Benchmarking is a critical first step in determining how best to reduce unnecessary energy use in buildings. A relatively small number of large buildings represent most of these emissions and the associated energy use. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 30 percent of the energy in buildings is used inefficiently or unnecessarily.
Benchmarking means measuring a building’s energy use and comparing it to that of similar buildings. Making this information publicly available will allow owners to understand how their building’s energy performance compares to that of their peers, as well as identify the extent of the opportunity available for improvement.
A building owner, manager, or his/her staff can benchmark using free software, incurring no cost other than the individual’s time. The EPA provides the free online tool, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, as well as a number of free benchmarking training tools. This tool has already been used to benchmark more than 450,000 buildings nationwide, including about half of the commercial floor space in the country.
The City of Clayton and its partners plan to provide training resources, a dedicated benchmarking website for non-municipal building owners, offer a support desk for benchmarking questions and conduct one-on-one follow-up with owners requesting assistance.
A “Covered Property” is a property that contains a building or collection of buildings that is greater than or equal to 100,000 gross square feet in total combined floor area; or one or more buildings held in the condominium form of ownership governed by the same board and is greater than or equal to 100,000 gross square feet in total combined floor area.
The “Owner” of the property can be any of the following for a Covered Property:
- An individual or entity possessing title to a covered property;
- The net lessee in the case of a property subject to a triple net lease;
- The board in the case of a condominium;
- The board in the case of a cooperative apartment corporation; or
- An agent authorized, in writing on file with Building Official, to act on behalf of any of the above.
