisions that affect energy use and utility costs, including identifying opportunities that help to reduce waste.
While the benchmarking legislation of individual cities is not exactly the same, strategies are very similar. Generally, the buildings that have the highest environmental impact are the ones that must comply with benchmarking legislation. But, in all instances, it is vital to know the benchmarking deadlines, what is required, and what the penalties will be if the deadline is not complied with.
offers top-notch services to six of the cities that require mandatory benchmarking.
The virtual star of all benchmarking programs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager free online tool is key to measuring greenhouse gases and tracking energy and water consumption in buildings. It is currently the very best tool for measuring the carbon footprint of buildings and for benchmarking the performance of buildings.
Unless the performance of buildings is measured, it is impossible to manage them and minimize wasteful use of energy and water and maximize performance.
Portfolio Manager can be used to benchmark any type and size building and with the right information and current utility bills, it isn’t difficult to do. But different cities have different requirements, which is why it’s important to make sure that the correct data is added to Portfolio Manager the right way. If there are inaccuracies, there is a very real chance that penalties will be levied.
Know if your property is required to Benchmark annual energy and water use.
