Energy Benchmarking – Chicago

On September 11, 2013 the City of Chicago passed the Energy Use Benchmarking Ordinance.

City Benchmarking Link: Chicago Energy Use Benchmarking

Many building owners and managers approached Prospect Resources for information and advice, hoping PRI could take the headache and worry off their shoulders and streamline this process.

Here are some of the questions they asked PRI:

What is it?

This ordinance requires building owners to track and upload their energy usage along with building statistics (size, occupancy, equipment, etc.) to the Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

Who is included?

All buildings (or groups of buildings with a common P.I.N.) in the City of Chicago that have a gross square footage of 50,000 or more.

When does this requirement begin?

There are three groups:

1. Commercial buildings 250,000sf or larger are required to provide data for 2013 no later than June 1, 2014.
2. Commercial buildings 50,000sf or larger but less than 250,000, and residential buildings 250,000sf or larger are required to provide data for 2014 no later than June 1, 2015.
3. Residential buildings 50,000sf or larger but less than 250,000 are required to provide data for 2015 no later than June 1, 2016.

What are the requirements?

Building owners are required to upload building statistics, along with month by month usage data for both natural gas and electricity for the entire building, to the Energy Star Portfolio Manager Platform. This includes all tenant spaces, common areas, individual residences, etc. In the first required year and every third year thereafter, the data must be verified by a licensed architect or engineer, with a stamped statement attesting to the accuracy of the information provided.