Vert Energy Group

Author: Clarence Cannon

  • Missed Benchmark Deadline

    Missed Benchmark Deadline

    Benchmark Deadlines Have Passed

    At this point in time if you still haven’t filed your annual Energy Benchmark report, then you’ve missed the deadline. Many people assume, “oh well, the deadline passed guess I don’t need to file this year.” That isn’t true. Many cities and state Benchmark programs have penalties in place for non-compliance to ensure property owners and managers are filing. Some penalties are as serious as being issued a monetary fine. No matter the severity of your Benchmark programs violations, it is still expected that you file each year that you’re required to.

    Filing Late

    “Benchmarking is the search for industry Best Practices that Lead to Superior Performance.” – Dr. Robert Camp

    You may ask if it’s ever too late to file and the answer is yes. First, the city or state can close the submission link whenever they want, but most Benchmark programs typically wait till the new year. Second, it takes 4-8 weeks on average for utility companies to provide the necessary consumption history needed to file. This timeframe fluctuates depending on how many open data requests the utility companies need to complete. The longer you wait to get started, the longer it will take to finalize your report and file as there will be other owners and managers also trying to get into late compliance. Given these two factors, if you wait until November to start filing, chances are you won’t make the end of the year mark and will therefore be found non-compliant for the year. That is why we highly recommend getting started by October at the latest.

    When filing after the deadline, getting started quickly and efficiently is important to ensure you get into compliance as soon as possible. At Vert Energy Group, getting started is as easy as 1, 2, 3 with our platform VertPro.com. Here are a few tips we have when signing up with us for the first time:

    •  Have your full property list ready. Even if you don’t think a certain property needs to file, there could be a smaller program that it needs to comply with.

    •  Know your property details. This is what VertPro uses to cross-check your property’s against the 39 existing Benchmark programs nationwide.

    •  Have a recent copy of your utility bills.

    If you have all these items ahead of time, it should take you approximately 30 minutes from start to finish to complete your VertPro account when you have five or fewer properties. Once you’ve completed your VertPro account, we’ll take over and get your report completed and submitted. Should you need further assistance though, or get stuck, you can also contact our support team via email at support@vertpro.com and by phone at 800-585-2690.

    Just do it.” – Nike

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    Annual Deadlines

    With 39 existing Benchmark programs across the U.S., it can be hard to remember your specific deadline. It has become even harder to keep track of all the deadlines as cities and states are adjusting the due dates in accordance with how they’ve been impacted by COVID. In fact, that could very well have been the reason why you missed your annual deadline, to begin with. At the beginning of each year, our Benchmark Department gets together to cross-check each program’s deadlines to ensure our clients and us are aware of any changes. In January we released a downloadable Energy Benchmark Deadlines Calendar to help property managers and owners easily locate their compliance due dates. If you haven’t yet downloaded our calendar, you can get it here.

    ‘Cause Baby, You’re a Firework

    Aka Independence Day4th of July aka Independence Day – a day full of food, parades, fun activities and events, and fireworks. Food, drinks, parades, parties are all standard celebration festivities, but how did fireworks become a 4th of July staple for Americans? According to History.com, we can attribute this tradition back to three sources: John Adams, Boston, and Philadelphia. On July 2, 1776, our founding fathers voted on our independence, and the very next day – on July 3, 1776 – John Adams writes to his wife, Abigal Adams. Per his letter, Adams pens that he “believe(s) it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade… Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” A year later, in 1777, in John Adams hometown of Boston, Colonel Thomas Crafts of the Son of Liberty set off a display of fireworks in the Boston Common to commemorate the one year anniversary of America’s independence. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Evening Post reported that “there was a grand exhibition of fireworks (which began and concluded with thirteen rockets) on the Commons and the city was beautifully illuminated.” With the end of the War of 1812, America saw a rise in firework displays as the concerns for public safety over the use of cannons and gunfire also rose thus making fireworks an Independence Day staple. Fun Fact: History.com states that John Adams would decline invitations to make appearances at 4th of July events held on the day of as he believed July 2nd to be the correct date of America’s independence.  
    Summer Break

    Danielle’s Corner

    Summer Break… California has officially reopened* and just in time for summer! If you’re planning to make a trip out to sunny California – specifically LA – I highly recommend checking out the official site for  Discover Los Angeles. It’ll show you cool free, paid, and virtual events going on this summer. Whether you’re into art, music, film, or looking for a fun activity, there’s something for everyone! Here are some fun events to give you an idea: The last syllable: a virtual event that takes you through a Macbeth inspired adventure and is only open during July The DiscOasis: an outdoor music experience filled with live music, dancing, art, food and drinks, and roller skating opens Friday, July 16th, and goes till Labor Day weekend Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience: an immersive art experience of Van Gogh’s work opens Tuesday, July 20th, and goes till Monday, September 6th. The Around the World Virtual Scavenger Hunt: exactly that – a virtual scavenger hunt held on Saturday, July 17th and July 31st. Bonus Event at the beginning of August: The Rose Bowl Flea Market is held on the second Sunday of every month and has over 2,500 vendors to shop from. July’s marked already passed, but the next one will be August 8th so mark your calendars if you plan to go. Maybe you’ll see me there! Let us know your fun summer plans by tagging us on Instagram and Facebook at @vertenergygroup. We love to see all the fun our clients get into!
    *At the time of drafting these things were reopened. Please consult the corresponding websites for covid updates to get the latest information.
     
    Want your Make Your Building Green? Get an Energy Audit! »

    Find Applicable Energy Laws Search by Zip to Find Applicable Energy Laws

    There are over 30 cities/states with Energy Benchmark requirements – 16 have Energy Audit requirements as well! Use this free tool to check if your building has an upcoming Energy Benchmark or Energy Audit deadline.

    FIND OUT HERE »
  • Benchmarking 101

    Benchmarking 101

    Navigating the Energy Benchmark world can be confusing with various city and state programs out there. Whether you’re just starting to dip your toes into the Benchmarking world or are already immersed, Vert Energy Group can help ease the process. From small to large portfolios, we help clients file their annual Benchmark reports.

    GETTING STARTED

    “The problem is, unless you are benchmarking your own work, it is hard to decide what value the benchmark has. Usually it is just another data point and it allows you to compare two different systems.” – Robert Rosen

    With roughly 39 existing Energy Benchmark programs it can be hard to keep track of all the different requirements especially as they get updated and amended. Due to COVID, it has become even harder to manage as cities and states have been pushing back their standard deadlines. Between trying to find your compliance deadline and gathering all the necessary Energy consumption data, it can get hectic. That’s where Vert Energy Group can help with our platform VertPro.com.

    Before getting started on VertPro®, we always recommend that clients have the following information on hand:

    • Property Details: the gross floor area (GFA) sq. ft., year built, type of property (i.e. commercial or residential), the total number of utility accounts (Electric and Gas), and parking sq. ft. if applicable

    • Utility Accounts: name on utility bills, account and meters numbers, service address if different than the main address of the property

    As not everyone has their property and utility information memorized, having this data on hand can help save you time setting up your VertPro account. If you’re ever unsure or get stuck completing your account you can contact our support team via email at support@vertpro.com and by phone at 800-585-2690.

    The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.” – Richard Rogers

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    The Three Common Questions

    There are three common questions we hear regarding Energy Benchmarks: 

        • What is Energy Benchmarking?

        • When is Energy Benchmarking due?

        • Is Energy Benchmarking the same as the Energy Audit and Retro-Commissioning (RCx)? 

    At Vert Energy Group, we want to make filing easy on you – so let’s break it all down!

    Energy Benchmarking is an annual report containing your property’s aggregated Energy usage from the previous calendar year. Each Benchmark program has different requirements such as the property types and sizes that need to file, what data needs to be reported, and deadlines. Across the board, all Energy Benchmark programs require Electric and Gas to be reported. Some programs require more data such as Steam, Oil, and Water consumption as well. The majority of the existing city and state programs have June deadlines, but there are a few programs that have deadlines as early as April of each year.

    While the Energy Benchmark is an annual report, the Audits and RCx reports are only required every 5 to 10-years depending on your city or state program. Through an Audit and RCx, you will do an in-depth report of your building’s equipment and condition to see if there is room for improvement. Either a licensed energy auditor or engineer will conduct thorough on-site inspections of your property to gather the necessary data to draft up your report. This will include inspecting current building systems and operations in conjunction with your energy consumption per your annual Energy Benchmark. Your property’s finalized Audit and RCx report will provide you with useful information to help you the owner or manager make decisions to improve the building’s environment for occupants and help save you money down the road.

     “The more energy-efficient we become as a nation, the less we need to develop additional energy sources.” – Lamar S.Smith

    Whether you’re looking to file an Energy Benchmark or Audit report or simply looking to make some upgrades to your property, we’re here for you. Simply head on over to VertPro.com – your one-stop shop to meet your Energy needs.

    Summer Activities

    Danielle’s Corner

    Summer Break…

    As Alice Cooper once sang, “school’s out for summer!” With summer break now in session for many schools, it’s time to start figuring out some fun summer activities to keep the little ones occupied. As the youngest of four kids, my parents had summer break activities on lock by the time I came around. My favorite activity was building blanket forts. Every summer my parents would section off a part of the living room to let us kids go wild and build the best blanket forts our minds could imagine. It’s a fun activity that requires no money – only some blankets and existing furniture for the structure. If you want to spice up your fort, you can bust out your Christmas lights and throw those on to give the fort a colorful glow at night. Remember to turn those lights off when you’re not using them though to save energy. Blanket forts don’t have to be for kids only though – you can do a movie or game nights or have a mini slumber party in your fort. It’s something simple yet fun for all ages – I might even build one myself this summer.

    If you build a blanket, send us a picture or tag us on Facebook @VertEnergyGroup – we’d love to see how creative you all can be!

    Want your Make Your Building Green? Get an Energy Audit! »

    Find Applicable Energy Laws Search by Zip to Find Applicable Energy Laws

    There are over 30 cities/states with Energy Benchmark requirements – 16 have Energy Audit requirements as well! Use this free tool to check if your building has an upcoming Energy Benchmark or Energy Audit deadline.

    FIND OUT HERE »
  • Vert is Officially Green

    Vert is Officially Green

    We’re Officially GREEN!

    Last month, on April 14th, Vert Energy Group received the Irvine Green Business Program (IGBP) Certification. Our Vert Family couldn’t have been more thrilled to become a certified Green company just a week prior to Earth Day. The journey to becoming IGBP certified was an initiative we decided to take at the beginning of the year. Though we have officially become IGBP Certified, our journey to continue to find ways to implement sustainable practices in our work and personal lives doesn’t stop. At Vert Energy Group, we’re always striving to be better.

    BECOMING GREEN

    “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

    Becoming Green doesn’t have to be done in one big movement – you can start small and go from there. At Vert Energy Group we tasked one of our members, Adriana, with researching various changes we could make. As our company has adopted a Work From Home set-up, the challenge we faced was how to get these changes to be adaptable to everyone across the board. 

    One of the first initiatives we took was starting an at-home recycling program. To get everyone engaged, Adriana set up a mini-competition that had each employee create a recycling box for old and used batteries. The employee with the most votes for their box received a gift card. This not only allowed us to flex our creative sides – something we don’t all do on the daily basis – but also gave us some healthy competition. Now our entire company has its own fun little recycling boxes that can be taken to our local recycling centers (i.e. Staples, Home Depot, Best Buy, and Lowes). It’s a fun activity we recommend doing – either alone or with family and friends – if you’re looking for a small step in your Green journey. You can even lookup locations near you that accept electronics and batteries for recycling via the site call2recycle.org.

    In addition to our unique recycling boxes, our company has started a book club focused on environmental issues and adopted an environmental policy. We also received our very own “green” kit filled with sustainable goodies such as beeswax wraps to replace plastic cling wrap and on-the-go utensil sets so that we don’t need to ask for plastic or take-out utensils when we’re out. In a 2021 article by the World Economic Forum, research showed that “8 million tons of plastic winds up in the ocean each year.” Vert Energy Group knows that making this switch from plastic options to non-plastic alternatives won’t make a huge difference, but we also know that any change – no matter how big or small – is better than no change.

    You are never too small to make a difference. – Greta Thunberg

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    Actions Employees Are Taking at a Personal Level

    Many of our employees have taken further initiatives on their own to become more sustainable and green in their lives. Some small actions that our team recommends and applies themselves are:

        • Thrifting: According to Business Insider, research has found that “10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions” come from the fashion industry alone. Its use of roughly 700 to 2,000 gallons of water to produce a single garment also makes the fashion industry the second-largest consumer of water. By shopping second-hand, you’re saving water by not buying from “fast fashion” companies. An added bonus is the money you’ll save as these items won’t be as expensive as “brand new” items.

        • Compostable K-Cups: Coffee lovers can rejoice – you don’t need to give up your morning coffee to be sustainable. Coffee companies have started to create compostable k-cups so instead of just tossing out the used cup, you can now put it into a compost bin thus creating less plastic waste. 

        • Reusable Water Bottles: This is one of the most common changes people adopt on their sustainable journey. There are many reusable water bottle companies out there, but two companies we would like to highlight are Hydro Flask and LARQ. Both companies create reusable water bottles and give back to the community. Hydro Flask started Parks For All – a charity program that has “been able to support more than 122 nonprofits and donate over $1.9 million.” Meanwhile, LARQ has teamed up with the nonprofit organization 1% for the Planet to help “fund environmental nonprofits around the world” by donating 1% of their sales.

        • Green Cleaning Products: Being green doesn’t just apply to what we wear and limiting our single-use plastic consumption. From household cleaning to laundry, you can now make green choices for products you use. Blueland is a company that created a “reusable, refillable system that can help divert up to 100 billion single-use bottles from landfills and oceans” all while keeping your home clean. It is not only a USDA BioPreferred certified company, but it is also EPA Safer Choice and Leaping Bunny certified. You’re not only helping the environment, but also the animals. It’s a double-win in our books.

     “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

    If you want to become more sustainable but don’t know where to start, we recommend checking out EcoRoots or downloading Good On You. EcoRoots is a small business that offers sustainable alternatives for your home, kitchen, bath, and beauty that will be delivered to your door in recyclable and compostable packaging. Like LARQ, EcoRoots gives back to communities through 1% for the Planet, further helping to create a better future for the Earth. Good On You is an app that helps you see just how sustainable fashion brands really are when it comes to their impact on the earth and its inhabitants – humans and animals. At the same time, Good On You provides alternative shopping recommendations to meet fashion needs.

    There are a plethora of small changes you can make in your life to become more sustainable and green. All it takes is making that first step – pick a change and do it. 


    Try to leave the Earth a better place than when you arrived.” – Sidney Sheldon

     

    Blood Supermoon

    Danielle’s Corner

    Blood Supermoon… On Wednesday, May 26th, this year’s Blood Supermoon will occur. A Blood Supermoon is a combination of the supermoon – when a full moon turns completely red – and a total lunar eclipse. If you want to witness this lunar event, Forbes recommends being awake between 11:11 am – 11:25 am UTC as that’s when the moon will be completely red. To convert that for you, that’s 4:11–4:25 am PST, 5:11–5:25 am MST, 6:11– 6:25 am CST, and 7:11– 7:25 am EST. It’s definitely early – especially for all the West Coast people, but it’ll be a great way to start your day if you’re able to catch this lunar event.  
    Want your Make Your Building Green? Get an Energy Audit! »

    Find Applicable Energy Laws Search by Zip to Find Applicable Energy Laws

    There are over 30 cities/states with Energy Benchmark requirements – 16 have Energy Audit requirements as well! Use this free tool to check if your building has an upcoming Energy Benchmark or Energy Audit deadline.

    FIND OUT HERE »
  • That’s A WRAP! (for 2020, Anyway)

    That’s A WRAP! (for 2020, Anyway)

    In this issue we’ll cover why it’s important to automate compliance with Energy Benchmark laws, but first … Surviving a Pandemic – Can we all agree that 2020 did not go according to plan? Like many other companies worldwide, Vert Energy Group was impacted by the pandemic. As a company we knew that we wanted to remain available to help our clients because even though a pandemic was sweeping the nation, the cities and states didn’t care – there were still Benchmarks to file. So, the question became, how do we effectively keep things running while ensuring the safety of our team?

    “All great changes are preceded by chaos.”
    -Deepak Chophra

    Making Some Moves – One of the very first changes our company made was switching all our employees to a work-from-home (WFH) set-up in late February. The safety of our team was of top priority and with everyone WFH, it ensured that we were both safe and capable of continuing to work on projects. Since moving to WFH, we’ve added more members to the Vert Energy Group family to ensure that we’re able to help all of our clients. It can be difficult to feel that company bond – especially when new – so to keep up the positive relations we started holding monthly virtual company events. It has helped us to remain connected and provides a tiny sense of normalcy in this new working climate.

    Launching New Tools – At the start of March, we launched VertPro®! For those who aren’t already registered, VertPro® is a platform our company had begun developing in 2019. When we first came up with the idea of VertPro®, it was simply an idea of how we can automate compliance with Energy Benchmark laws nationwide. We had no idea of how valuable the platform would become for us during a pandemic. It has allowed us to streamline the set-up process between us and clients from obtaining documents, invoicing requests, and more. Since the launch of VertPro® in March, we have continued to work on and improve it. We’ve since added VertPro® Upgrade where you can get bids on Energy upgrades projects for your property from various companies. We like to think of VertPro® Upgrade as the Craigslist for your Energy needs. Most recently we added a chat feature for that immediate online assistance. You can still call us though – we’re happy to chat via the phone.

    Too Many Programs Can Make Compliance Confusing

    With so many different Energy programs out there and more being established – we’re looking at you New York with your LL33 – we wondered what an effective way would be to keep you update. Thus, the creation of The Vert Report. These monthly newsletters will cover a variety of topics and tips regarding energy and every so often you’ll get to learn more about our company and its members. In fact, we’ve already introduced one of our engineers, Murat, in our third installment of The Vert Report which you can read here.

    Quality as a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the customer gets out of it.”

    Thank you for choosing Vert Energy Group. How can we help you? Over the past 10 years, we at Vert Energy Group have grown and learned so much from our clients. Each day we strive to provide you with the best service we can. Whether it’s filing an Energy Benchmark, conducting onsite visits for your Audit and Retro-Commissioning projects, or helping you find bids on your next Energy upgrade, we’re here for you. Don’t just take our word for it though. Read what two of our top clients have to say about us:

    QUOTE: “Give Vert Energy Group a try and see how you like working with them. I [only have positive things] to say [about our experience].” – Anna Smagacz of Broadway Stages
    QUOTE: “Everyone who I have dealt with … has been great. If somebody came to me and said they needed help with benchmarking, without any hesitation, I would recommend [Vert Energy Group].” – Francine Pearce of Pacific Prime Properties

    To read their full stories, please go to https://vertenergygroup.com/success-story/

    If you’d like us to feature your sustainability journey with us, please email alex.brown@vertenergygroup.com

    From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank each and every one of you for sticking by our side during this crazy and unpredictable year. We wouldn’t be where we are today without all of you. Next year, why not let us help you automate compliance with Energy Benchmark laws through VertPro.com?

    Sending you well wishes and a happy new year. See you in 2021.
    The Vert Energy Group Team
  • Audits & Retro-Commissioning

    Audits & Retro-Commissioning

    THE GOAL: Identify potential opportunities for a building to save money while improving its systems and becoming more energy efficient. Audits specifically examine a property’s equipment and the overall condition of the building. RCx’s focus on how these existing systems run in conjunction with environmental, property type, and occupancy factors. While not all cities require Audits and RCx’s, Energy experts recommend conducting one every 3-years or if there has been an increase in energy consumption greater than 10%. It is also important to consider the age of your building’s equipment. The older the equipment gets, the less likely it will be able to perform at optimal levels to match a building’s needs.

    FUN FACT: THE FIRST WEDNESDAY IN OCTOBER IS NATIONAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY (EE) DAY!

    LEARN MORE: Request a free 1-on-1 webinar and get an overview of new audit/RCx requirements, review upcoming deadlines, and focus on exemptions specific to your building(s). To register, go to https://www.EBEWEordinance.com/learn

    In the last newsletter, we discussed that Energy Benchmarks are the first step in Energy management by assessing potential areas of improvement. Energy Audits and RCx’s take that potential and narrows it down to what can or should be done. Though it can be a daunting and costly project to take on, the benefits are worth it in the long run. Through Audits and RCx’s, you will see:

    • An improvement in comfort, health, and safety for your occupants
    • A longer life expectancy for building equipment
    • Reduced costs on maintenance and operation
    • Energy savings on utility bills in as little as 3-years
    • Potential increase in real estate value

    Where energy is wasted, safety problems. health hazards, and comfort issues often exist … Where we find energy efficiency, we also tend to find lower operating costs and greater real estate value.”

    WHAT TO EXPECT: Once you have hired an Audit team, they will conduct a preliminary assessment of the property – concerns, goals, needs, etc. Next, data will be gathered via on-site visit(s) to your property. Your consultant will then draft up a report detailing what was found and what the next recommend steps are.

  • Why Benchmark?

    Why Benchmark?

    The Importance of Energy Benchmarks

    According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE), annually reporting a building’s Energy Benchmark is an important step in Energy management. While you may not be able to control each tenants Energy consumption, Benchmarking is still beneficial. Filing allows you to track the year-to-year Energy Score. If the building’s score fluctuates or lowers each year, this could indicate room for Energy improvments.

    FUN FACT: SWITCHING TO LED LIGHT OPTIONS CAN BE A STARTING POINT TO SAVE ENERGY

    What is Energy Benchmarking?

    Energy Benchmarking is the annual process of reporting a building’s Energy consumption. Upon filing a report, the building is given an Energy Score ranging from 1-100. The score received indicates how Energy Efficient the building is in comparison to other buildings of similar size and function.

    Presently there are 37 existing Energy Benchmark programs nationwide – some mandatory, others voluntary. Each Energy program has their own set of requirements and deadlines, which can make filing confusing and tedious.

    You can’t manage what you don’t measure

    In 2015, the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) found that there is a correlation between a building’s Energy Efficiency, occupancy rate, and sale pricing. The more Energy Efficient a building is, the higher their occupancy and sales are. This indicates that consumers are beginning to consciously – or unconsciously – make efforts to occupy Energy Efficient properties.

    The more Energy Efficient a building is, the higher their pccupancy and sales are. This indicates that consumers are beginning to consciously – or unconsciously – make efforts to occupy Energy Efficient properties.

    NYC recently launched Local Law 33 (LL33) requiring building owners to display the corresponding letter grade for their annual Energy Score in a visible place. While this is a new way to encourage Energy Efficiency in NYC alone, the idea behind is to provide transparency to consumers. Similar to Letter Grades for Restaurants, consumers are slowly gaining more access to property data so that they can make conscious and informed decisions. A low score could make or break a potential buyer’s decision to rent a space in your building. By completing an annual Energy Benchmark, you can track the yearly usage, make changes, and maintain a positive Energy image for your building