Building Benchmarking, Rating, & Transparency

Energy use information is critical for quantifying and evaluating building energy use patterns in order to develop the most effective ways to reduce energy use in a city’s building stock. Benchmarking and energy use disclosure can also reduce the informational gaps that limit investment in energy efficiency improvements. Additionally, the process of benchmarking itself has been correlated with energy savings. Required public disclosure of energy use information increases the visibility of high-energy-consuming buildings, helping buyers and renters to incorporate energy use into their process of choosing a home or investment. This sub-category includes information on two topics:

• Commercial Benchmarking and Disclosure Policies – Adoption of a policy requiring energy benchmarking and disclosure; implementation status of policy; training and guidance available regarding compliance with policy; enforcement mechanisms in policy; stipulation in policy regarding availability of disclosed individual building energy use information (i.e. general public, parties to a transaction, or government only); release of a report, database, or other analysis of energy use data.
• Residential/Multifamily Rating, Benchmarking and Disclosure Policies and Practices – Adoption of a policy requiring energy benchmarking/rating and disclosure; implementation status of policy; training and guidance available regarding compliance with policy; enforcement mechanisms in policy; stipulation in policy regarding availability of disclosed individual building energy use information (i.e. general public, parties to a transaction, or government only); inclusion of a field for energy efficiency features (e.g. documentation of HERS, LEED or other green ratings) in the real estate multiple listing service (MLS) serving the city.
• Voluntary Benchmarking – Presence of a policy or program that encourages buildings to benchmark energy use through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The program must have been active in 2013-2014, target some or all of the city’s private building stock, and have methods in place to measure participation.