This decision framework is a tool designed to help city governments as they actively engage with stakeholders to collect the input needed to inform the key aspects of a successful and impactful local building performance policy.

A help center provides buildings owners with one-on-one assistance and guidance in meeting the requirements of building energy performance policies. Help centers also serve as information hubs from which city government can distribute information that supports improved energy management in buildings, such as training events and technical resources.

This insightful and concise guide provides city with step-by-step details for implementing a building energy performance policy, by providing key recommendations, and successful city examples.

This document provides guidance for integrating equity into the development and implementation of benchmarking and transparency ordinances. Guided by the experiences and questions of local government staff and policy experts, the guide provides city examples, summarizes key concepts and issues related to the intersection of equity in building policies, and contains important steps, areas of opportunity, and guiding questions for practitioners to work through.

This document presents sample language that can be used by jurisdictions interested in drafting a comprehensive existing building performance policy that encompasses provisions for benchmarking, as well as additional actions beyond benchmarking. The text has been annotated extensively to describe the rationale behind some of the recommendations and to provide additional background on some of the decision points.

This document presents sample language that can be used by jurisdictions interested in drafting a comprehensive existing building performance policy that encompasses provisions for benchmarking, as well as additional actions beyond benchmarking.

This template toolkit is designed to support any city’s implementation of its building energy performance policy by providing key background and templates for four key city-issued communications resources: notifications to comply, compliance checklists, extensions and exemptions forms, and violations alerts.

Benchmarking a building is the first step in managing energy use and results in 2-3 percent annual energy savings, with improvements continually made over time, as investments in energy efficiency payback, and provide upfront capital for future upgrade projects.

Atlanta presents frequently asked questions on its website in efforts to support building owners who are seeking technical assistance and information on compliance requirements.

Atlanta requires that properties request an exemption or an extension to the requirements of the Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance by completing a form and supporting evidence to demonstrate eligibility.

Atlanta created a post card for building owners and managers, stating reporting deadlines, and promoting an upcoming training event, and information on accessing the city’s building efficiency help center.

Atlanta alerts building owners or managers that do no submit an energy and water benchmarking report for the previous year, informing stakeholders of possible offense or fines, if they fail to comply within 30 days of receiving the letter.

Boston created a fact sheet with requirements and deadlines to report energy use annually, as well as inform building owners on requirements to decrease their energy usage and carbon emissions, or perform an energy assessment every five years.

Chicago prepared a 2-page, compliance checklist detailing the steps required for compliance with its benchmarking ordinance. The checklist outlines how to get started with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, tips for benchmarking buildings, verifying building data, and reporting to the city.

Chicago sends building owners an annual scorecard on energy performance.

Chicago prepared this annual energy benchmarking support to report publicly on impacts, performance, and future opportunities.

District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment compiled FAQs to provide additional information on benchmarking, using Portfolio Manager, determining applicability and compliance, definitions for space types, as well as guidance for collecting and entering data, and reporting.

The Energize Denver Task Force is made up of local commercial and multifamily building owners, managers, and investors, as well as housing advocates, green building experts, and representatives from Xcel Energy. This infographic shows how all the pieces of the Energize Denver Task Force fit together.

Des Moines in support of its policy development and stakeholder engagement process, created a factsheet on the benefits of benchmarking, steps for participation, and featured upcoming trainings and supporting partners.

Kansas City developed frequently asked questions to support building owners in meeting benchmarking deadlines and to ensure reporting meets compliance requirements.

Kansas City requires building owners to file for an exemption or exception if unable to meet benchmarking compliance requirements.

Miami-Dade County created this fact sheet to communicate the efficiency improvements to the 3,300 multifamily buildings in this size range, which constitute 68% of the total floor space.

Miami-Dade County created this infographic to communicate the strategy for improving building energy and water efficiency.

Montgomery County prepared a 2-page fact sheet with all the key information on meeting requirements of the benchmarking policy.

New York City’s benchmarking report focuses on the multifamily and office buildings that comprise 83 percent of the city’s total benchmarked area and use almost 90 percent of benchmarked energy.

Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability publishes annual benchmarking results and created an interactive map and visualization tool for engaging and educating building owners and the community about progress and opportunities for efficiency gains.

Philadelphia prepares an annual energy benchmarking summary report to share progress and broadcast results to the community.

Philadelphia sends building owners a buliding performance profile showing energy usage annually as well as opportunities for improving energy efficiency.

Pittsburgh created this fact sheet to provide information on its benchmarking ordinance, including how to meet compliance requirements.

Pittsburgh’s 1-page checklist provides step-by-step instructions to help building owners get started and understand benchmarking compliance requirements.

To help provide timely responses to the community, Reno created a set of frequently asked questions about the program.

Salt Lake City created a compliance checklist that provides step by step guidance to building owners and managers through out the entire benchmarking process

Salt Lake City communicates the goals of the city’s benchmarking ordinance, and how measuring energy performance fits into sustainability planning.

Salt Lake City prepared a form for properties requesting an exemption or an exception from the requirements of the Energy Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance.

Salt Lake City communicated the issues relevant  to its community, including air quality, a public concern especially in the winter months. By making large buildings in Salt Lake City more energy efficient, this infographic showcases how the City could remove one million pounds of pollutants, which equates to taking 32,000 vehicles off the road for one year.

San José developed this fact sheet to summarize information on its energy and water building performance ordinance.

Seattle created a guide with step-by-step instructions to use the U.S. EPA’s Portfolio Manager to comply with the city’s energy benchmarking and reporting requirements.

Seattle sends building owners a performance scorecard that summarizes annual energy usage and provides additional information on energy efficiency opportunities. This scorecard is intended for large offices.

St. Louis properties wishing to claim an exemption from or an extension to the requirements of the Building Energy Awareness Ordinance, must fill out a form and attach supporting evidence to demonstrate a property’s eligibility.