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.

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.

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.