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We’ve noticed a growing trend that is difficult for many companies to plan for and implement, which involves city mandated benchmarking and other energy initiatives. There are many reasons why this is the case. First, the list of cities requiring  benchmarking or additional energy audits, retro-commissioning (RCx) of building systems, or building tune-ups continues to grow – it seems more and more are added each year. Secondly, it can be extremely difficult to sort through the various requirements to determine exactly what is required, who has the certifications to perform the work, which buildings are required to perform these services, which buildings may be exempt from complying for a given year, etc. This is especially difficult when you have many buildings throughout the country in multiple cities with mandates – it can become overwhelming to manage the ever-changing energy compliance landscape. From benchmarking, audits, and even displaying your energy grade at the public entrance to buildings as now required by New York City, there are a lot of things to constantly track and monitor.

The good news is that Burton can help sort through these requirements and ensure you are on the path to energy compliance. We have energy analysts who are familiar with all the local benchmarking requirements, and we have energy engineers on staff who have the credentials to meet additional city compliance requirements. From engineers with professional engineering (PE) licenses, Certified Energy Managers (CEM), and professionals with RCx certifications, we can help submit the required documentation and develop a plan to maintain compliance in cities with even the most stringent reporting requirements.

Since the list of cities keeps growing, we’ve found that some businesses may not know about these local energy ordinances until they receive a letter from their city informing them of the due date, or even worse, a violation notice. This reinforces the saying “If you think compliance is expensive, try non-compliance”. Following are areas Burton can provide compliance with local energy ordinances:

Benchmarking

Many cities have now adopted energy benchmarking ordinances that require reporting on an annual basis. The schedule varies depending on the city, and most cities require reporting through the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool, which is the gold standard for reporting. Many cities now also require periodic verification of the data by a third-party every few years.

Energy Audits, RCx, and Building Tune-Up Surveys

Following are a few cities that have additional energy actions that must be performed periodically. If you have buildings over a certain square footage in these areas, along with several others, there is a good chance that you either already need to comply with mandates or will have to start planning for these in upcoming years.

  • New York City – Energy Audit  + Retro-commissioning (RCx) every 10 years
  • San Francisco – Energy Audit every 5 years
  • Los Angeles – Energy Audit  + RCx every 5 years
  • Atlanta – Energy Audit every 10 years
  • Boulder, CO – Energy Audit  + RCx + One-Time Lighting Upgrade every 10 years
  • Philadelphia – Building Tune-Up every 5 years
  • Seattle – Building Tune-Up every 5 years

The square footage of buildings required to comply, and the frequency and type of additional energy actions vary widely by city, so we encourage you to reach out to us if you have any questions. For some cities, the compliance date may also depend on an individual number assigned to each building, such as a tax assessment number, etc. In addition to the current local requirements, a growing trend among cities and states is to implement emissions and performance-based reduction goals and targets. For example, if you have facilities in New York City, Boston, or Washington state, you will likely have to start planning for these mandates in the coming years. These can take extended time for compliance, so it is better to start sooner rather than later.

So, how can you determine if your building needs to comply with local city energy ordinances? The updated map below shows cities and states with both benchmarking requirements and those with more stringent requirements, such as an energy audit, RCx, or other actions. Burton can help navigate these requirements, so please let us know if we can help guide you on the right path to energy compliance.