Benchmarking Ordinance Results

SIDEBAR: Benchmarking Ordinance Results



Part 3 of the 5-part Green Building Report


By Jenny Carney  
OTHER PARTS OF THIS ARTICLEPt. 1: What You Need To Know About Energy Benchmarking and Disclosure OrdinancesPt. 2: Benchmarking: Opportunities for Finding Energy Efficiency Pt. 3: This PagePt. 4: SIDEBAR (Exclusive online only): Benchmarking Tips and ResourcesPt. 5: USGBC Perspective: Top 10 States for LEED


Enough time has passed to start considering if the intended effects of benchmarking ordinances are playing out, both in terms of leading to energy efficiency and unleashing market forces around consumption transparency.

Some of the available evidence is summarized in these two reports:
1. Energy Star Portfolio Manager Data Trends: Benchmarking and Energy Savings — This review of over 35,000 buildings consistently benchmarking their performance within ENERGY STAR showed an annual average savings of 2.4 percent from 2008 through 2011, and a total savings of 7 percent. Buildings that started with the lowest performance gained the greatest savings.

2. Institute for Market Transformation and Pacific Coast Collaborative, The Benefits of Benchmarking Building Performance — This report summarizes research looking into the impact of ordinances, with positive evidence that benchmarking can lead to efficiency actions and outcomes, and that more energy efficient buildings translate into market value, in the form of higher occupancy rates, rent increase, and building sales price increases.




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  posted on 3/1/2016   Article Use Policy




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