Tag: 2022

Energy Benchmark Fines And Violations

City/State Energy Benchmark Fines and Violations for Non-Compliance

Every year, building owners and managers are faced with the responsibility of ensuring their property is in compliance with their local city or state Energy Benchmark programs. Many of these Benchmark programs have penalties in place to enforce annual compliance. Failure to file required energy usage data can result in written warnings and/or monetary fines. Fines and violations for non-compliance can add up quickly, so it’s important to be aware of the most common infractions. The following is a complete chart of Benchmark programs with existing penalties for non-compliance:

Benchmark Program	Annual Deadline	Penalty for Non-Compliance
Atlanta Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance	June 1^st	$1,000
Austin Energy Conservation Audit & Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance	June 1^st	$500-2,000
Berkeley Building Energy Saving Ordinance	July 1st	$100-1,000
Boston Energy Reporting & Disclosure Ordinance	May 15^th	$35-200
California Assembly Bill 802 (CA AB802)	June 1^st	$500-2,000
Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance	May 1^st	$300/day
Chicago Building Energy Use Benchmarking Ordinance	June 1^st	$100 + $25/day
Chula Vista Building Energy Saving Ordinance	May 20^th	$750-2,250
Denver Commercial & Multifamily Building Benchmarking	June 1^st	$2,000
Des Moines Energy & Water Benchmarking Ordinance	May 1^st	$50 + $300-500/day
Evanston Building Energy & Water Use Benchmarking Ordinance	June 30^th	$100
Fort Collins, CO Ordinance 144 Building Energy & Water Scoring	March 1^st	$1,000
Kansas City Energy Empowerment Ordinance	May 1^st	Written Warning
Los Angeles Energy & Water Efficiency (LA EBEWE)	June 1^st	$202
Minneapolis Commercial Building Rating & Disclosure Ordinance	June 1^st	Written Warning + Civil Fine
Montgomery County Building Energy Benchmarking Law	June 1^st	Written Warning
New York City Local Law 84 (NYC LL84)	May 1^st*	$500-$2,000
Orlando Building Energy & Water Efficiency Strategy (Ordinance 2016-64)	May 1^st	Written Warning
Philadelphia Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance	June 30^th	$300 + $100/day
Pittsburgh Building Benchmarking Ordinance	June 1^st	Publicly listed non-Compliant
Portland Energy & Water Use Performance Benchmarking Ordinance (Maine)	May 1^st	$20/day
Portland Commercial Building Energy Reporting (Oregon)	April 22^nd	$500
Reno Energy & Water Efficiency Program (Ordinance 7068)	April 1^st	$850
Saint Louis Building Energy Awareness Bill	April 1^st	$50-1,000
Salt Lake City Elevate Buildings	May 1^st	$500-1,000
San Francisco Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance (SF EBO)	April 1^st*	$50-2,500
Seattle Council Bill 116731 (CB116731)	July 1^st	$150-500/day

*Note: New York City and San Francisco have extended the 2022 deadlines to May 31^st and May 15^th respectively to accommodate for issues with the utilities and/or their systems.

While not all Benchmark programs issue written warnings and/or monetary fines, each city and state agency keeps records of compliance statuses year-to-year. Some of these records are made public via a compliance list. These public compliance lists are in place to hold all appropriate parties accountable and aware of their need to comply. You can often locate these public lists directly via your respective city/state Benchmarking website or by contacting your local program’s support line directly.

For New York City building owners, it is important to note that non-compliance by the May deadline will not only result in a $500 violation but will also impact your Local Law 33 (LL33) Energy Grade. Failure to accurately file by the May deadline will automatically result in an LL33 Energy Grade of an F indicating failure to comply. Per the LL33 ordinance, your Energy Grade must be printed and displayed in a conspicuous location near each public entrance on the property. That means an Energy Grade of an F will be in clear sight for all occupants and visitors for an entire year until the new LL33 grades are released the following year.

Whether or not your local Energy Benchmark program has violations, Benchmarking is a key component in maintaining energy efficiency standards for your building while reducing your environmental impact. Avoid further penalties and fines by getting your building Benchmarked. If you’re looking for an easy way to get started and into compliance, Vert Energy Group can help. We specialize in aiding businesses and owners with their annual local Energy Benchmark requirements. Visit VertPro.com/Benchmark-Help to get started today.

“The risk management on the front end of things are hard dollars sometimes for owners to spend. It’s kind of like putting a new roof on your house. You have to do it, otherwise you can save the money but eventually it’s all going to catch up to you.” – Michael Klutho

NYC Local Law 11 (LL11) – Facade Inspection & Safety Program

Under NYC Local Law 11 (LL11), all buildings with six or more stories must undergo an inspection of the exterior walls and appurtenances every five years. This inspection falls under the city’s Façade Inspection and Safety Program, or FISP, which aims to improve public safety by identifying potential problems with building exteriors. During the inspection process, a licensed professional will examine a wide range of material and structural features on the building envelope. These may include windows, doors, masonry, and cladding materials, as well as waterproofing membranes and rooftop vents. The overall goal of FISP is to help ensure that New York buildings are safe and structurally sound while minimizing any potential risks to the property and its occupants. If any issues are identified during the inspection process, they will be flagged so that they can be promptly addressed by qualified contractors. Failure to comply with LL11 will result in civil penalties issued by the New York City Department of Buildings (NYCDOB). In extreme cases, NYCDOB can revoke a building’s Certificate of Occupancy and force it to be closed if it is not in compliance with LL11 as the building will be deemed unsafe. There are four different civil penalties you can receive:

Issue/Reason for Penalty	Penalty Fee
Late Filing of the initial LL11 report	$1,000/month
Failure to File the initial LL11 report	$5,000/year
Failure to correct unsafe conditions	See second chart
Failure to correct SWARMP conditions	$2,000

Penalty Fees for Failure to correct unsafe conditions
	Base Penalty	Plus
Year 1	$1,000/month	N/A
Year 2	$1,000/month	$10/linear foot (l.f.) of shed/month
Year 3	$1,000/month	$20/linear foot (l.f.) of shed/month
Year 4	$1,000/month	$30/linear foot (l.f.) of shed/month
Year 5	$1,000/month	$40/linear foot (l.f.) of shed/month

To manage the deadlines, NYC have assigned buildings to one of three cycles based on the last digit of their assigned block numbers. Based on your assigned cycle you have from three years to comply with the LL11 ordinance. The cycles are:

Last Digit of NYC Block Number	Cycle	LL11 Begins	Initial LL11 Deadline
4, 5, 6, and 9	A	February 21, 2020	February 21, 2022
0, 7, 8	B	February 21, 2021	February 21, 2023
1, 2, 3	C	February 21, 2022	February 21, 2024

Building owners are required to conduct and complete another LL11 report every five years after the initial compliance deadlines. If you have missed or yet to begin your LL11 report, now’s the best time to get started to avoid civil penalties. Vert Energy Group can help connect you with local qualified and licensed contractors to help complete your LL11 inspections and report. Find a contractor to take on your LL11 today on VertPro.com/Upgrades to get complied and ensure your building is up to code.

Fun Fact: 3pm is the official time of observance every Memorial Day in the U.S.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day falls on May 30^th this year. This American holiday began in the years following the Civil War to remember and honor the brave men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. It is a day of somber reflection, but also of celebration and thanksgiving. Over the years Memorial Day traditions have evolved. Originally, people would observe the holiday by decorating the graves of fallen soldiers and it grew into local and national celebrations with parades. With many offices and companies closed on Memorial Day, this holiday has become more of a long weekend referred to as “Memorial Weekend.” It serves as an opportunity for many to take a weekend trip or host parties in what National Today states is a way “to balance out the soberness of the day and welcome summer.” Whether you’re staying in or taking a trip this Memorial Day, take a moment to pay tribute to honor the brave men and women who have given their lives in service to our country.

Fun Fact: According to a 2021 YouGov poll, the most popular Mother’s Day gift that mothers wanted were flowers followed closely by sharing a special experience with their family.

Danielle’s Corner

Mother’s Day Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there! Did you know that Mother’s Day was originally meant as a day to protest wars? In 1870, Julia Ware Howe wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation calling for the end of wars. Howe originally intended the day to be for mothers of different backgrounds to come together to protest war and fight for peace. While that idea didn’t necessarily take off and become tradition, there are still some who do partake in protests in honor of the holiday. WomansDay.com makes honorable mention of the 1982 Lawrence Livermore Library at the University of California protest in which a large group of women came together to protest nuclear weapons. The more common ideology of Mother’s Day stems from Anna Jarvis. On the second Sunday in May of 1907, Anna Jarvis held a service to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who had passed away in 1905. A year later, in 1908 on the second Sunday of May, Jarvis holds another service to honor her late mother and passes out flowers to all who attend. This kickstarts Jarvis’ goal to make Mother’s Day official which as we know she accomplished in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson makes the second Sunday each May the official Mother’s Day. To this day, flowers are one of the most popular gifts bought on Mother’s Day as we honor our own mothers. This Mother’s Day is sure to thank your mom and/or the mother figure in your life for all the love and support they have given you. I know I’ll be showering my mom with many thanks for putting up with my rebellious teen years.

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.

May 4, 2022

Energy Benchmarking Deadlines are Almost Here

Building owners and property managers may be wondering whether they need to comply with the latest round of EPA regulations – Energy Benchmarking. The answer is: most likely, yes. Entities must submit their buildings’ energy performance using EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool or face possible fines from the city or state agency. As a reminder, the following is a list of the recently passed and upcoming deadlines:

Passed Deadlines
City	Deadline
Washington Clean & Affordable Energy Act of 2008 (Washington, DC)	April 1, 2022
Washington State Senate Bill 5854 (SB5854)	April 1, 2022
May Deadlines
City	Deadline
Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance	May 1, 2022
Kansas City Energy Empowerment Ordinance	May 1, 2022
New York City Local Law 84 (NYC LL84)	May 1, 2022
Orlando Building Energy & Water Efficiency Strategy (Ordinance 2016-64)	May 1, 2022
Portland Energy & Water Use Performance Benchmarking Ordinance (Maine)	May 1, 2022
Saint Louis Building Energy Awareness Bill	May 1, 2022
Salt Lake City Elevate Buildings	May 1, 2022
San Jose Energy & Water Building Performance Ordinance (SJ BPO)	May 1, 2022
Boston Energy Reporting & Disclosure Ordinance	May 15, 2022
San Francisco Existing Buildings Energy Ordinance (SF EBO)	May 16, 2022*
Chula Vista Building Energy Saving Ordinance	May 20, 2022
June Deadlines
City	Deadline
Atlanta Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance	June 1, 2022
Austin Energy Conservation Audit & Disclosure Ordinance (ECAD)	June 1, 2022
Boulder Building Performance Efficiency Ordinance	June 1, 2022
California Assembly Bill 802 (CA AB802)	June 1, 2022
Chicago Building Energy Use Benchmarking Ordinance	June 1, 2022
Denver Commercial & Multifamily Building Benchmarking	June 1, 2022
Los Angeles Energy & Water Efficiency (LA EBEWE)	June 1, 2022
Minneapolis Commercial Building Rating & Disclosure Ordinance	June 1, 2022
Montgomery County Building Energy Benchmarking Law	June 1, 2022
Pittsburgh Building Benchmarking Ordinance	June 1, 2022
San Diego Building Energy Benchmark Ordinance	June 1, 2022
Evanston Building Energy & Water Use Benchmarking Ordinance	June 30, 2022
Philadelphia Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance	June 30, 2022

*The San Francisco Existing Buildings Energy Ordinance (EBO) is originally due every May 1^st. The city announced that the 2022 deadline has been pushed to May 16, 2022.

For buildings specifically under the Washington DC and Washington state programs, notices containing compliance status will be arriving soon. The notice will either state that your report has been accepted, that no report has been filed, or that there are issues with your report. Any reporting issues or lack of a report, will need to be addressed immediately. It is pertinent that accurate Energy Benchmark reports are filed regardless of missed deadlines to avoid additional violations or penalties from accruing.

All entities with upcoming May and June deadlines still have 1-2 months left to file. Failure to file can result in written and/or monetary violations ranging from daily ($20-300/day) to one-time violations ($50-2,250). The entire filing process can take a minimum of 4-8 weeks to complete from start to finish. Of that time, 30 days alone can be spent working to obtain a building’s aggregate energy usage from its respective utility companies. With hefty fines in place, it’s highly encouraged that entities file early when possible. The longer you wait to file, the higher your chances of missing the deadline and receiving a violation becomes.

Vert Energy Group can help you avoid further and/or potential Benchmark violations when you register on our platform VertPro®. All it takes is 30 minutes – or less – to get started on your 2022 Energy Benchmark report. You’ll want to have the following information to get started: building address, building details (i.e., year built, gross floor area, property type), and a current copy of your utility statements. With that information on hand, log in to an existing VertPro® account or create a new one. Once in, you’ll add your property and complete the necessary authorizations using the utility statements. After that, our team of experts will take on the rest of the work to get your building into compliance. Head on over to VertPro.com to start filing and avoid violations. To speak to a representative, call us Monday-Friday 7 am-5 pm PST at (415) 912-1523 or email us at support@vertpro.com.

“The easiest way to save money is to waste less energy” – Barack Obama

Energy Audits and Retro-Commissioning (RCx)

Did you know that most commercial buildings lose 20-30% of their energy due to inefficiencies in the way they’re operated and maintained? A building Energy Audit is a great way to find out where your building is losing the most energy and can help identify ways to save. Retro-Commissioning (RCx) can also be an effective way to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings, by optimizing systems and controls. Some cities and states require entities to perform Energy Audits and RCx reports in addition to their annual Energy Benchmarks. This is to help building owners and managers gain a full understanding of the building’s energy performance.

While the typical timeframe to complete annual Benchmarks is 4-8 weeks, an Audit and RCx can take substantially longer as more work is involved. Part of the Audit and RCx process entails on-site inspections to be conducted by licensed professionals (LP). A minimum of one on-site inspection is required to gather information on the building. Depending on the complexity and size of the building, additional on-site visits will be needed to get a full scope of the building and its systems and equipment. Any missing information can cause inaccurate reporting and delay the process of filing.

With the ongoing pandemic, many buildings have undergone operational/staffing changes which can make scheduling the necessary site visits difficult. To ensure accurate and timely filing, we highly encourage all entities to begin the Audit and RCx process sooner rather than later. Not only will early filing ensure compliance and prevent potential penalties, but it will also help entities start seeing energy costs savings. For buildings in NYC that are required to comply with Local Law 33 (LL33), these energy savings can help bring your building’s LL33 grade up sooner than if you were to hold off on conducting an Energy Audit. Visit VertPro.com/Audits to get immediate help for your building’s Energy Audit and RCx project.

For buildings in NYC that are required to comply with Local Law 33 (LL33), these energy savings can help bring your building’s LL33 grade up sooner than if you were to hold off on conducting an Energy Audit. To get your bids now visit VertPro.com/NYC-LL97/

“The first thing we can do as individuals and as communities, like a school or a university or a church, is cut our energy use. Do an energy audit or measure our carbon footprint.” – Katharine Hayhoe

VertPro® Subscription Services Available Now

When it comes to saving money on your building operations, subscribing to services can be one of the best decisions you make. With the implementation of city and state Energy requirements, companies are looking at new additional costs to budget for. At Vert Energy Group, we understand that the costs can quickly add up if you’re not properly prepared. That’s why we offer two different Energy subscription plans: Energy Audit Subscription and 3-year Energy Benchmark Partnership. Through our Energy Audit Subscription, you’ll be able to split up your Energy Audit payment up into smaller payments to be paid over the course of 5-years instead of paying it all upfront. You even have the option to include your annual Benchmark payment to your Audit Subscription plan. Don’t have an Energy Audit coming up, but need to complete your annual Benchmark? Our 3-year Benchmark Partnership will lock your portfolio in at a discounted rate compared to our 1-year Benchmark users who are subject to year-to-year price increases. As of this writing, our current rates are: $295/year under the 3-year Benchmark Partnership and $375 under the 1-Year Benchmark plan. Go to VertPro.com/Audits to enroll in in Audit Subscription and VertPro.com to begin a 3-year Benchmark Partnership. For further information, contact us at (415) 912-1523 or support@vertpro.com.

Fun Fact: When April Fools began in France, paper fish are stuck to people’s backs symbolizing a person being gullible like fish who gets caught easily.

April Fools

Ready to be pranked? Whether you’re pranking or being pranked, there’s no shortage of tricks to be found every April Fools – especially with big companies joining in the fun. From a company standpoint, April Fools is a great way to get your target audience involved and at your door in a fun way. One example would be the 1998 Burger King ad for the “Left-Handed Whopper.” Though diners couldn’t purchase the “Left-Handed Whopper” it nonetheless got them to Burger King where they most likely purchased another meal instead. Like any prank though, companies should be careful about their execution of it. Google is notorious for its participation in April Fools – a throwback to when they let us play Ms. Pac-Man on Google Maps in 2017 – not all have landed well. In 2016, Google’s prank left many users unhappy. The prank involved a new Gmail button – “Send + Mic Drop” – that when clicked sent a gif of the minion character from Despicable Me to the recipient. Many users accidentally clicked this button when replying to work-related emails subsequently unintentionally sending their bosses, colleagues, clients, etc. the minion gif when not appropriate. Google ended up having to pull the feature early and issue a mass apology. This failed prank served as a good learning experience for all companies looking to join in on the April Fools fun. It can also serve as a good reminder for everyone to run a test run before fully launching an idea. But that’s just our opinion.

Danielle’s Corner

National Brunch Month All my brunch lovers rejoice – April is National Brunch Month! I feel like anything can be a “National something Month” these days, but as a brunch lover, I’m not complaining. Don’t let the April showers dampen your vibe. Hit up your favorite indoor brunch spot or do your own little fun brunch spread at home. Nothing says you need to spend $15 on avocado toast at that cute café down the road – but if that’s what you want don’t let me stop you. Below is a link to some of my favorite treats recipes – courtesy of Good Housekeeping – to whip up for my family and friends when I want to host an impromptu brunch:

For those with a sweet tooth: PB Chocolate Sheet Pan Pancake and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Something savory: Breakfast Tacos and Green Eggs and Ham ‘Wiches
Coffee Lovers: Hazelnut Mocha Frappé

Whether you feel like cooking at home or going out, be sure to treat yourself to a much-deserved brunch! I know I will.

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April 6, 2022

2022 Energy Benchmarking Best Practices & Evolving Requirements

Navigating the Energy Benchmarking World

As of the start of 2022, ENERGY STAR’s website reflects over 40 different existing Energy Benchmark programs in the United States. With 40+ Energy programs nationwide, it can feel like you’re in a maze trying to identify and meet your building’s specific requirements. When it comes to determining your exact Energy Benchmark program there are three common details you’ll need to know: location, property type, and size. Once you’ve taken those three factors into account, you’ll know if you’re required to file, to whom, and by when.

First up, location. It is important to note that in a single state, there can be both local and statewide Energy Benchmark programs. In most cases where there is a city and state program, the city’s program will take priority over the state’s program. Only in some cases will the state’s Benchmark precede over the cities. Two common reasons this can occur is either the city has not yet added the property to their program, or the building meets the state’s requirements but not the city’s. The following is a list of all existing state programs and whether there is also a local Energy Benchmark programs as well*:

State	City and State Benchmark?
Alabama	No
California	Yes
Colorado	Yes
Connecticut	Yes
Delaware	No
Michigan	No
New Jersey	No
New Mexico	No
New York	Yes
Ohio	Yes
Oregon	Yes
Pennsylvania	Yes
Texas	Yes
Virginia	No
Washington	Yes
West Virginia	Yes

*Note: Again, the above list is not a comprehensive list of all existing Energy Benchmark programs in the U.S. It is just a list of programs where both state and local programs exist. There are local programs that do not have programs at the state level.

As each Benchmark program is different, knowing the gross floor area (GFA sq. ft.) and property type will further narrow down your requirements. Some Benchmark programs apply to all properties over a certain GFA, while others are only applicable to certain property types such as commercial and/or multifamily. Once you’ve determined your local and/or state program, you’ll want to see if those programs apply to your property type. If it does, then you will use your building’s GFA as the deciding factor. Typically, the local and state programs will have slightly different GFA requirements with local programs having lower GFA (sq. ft.) requirements. This helps make differentiating between the two programs easier for building owners. This doesn’t mean that all local and state programs will have different minimum GFA requirements – there are some with the same size requirements. As previously mentioned, when this occurs your property will most likely file to its local Energy Benchmark program unless the local level does not pertain to your property type (i.e., manufacturing) or has not yet added your building to their list.

Knowing your deadline requirements doesn’t necessarily mean filing will be straightforward. With over 10 years of experience filing, our experts have seen our fair share of common mistakes by building owners trying to file on their own. This is especially the case when there is no prior knowledge of Energy Benchmarks and in new and upcoming programs. Let Vert Energy Group help you. On March 15^th at 10 am PST, we are offering a group webinar session for building owners and property managers to learn more about the various nationwide Energy Benchmark requirements. During the session, you’ll get a crash course on Benchmarking requirements and pitfalls, get answers to all your pressing questions, and see just how easy filing can be when working with us. Spots are limited so you’ll want to act fast. Click here to claim a spot before they’re all gone.

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” – Walt Disney

Upcoming 2022 Energy Benchmark Deadlines

Spring is right around the corner and so are the spring Energy Benchmark deadlines. From April 1^st through May 20^th, there are 13 different Energy Benchmarks programs due. Three out of those 13 programs are due on April 1^st – that’s just a month away. Below is a chart of the fast-approaching spring deadlines:

April Deadlines
City	Deadline
San Francisco Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance (SF EBO)	April 1, 2022
Washington Clean & Affordable Energy Act of 2008 (Washington, DC)	April 1, 2022
Washington State Senate Bill 5854 (SB5854)	April 1, 2022
May Deadlines
City	Deadline
Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance	May 1, 2022
Kansas City Energy Empowerment Ordinance	May 1, 2022
New York City Local Law 84 (NYC LL84)	May 1, 2022
Orlando Building Energy & Water Efficiency Strategy (Ordinance 2016-64)	May 1, 2022
Portland Energy & Water Use Performance Benchmarking Ordinance (Maine)	May 1, 2022
Saint Louis Building Energy Awareness Bill	May 1, 2022
Salt Lake City Elevate Buildings	May 1, 2022
San Jose Energy & Water Building Performance Ordinance (SJ BPO)	May 1, 2022
Boston Energy Reporting & Disclosure Ordinance	May 15, 2022
Chula Vista Building Energy Saving Ordinance	May 20, 2022

If you have properties in San Francisco, Washington DC, and Washington State and have not yet begun your reports by now, you’re cutting it extremely close to the April 1st deadline. Even for all other programs with late April through May deadlines, you don’t want to wait till the last minute to start. Much of the filing process is reliant on the cooperation of the utility companies’ ability to process data requests. It can take approximately utility companies anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks to complete a single data request. The closer the deadline gets we expect that the utilities will see an influx of requests that can potentially back up their processing times. The longer you wait to file, the higher your chances of receiving potential violations for noncompliance gets.

Avoid noncompliance by signing up with VertPro® today. Simply register on VertPro.com and add your property to get started. Our experts recommend having copies of your utility bills on hand to help complete your VertPro® registration. All returning clients can login to continue to your 2022 VertPro dashboard. For any questions or help getting started, call us Monday-Friday 7 am-5 pm PST at (415) 912-1523 or email us at support@vertpro.com. Our team of experts is ready to help you file.

“Getting the right people in the right jobs is a lot more important than developing a strategy.” – Jack Welch

Finding the Right Contractor

It’s not news that upgrades and improvements are beneficial to a property. Upgrading a building’s features helps with a multitude of things depending on the project. Common benefits seen from upgrades include occupant safety and satisfaction, long-term savings, increased market value, compliance with city and state laws, etc. It’s one thing to plan a building improvement, but it’s another thing to execute it. Finding the right contractor is key to ensuring your vision is carried out. Whether you’re looking to start a new building upgrade or continue an already ongoing project, Vert Energy Group can help. From roofing, plumbing, asphalt, balconies, upgrades, turnkey projects, new construction, interior fit-outs, site improvements, renovations, and everything in between we’ll find you the right general contractor. All you need to do is post your project on VertPro® Upgrades and then sit back and relax while we do the rest. Our team of experts will research and compile a list of bids from eligible and suitable contractors to take on your project. From there you’ll have your pick of the lot and be one step closer to seeing your project come to fruition. Post your upcoming general project on VertPro® Upgrades today and start getting bids.

Fun Fact: Leprechauns may be associated with Saint Patrick’s Day, but they have their own holiday – Leprechaun Day – which falls on May 13^th each year.

Luck of the Irish

Saint Patrick’s Day was once a celebration honoring Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick, and has since become a day to celebrate the Irish culture. Since the popularization of Saint Patrick’s Day, there has been less focus on Saint Patrick and more on the mythical creatures from Irish folklore, leprechauns. In Irish folklore, leprechauns are depicted as little people the fairies would pay in gold coins to fix their shoes. Leprechauns would keep these coins in hidden large pots so that no one could find them. Legends state that the reason no one can find a leprechaun’s pot of gold is that it is at the end of a rainbow and since rainbows never end it will never be found. Some say that if you’re able to catch a leprechaun, you can try to coerce it into revealing the hiding spot. Tread lightly though as leprechauns are notorious tricksters that you don’t want to be on the wrong side of should they decide to use their magic for evil intentions.

Danielle’s Corner

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

In 1987, President Ronald Regan proclaimed that March would be Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month. According to the CDC, developmental disabilities include – but are not limited to – ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, hearing loss and/or vision impairment, intellectual and/or learning disability, and other developmental delays. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that “one in six, or about 17%, of children” between 3-17 years old have developmental disabilities. To help raise awareness surrounding the American developmental disabilities community the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) spearhead a joint social media campaign each March. Through the campaign, the organizations work to highlight the communities needs and potential contributions. The imagery for 2022’s campaign features artwork from individuals in the developmental disabilities community while the actual campaign shares stories from those with and without disabilities and their experiences. While it’s already the end of the month, it’s not too late to view this year’s submissions. Head on over to NACDD’s Facebook or twitter – both @NACDD – or search the following #DDawareness2022, #DDAM2022, or #WorldsImagined to see all the amazing stories.

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March 2, 2022

Prepare Your Building for an Earthquake

California is quite notable for its earthquakes, the impact it has on buildings, and the danger it can put occupants in. That is why many California cities have enacted ordinances to address potential seismic events. Buildings will fall under one of two categories: Wood-Frame Soft-Story Structures or Non-Ductile Concrete Structures. Though the categories are different, the main objective is the same: identify and address structural concerns to reduce damage caused by earthquakes and increase safety for all occupants in the event of an earthquake.

Buildings classified under Wood-Frame Soft-Story Structures will be those with tuck-under parking, multiple garage doors, and/or large retail windows. This is commonly found in buildings that are used for multifamily housing purposes (i.e., apartments and condominiums). Due to these wall openings, the building’s ground level is found to be “soft” – or weak – in comparison to the upper stories of the building. This in turn will increase the building’s chances of collapse during an earthquake as its lateral movement will be concentrated to the ground level where the structure is the weakest. Through a Wood-Frame Soft-Story Seismic Retrofit, a licensed professional (LP) will conduct a thorough structural analysis to determine if the building meets the minimum earthquake requirements.

In a Non-Ductile Concrete Structure, buildings will undergo a similar inspection by a hired LP to determine if the building meets the minimum earthquake requirements. The key difference is that these specific Seismic Retrofits will pertain to concrete buildings that were designed and built before the 1976 Building Uniform Code was enacted. This means any building with concrete structures built between the late 1970s and 1980s should be inspected. Buildings built prior to the 1976 Building Uniform Code were found to have inadequate confinement of the concrete cores – an essential and effective method used in construction to help strengthen the structure. Without adequate confinement, the building becomes compromised during an earthquake as its lateral movement will cause cracks in the structure making it harder to withstand the materials gravity load and susceptible to collapse.

Whether the building is subject to a Wood-Frame Soft-Story or Non-Ductile Concrete Seismic Retrofit, it is the building owner’s responsibility to immediately notify occupants if the building does not meet the minimum earthquake requirements. In the case that the building fails to meet the requirements, the owner must make an informed decision with the analysis provided by their hired LP on the appropriate next steps. Proper next steps will either entail construction to help strengthen the building’s structure and/or lateral restraining systems or the demolition of the building altogether.

Presently, there are 14 existing Wood-Frame Soft-Story and six Non-Ductile Concrete Seismic Retrofit programs spanning across the state of California. Vert Energy Group can help you quickly determine if your building is subject to comply with any of the 20 existing Seismic Retrofit programs. Head to VertPro® LA Seismic to get more information and see how we can help.

City	Seismic Retrofit Type
Alameda	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Berkeley	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Beverly Hills	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Burbank	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Fremont	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Long Beach	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Los Angeles	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Oakland	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Pasadena	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Richmond	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
San Francisco	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Santa Monica	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
Torrance	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures
West Hollywood	Wood Frame Soft-Story Structures

Beverly Hills	Non-Ductile Concrete Structures
Burbank	Non-Ductile Concrete Structures
Long Beach	Non-Ductile Concrete Structures
Los Angeles	Non-Ductile Concrete Structures
Santa Monica	Non-Ductile Concrete Structures
West Hollywood	Non-Ductile Concrete Structures

“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Started Your 2022 Benchmark Yet?

We’re in the 2^nd month of the new year and if you haven’t begun to work on your 2022 benchmarks, now would be the ideal time to start. Most cities have begun to resume their original annual deadlines. Last month’s newsletter broke down all of the 2022s deadlines, so if you haven’t seen it, you should check. It is important to note that filing – whether on your own or via a third-party firm such as Vert Energy Group – can take a minimum of 4-8 weeks to complete from start to finish. With all Energy Benchmark programs resuming original set deadlines, we expect to see longer process times as the utilities will potentially experience a drastic increase in data requests. For properties with spring deadlines, it is pertinent that you get started filing immediately. If your property is in Fort Collins and you haven’t yet begun your Benchmark report, you’re in luck. Fort Collins used to have the first Benchmark deadline of all the existing programs in the nation with a deadline of March 1^st. The city recently published a notice on its official site stating that the deadline has been pushed to June 1, 2022. However, this doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute to begin filing. The sooner you get started, the sooner you get into compliance. With VertPro we can help you meet your compliance deadlines and avoid potential violations. Register or login to VertPro.com to get your Benchmark started today!

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can” – Arthur Ashe

New Annual Energy Laws

Every year cities and states work to develop and update energy laws to help meet their respective Carbon Emissions goals. In 2022 we will see the start of three new Energy Benchmark programs: Chula Vista, the State of Colorado, and Indianapolis. Here’s a quick breakdown of the new Benchmark programs:

City or State	Energy Program	Building Type	Gross Floor Area	Reports…	Deadline
Chula Vista, CA	Building Energy Saving Ordinance	All buildings	20,000+ sq. ft.	Electric and Gas	May 20, 2022
Colorado	House Bill 21-1286 (Energy Performance for Buildings)	Commercial, Multifamily, and public buildings	50,000+ sq. ft.	Electric and Gas	December 1, 2022
Indianapolis, IN	Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance	Commercial and Multifamily buildings	50,000+ sq. ft.	Electric and Gas	Voluntary

If you have a property in Chula Vista, CA, you might already be familiar with the Benchmark process as you may have already been filing to the state Assembly Bill 802 (AB802) program. The three differences are: size requirement (20,000+ sq. ft.), who you file to (the city of Chula Vista), and deadline (December 1, 2022). It can be difficult to keep up with all the new and update energy requirements, so we’ve made it easier for you. Simply register on VertPro.com, add your properties, and you’ll immediately see all your deadlines. For further information and or specific questions on new and existing Benchmark programs, call our Benchmark experts at (415) 912-1523 or email us at support@vertpro.com.

**Fun Fact: In a 2019 BBC Article, it was found that approximately 50,000 people a year write to Juliet, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, seeking comfort and/or advice in the realm of love.**

Saint Valentine

Valentine’s Day has been a symbol of romance and love since the holiday’s origin tracing back to Saint Valentine and the pagan celebration, Lupercalia. According to Christian and Roman legends, Saint Valentine is most noted for defying Emperor Claudius II. During Claudius II’s rule, young men were banned from marrying as he felt men without families made “better soldiers.” Saint Valentine felt this was an unjust ruling and as a result secretly married young lovers until he was caught. Upon being caught, Claudius II threw Valentine in jail and sentenced him to death. While imprisoned, Valentine falls in love with his jailer’s young daughter visits him. It is said Valentine penned the phrase “from your Valentine” in a letter he wrote to the jailer’s daughter before he was executed. Though some believe it’s our romantic hero Saint Valentine who spurred this love-filled holiday, others believe Valentine’s Day is a “Christianized” version of the Roman festival Lupercalia. During the festival, Roman priests would sacrifice goats and dogs, take their bloody hides, and proceed to slap women and crops to increase fertility. Women would then use milk-soaked clothes to rinse themselves of the blood. The festival eventually evolved to the point where young Roman women would place their name in an urn to be matched with a man. According to History.com, Pope Gelasius I put an end to Lupercalia to replace it with a day to honor and celebrate Saint Valentine for his “heroic” work during Emperor Claudius II’s reign. And while Lupercalia became overshadowed by Valentine, we still associate the colors red and white to the holiday which could be used to represent the blood and milk used during the festival. Whether you’re here for the “romantic” idea of Valentine’s or the bloodier tale, there’s no denying that the date is one for lovers.

Danielle’s Corner

Black History Month

February is often associated with Valentine’s Day, but let’s not forget that it is also Black History Month. This year’s Black History Month is dedicated to Black Health and Wellness which will focus on “Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine” and other forms of medicine in the African Diaspora (i.e., doulas and herbalists). Though America has come far since the days of slavery, there are still many disparities seen and felt in the Black community that must be addressed. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) notes that while the increase of diverse healthcare practitioners and platforms openly discussing mental health is available, there is still a lot of work to be done. While there may not be something you personally can do to help change things, there are still ways to be involved in the discussions. ASALH is a great educational resource if you don’t know where to begin – they host events, have publications, and post news surrounding the Black community. Audre Lorde once said, “you do not have to be me in order for us to fight alongside each other. I do not have to be you to recognize that our wars are the same.” This month, I encourage everyone to learn more about the disparities in the Black community, not just regarding healthcare (physical, mental, and emotional), but in all other aspects of life.
With a user-friendly website interface, our https://www.pulidodentalcare.com/procedures/medecines.html caters to everyone, ensuring ease of navigation and accessibility. Whether you’re seeking a particular medication or exploring new options, our platform enables swift ordering from anywhere in the country, with speedy delivery options available.

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February 2, 2022

Kick Starting 2022

The Sooner the Better

Happy New Year! I know the year has only just begun and we’re all still winding down from the holiday festivities, but in the world of Energy, Benchmarking doesn’t wait for anyone. Whether you’re still milking that holiday vacation time or back at work, it doesn’t hurt to review your city and state deadlines. Most Benchmark deadlines don’t hit till summer, however, there are a select few programs with due dates as early as March. Here’s a quick breakdown of all the 2022 Benchmark deadlines:

March Deadlines
City	2022 Deadline
Building Energy & Water Scoring (Fort Collins, CO)	March 1st
April Deadlines
City	2022 Deadline
Reno Energy & Water Efficiency Program (Ordinance 7068)	April 1st
Saint Louis Building Energy Awareness Bill	April 1st
San Francisco Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance (SF EBO)	April 1st
Washington Clean & Affordable Energy Act of 2008 (Washington, DC)	April 1st
Washington State Senate Bill 5854 (SB5854)	April 1st
Portland Commercial Building Energy Reporting (Oregon)	April 22nd
May Deadlines
City	2022 Deadline
Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance	May 1st
Des Moines Energy & Water Benchmarking Ordinance	May 1st
Kansas City Energy Empowerment Ordinance	May 1st
New York City Local Law 84 (NYC LL84)	May 1st
Orlando Building Energy & Water Efficiency Strategy (Ordinance 2016-64)	May 1st
Portland Energy & Water Use Performance Benchmarking Ordinance (Maine)	May 1st
Salt Lake City Elevate Buildings	May 1st
San Jose Energy & Water Building Performance Ordinance (SJ BPO)	May 1st
Boston Energy Reporting & Disclosure Ordinance	May 15th
Chula Vista Building Energy Saving Ordinance	May 20th
June Deadlines
City	2022 Deadline
Atlanta Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance	June 1st
Austin Energy Conservation Audit & Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance	June 1st
Boulder Building Performance Efficiency Ordinance	June 1st
California Assembly Bill 802 (CA AB802)	June 1st
Chicago Building Energy Use Benchmarking Ordinance	June 1st
Denver Commercial & Multifamily Building Benchmarking	June 1st
Los Angeles Energy & Water Efficiency (LA EBEWE)	June 1st
Minneapolis Commercial Building Rating & Disclosure Ordinance	June 1st
Montgomery County Building Energy Benchmarking Law	June 1st
Pittsburgh Building Benchmarking Ordinance	June 1st
San Diego Building Energy Benchmark Ordinance	June 1st
Evanston Building Energy & Water Use Benchmarking Ordinance	June 30th
Philadelphia Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance	June 30th
July Deadlines
City	2022 Deadline
Berkeley Building Energy Saving Ordinance	July 1st
Ontario Reporting of Energy Consumption & Water Use	July 1st
Seattle Council Bill 116731 (CB116731)	July 1st
Voluntary/TBD
City	2022 Deadline
Miami Dade Building Efficiency 305 (BE305)	TBD
Cincinnati Kilowatt Crackdown	Voluntary
Columbus Energy Challenge	Voluntary
Houston Green Office Challenge	Voluntary
New Jersey State Law A3723	Voluntary
New Orleans Building Energy Benchmarking	Voluntary
Sustainable Providence (Providence, RI)	Voluntary
Energize Saint Paul (Saint Paul, MN)	Voluntary

If you have a property in any of the cities/states with spring deadlines, it’s important to begin the Benchmark process ASAP. Pre-pandemic, the Benchmark process could take anywhere from 4-7 weeks to complete. That time has increased due to two main factors:

1. Work from home policies: many companies still have WFH policies which can prolong the process of getting the necessary forms completed. This especially impacts property management that leases spaces out to multiple tenants who pay their own utilities.
2. Utility companies: some utility companies have used the past two years of the pandemic trying to update their systems. Things like authorization forms, verifications, and online portals have been slightly altered thus resulting in either long request times and/or the need to submit updated requests to push the data through existing requests.

With that information in mind, the sooner you begin working on your Benchmarks, the higher chance you have of meeting the deadline no matter how soon or late in the year yours is. If you haven’t yet begun your 2022 Benchmark report, our Benchmark team is happy and ready to help. To get started today, head on over to VertPro.com. For returning customers, you will want to log in to your existing VertPro account, review your 2022 dashboard and make any necessary changes/updates (i.e., add/remove properties and update authorization forms). New customers will need to register and set up their portfolios (adding properties and completing necessary authorizations). For any questions or immediate assistance, you can contact our team at (415) 912-1523 or support@vertpro.com.

Fun Fact: ENERGY STAR Certified buildings contribute 35% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to non-ENERGY STAR Certified buildings. – ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR Certification (ESC) – The Little Blue Label

When you go shopping for appliances it’s not uncommon to see a little blue label indicating the product is “ENERGY STAR Certified” and therefore more energy efficient. Now that same little blue label can be applied to buildings via ENERGY STAR Certification (ESC). Benchmarking a property is the steppingstone towards applying for an ESC, but there’s a lot more work involved (i.e., paperwork and site inspections). If qualified, the work involved in the application alone can be enough to deter you from applying. However, the financial benefits of being an ENERGY STAR Certified building alone is hard to beat. From a financial perspective, being ENERGY STAR Certified can help you save and earn money in the long run. According to ENERGY STAR, ESC buildings use an average of 35% less energy compared to similar non-ESC buildings. That means an ESC office building alone could “cost $0.50 less per square foot to operate” in comparison to non-ESC offices. In conjunction with lower operational costs, ESC buildings also see a higher net operating income and therefore a higher building valuation. This is important should you ever decide to sell your building as “numerous studies demonstrate a sale price premium of 1%-31% among energy-efficient buildings.” Even if you have no plans to sell your building, there are additional financial benefits as ENERGY STAR Certified buildings are noted as having higher occupancy – up to 10% – and rental rates – 3%-16% more. With lower operational costs and increased occupancy and rental numbers, you’re building could be saving and earning more money in the long run by simply being ENERGY STAR Certified. To view the full list of benefits of being an ENERGY STAR Certified building, I highly recommend checking out ENERGY STAR’s article here. To schedule a meeting to learn how Vert Energy Group can help you apply for the ESC, contact us at 800-585-2690 or email us.

Fun Fact: The construction industry contributes 4.1% – or approximately $790 billion – to the Unites States GDP. – Ain Sham Engineering Journal, Volume 12 Issue 1

Inflation and Your Building

When the pandemic first broke out, many countries closed their borders or took extra measures to ensure safety. We all saw in the news how exchange students had to quickly pack up and return home and we all felt the impact of our online orders now being back ordered and/or delayed. What many of us may not have realized, is the drastic impact these backorders and delays were having on the construction industry. A large portion of the U.S. construction materials (i.e., steel and stone) are imported. Basic supply and demand chains show that low supply and high demand will result in increased pricing. In a survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors (AGC), “bid prices and input costs have increased by 0.5% and 12.8% respectively since the onset of the pandemic.” Whenever you hire a contractor, you get a bid and then sign. The bids are based on the pricing of the materials. With the sudden increase in costs due to COVID-19, many contractors had to use part of their profits to cover the cost of the materials. Andy Choi from Marcum LLP states that “contractors (will need) to evaluate the existing costs and (consider) the possibility of a cost increase when bidding for a project” as the market is still facing shortages, delays, and high-priced materials. The more it costs the contractor to get your materials, the more it will cost you to hire. If you have any upcoming building projects and/or upgrades, Vert Energy Group can help you get bids. Get a free Energy Upgrade consultation with one of our Building Upgrades representatives here or post a project on VertPro.com/Bids.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend” – Martin Luther King Jr

I Have a Dream…

Monday, January 17^thmarks the 39^th year since legislation officially made the third Monday of January a federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr and all his achievements and influence during the Civil Rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr helped America to see that there were ways to discuss civil rights injustices and racism without resorting to violence. One of Martin Luther King Jr’s most notable demonstrations of nonviolent protest was the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. NobelPrize.org records that over the course of 382 days, Martin Luther King Jr and the African American community boycotted the Montgomery bus system until their demands for the abolition of segregation on buses were met. In the years following the 1955 bus boycott and until his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr traveled all over to speak on injustices that the African American community faced. During this time, he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the march on Washington D.C. in 1963. Between all the monumental work that Martin Luther King Jr did during his time and his inspirational “I Have a Dream” speech reminds us to practice love and compassion in our everyday lives. It reminds us to seek and strive for equality for all and peace no matter our differences. As Martin Luther King Jr said, “it takes empathy, patience, and compassion to overcome anger, hatred, and resentment” – a testament that is applicable not just on the third Monday each January, but to every day.

Danielle’s Corner

New Year’s Resolutions Happy New Year! Time to get those New Year’s resolutions and yearly goals made. I personally find setting goals helps me stick to my resolutions. This year I have three main resolutions: read more, reduce my impact on the environment, and be more energy-efficient. To keep me accountable I’m setting goals for each “category.” Every year I try to up my book read quota so that’s nothing new. I think the more challenging resolutions are to reduce my environmental impact and become energy efficient. I’m apartment hunting and one of the things I’ve added to my “wish list” is a place with Energy Star Certified (ESC) appliances. According to SoCal Gas, washers alone use roughly 25% less energy and 33% less water than normal appliances so that’s about $370 I could be saving on utilities while being energy efficient. It’s a win-win in my book. On the off chance that I can’t find ESC apartments, I’ll be sure to switch out all the lighting that I can for LED options if they’re not already in place. To help lower my environmental impact, I’m planning on having plant-based or vegan meals at least once a week. According to the University of Oxford, you can reduce your carbon footprint from food by 73% just by cutting meat and dairy from your diet and by extension will help lower greenhouse gas emissions. I’m not ready to go 100% vegan just yet, but I’m more than willing to give up meat once or twice a week. It may not be a huge change, but it will be a good start. I’d love to know if you have any energy efficiency tips and/or good vegan recipes! Whatever your resolutions and goals are this years, I hope you’re able to reach them! You got this!

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January 5, 2022

Closing out 2021
2021 at a Glance
As 2021 comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to reflect on all that we have accomplished here at Vert Energy Group. At the beginning of the year, we quickly realized that the pandemic wasn’t going anywhere, and neither was the energy programs. Not only were cities reinstating the original filing deadlines, but some even launched new programs. Vert Energy Group always wants to ensure that clients are well taken care of, so we have taken everything we learned from navigating the pandemic in 2020 and adjusted our procedures. You may have seen new features on your Benchmark dashboard on VertPro to help streamline filing year-to-year. Two of the biggest updates to the dashboard were allowing the option for autopay and providing clients with the ability to download their property’s Energy report straight from their VertPro account.
With the addition of these features to the existing VertPro platform, we also launched our Building Upgrades services aka VertPro Upgrades. Through VertPro Upgrades, you can get help with a wide variety of upgrade projects to your building. Clients can simply create or login to their VertPro account and post the building project they want to be done. Building upgrades can pertain to any of the following scenarios:
• Upgrades required by a city program (e.g., NYC Local Law 11 and SF Fire Alarm Ordinance)
• Projects found/recommended via your Audit reports (e.g., HVAC systems)
• Upgrades that your team wants to make for personal energy efficiency goals (i.e., installing solar)
If you have a project, you simply post it on VertPro upgrades, and Vert Energy Group will work to get you bids from pre-vetted local contractors. To post a project on VertPro Upgrades today and start getting bids, click here.
Throughout the past two years and the challenges we’ve faced due to the pandemic, we’re proud to say that Vert Energy Group has been able to continually grow and provide quality service to our clients. This past September was a huge highlight to our year as we were recognized by two acclaimed institutions – Inc. 5000 and PropTech Outlook. Every year Inc. 5000 releases a list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies and for 2021’s list, Vert Energy Group placed 1603^rd overall and 23^rd within the Engineering industry alone. On top of that, PropTech Outlook featured Vert Energy Group as the magazine’s cover story for the “Smart Building Edition.” Within the article, that you can read here, PropTech acknowledges Vert Energy Group as a Top 10 Smart Building Solution Provider in 2021. All these accomplishments are a testament to our companies values to continually innovate and improve our business to better assist our clients. From Benchmarking to Audits and Building Upgrades, we want you to know that you can trust us to help you meet your energy needs.
This past year we were fortunate to have the ability to bring on new members to the Vert Energy Group family. Each department has added new members to help not only our clients but also the teams’ operations overall. As our numbers grow, we understand the importance of establishing and maintaining those internal connections despite our entire company still working remotely. Our monthly company events have become important in aiding these emerging bonds as it gives us all an hour to unwind, have fun, and get to know one another. Our Benchmark department has even begun hosting their own team bonding events in addition to their weekly team meetings. This has helped to strengthen the team’s communication which in turn enables us to better serve you. Speaking of new members, in August the Vert Family was blessed with the birth of our Project Manager, Elize’s sweet baby boy. Between new colleagues and growing families, it has been amazing to see the Vert Energy Group family grow and support one another.
Fun Fact: The average Christmas tree with lights uses about 450 watts which is the same usage produced by a 55-inch T.V. – ElectricChoice.com

Holiday Energy Savings

According to ElectricChoice.com, the average American home will use 301 kWh/day to power all their holiday decorations – indoor and outdoor – when they leave the lights on for 7-hours/day. The national average for electric costs is $0.12/kWh which means during the holidays you may be potentially spending roughly an extra $36/day in the holiday season alone. Now we’re not saying to take all your lights down and become the Grinch or Scrooge this holiday season. Instead, consider making a few adjustments to how you decorate this year and moving forward. Last year we provided a few energy-saving tips for the holidays – read it here if you missed it – and we have more.
Last year’s energy tips focused on two key points:
Lighting – switching to LED options and programing lighting timers
Cooking – efficiently prepping your holiday meal and using the heat generated from the oven instead of your thermostat
In the realm of lighting, Direct Energy recommends opting for reflective decorative options such as ornaments, candles, ribbons, and garland to adorn smaller areas like your hallway, staircase, entryway, and mantels. If you do opt for candles, consider using battery-operated options for a safer, yet just as festive, holiday glow around the house.
For those who live in colder areas or plan on hosting outdoor holiday gatherings, you may be tempted to purchase portable heaters. Before you do so, it is important to consider the impact heaters can have on the world. In a 2020 article by Ellie Long with Alliance to Save Energy, Long writes that the average outdoor heater alone generates an average of 40,000 BTU/hour. When run for 5-hours/week over the course of the 3-month long holiday season, your outdoor heater will be generating the equivalent amount of CO2 as that which is produced from driving 450 miles. It is important to stay warm but it’s also important to pick energy-efficient options such as electric heaters or an eco-friendly propane heater. On that same note, portable space heaters, while good at keeping you warm, can also be costly. The Mason Public Utility District found that “each 1500-watt portable space heater, including those that are oil-filled, can cost up to $75 to run each month.” If you have a portable space heater in every room of the house, you’re looking at a hefty raise in your electric bills.
“Winter is a time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” Edith Sitwell

The Season of Cheer
Happy holidays! The great thing about the winter holidays is that there are so many variations to the same holiday. Take Christmas for example. Across the world, children are told stories of a man – most notably referred to as Santa Claus – who knows who has been naughty and nice and delivers gifts to the good children. In the U.S. kids leave cookies and milk for Santa while kids in England have been known to leave mince pies and brandy. Then you have the children in Reykjavik, Iceland who are taught about the 13 Santa’s known as the Yule Lads who deliver gifts each evening for the 13-days leading up to Christmas. While Christmas is widely known, some countries don’t celebrate it as fully as other winter holidays such as New Year’s Eve. Per Japanese traditions, Ōmisoka is the second most important day of the year as it signals the final day of the old year and the eve of the new year. On Ōmisoka, families gather to eat toshikoshi soba to symbolize their crossing over to the new year. Whatever your holiday celebration, be it family meals, the exchanging of gifts, singing carols, or simply enjoying the company of loved ones there’s no shortage of holiday cheer.

“The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.” – Terri Marshall

Ringing in the New Year

Worldwide New Year’s Eve is celebrated to bring the old year to a close and welcome the new year. Across different cultures, New Year’s Eve traditions are often used to manifest positive outcomes in the new year. Many of these traditions tie back to good fortune, health, love, and overall luck. There’s a Spanish tradition, las doce uvas de la suerte, in which individuals will place a dozen grapes – one for each month of the year – in a glass of wine or champagne before midnight. Once the clock strikes twelve, the grapes are wished upon and then eaten. It is believed that all twelve grapes should be eaten during the chimes of the clock, or you risk a year of misfortune. In some cultures, all household cleaning is done before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Any cleaning conducted on New Year’s Day is seen as being synopsis with washing away your luck for the year. Other cultures have traditions to bring luck in specific areas of one’s life. In Brazil, people wear specific colored underwear on New Year’s Eve depending on what they are trying to achieve in the new year. Five common colors Brazilians opt for are white, green, yellow, red, and purple as they represent peace, health, money, love, and inspiration respectively. Whether or not you believe these traditions to be real or simply superstitions, it’s still a fun way to manifest some extra luck in the New Year and partake in the festivities.

Danielle’s Corner
Making the most out of this Holiday Season
December, the month of spiced apple cider and mulled wine, fresh-baked pies – pies just seem more appropriate during the holidays in my opinion – and gingerbread houses, holiday parties, and holiday shopping. Now I know that we’re in year two of celebrating Christmas during a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean we make the most of the holiday season. There are a lot of fun events that you can safely enjoy. As usual, I clicked my way on over to Eventbrite to look up some events this month in sunny southern California. Here’s some that caught my eye:
• For lovers of the arts: The Nutcracker put on by the San Pedro City Ballet on December 10^th and 12^th ($30-$40) or by the A Terre School of Dance on December 17-19 and December 22-23 ($18.50-$33). It’s The Nutcracker. Need I say more.
• For the holiday shoppers: Creative Babe Market – Holiday Sip & Shop at Taps in Tustin is a free outdoor market on December 18^th from 2:00-6:00 pm. Get your holiday shopping done while supporting small local businesses and enjoying live music and delicious foods and beverages.
• For families: experience a drive-in movie viewing of The Polar Express presented by The Port of Long Beach on December 18^th. The movie starts at 6:30 pm but the lot will open at 5:00 pm so get there early for a good spot.
• For fans of Christmas lights: from December 3^rd-January 2^nd, you can enjoy a 75-minute cruise around Newport Landing to view the 2021 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade & Ring of Lights Cruise. Tickets are $25.00.
• For those looking to stay active and keep the holiday gains away: 2021 Santa’s Big Day 1M, 5K, 10K, 13.1, 26.2 is a virtual race. You choose how much you want to run – or walk – and do it from any location you want during the month of December. Bonus: a portion of the registration fees to participate ($25 to enter) will be donated to Operation Warm a nonprofit that provides new winter coats to children in need across North America.
There’s so much to experience this month and I cannot wait to participate – safely of course! If you attend any of these events or even host your own little celebration share your experience with us! Tag us on Instagram @vertenergygroup so our Vert Energy Group community can see how you’re celebrating the holidays this year!
From our Vert Energy Group family to yours, happy holidays! Wishing you a holiday full of magic, cozy vibes, an abundance of yummy treats, and a year of joy and good health. See you next year!

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December 1, 2021

Tag: 2022

Energy Benchmark Fines And Violations

City/State Energy Benchmark Fines and Violations for Non-Compliance

“The risk management on the front end of things are hard dollars sometimes for owners to spend. It’s kind of like putting a new roof on your house. You have to do it, otherwise you can save the money but eventually it’s all going to catch up to you.” – Michael Klutho

NYC Local Law 11 (LL11) – Facade Inspection & Safety Program

Fun Fact: 3pm is the official time of observance every Memorial Day in the U.S.

Memorial Day

Fun Fact: According to a 2021 YouGov poll, the most popular Mother’s Day gift that mothers wanted were flowers followed closely by sharing a special experience with their family.

Danielle’s Corner

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Energy Benchmarking Deadlines are Almost Here

“The easiest way to save money is to waste less energy” – Barack Obama

Energy Audits and Retro-Commissioning (RCx)

“The first thing we can do as individuals and as communities, like a school or a university or a church, is cut our energy use. Do an energy audit or measure our carbon footprint.” – Katharine Hayhoe

VertPro® Subscription Services Available Now

Fun Fact: When April Fools began in France, paper fish are stuck to people’s backs symbolizing a person being gullible like fish who gets caught easily.

April Fools

Danielle’s Corner

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2022 Energy Benchmarking Best Practices & Evolving Requirements

Navigating the Energy Benchmarking World

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing” – Walt Disney

Upcoming 2022 Energy Benchmark Deadlines

“Getting the right people in the right jobs is a lot more important than developing a strategy.” – Jack Welch

Finding the Right Contractor

Fun Fact: Leprechauns may be associated with Saint Patrick’s Day, but they have their own holiday – Leprechaun Day – which falls on May 13th each year.

Luck of the Irish

Danielle’s Corner

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Prepare Your Building for an Earthquake

“What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Started Your 2022 Benchmark Yet?

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can” – Arthur Ashe

New Annual Energy Laws

Fun Fact: In a 2019 BBC Article, it was found that approximately 50,000 people a year write to Juliet, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, seeking comfort and/or advice in the realm of love.

Saint Valentine

Danielle’s Corner

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Kick Starting 2022

The Sooner the Better

Fun Fact: ENERGY STAR Certified buildings contribute 35% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to non-ENERGY STAR Certified buildings. – ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR Certification (ESC) – The Little Blue Label

Fun Fact: The construction industry contributes 4.1% – or approximately $790 billion – to the Unites States GDP. – Ain Sham Engineering Journal, Volume 12 Issue 1

Inflation and Your Building

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend” – Martin Luther King Jr

I Have a Dream…

Danielle’s Corner

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Closing out 2021

2021 at a Glance

Fun Fact: The average Christmas tree with lights uses about 450 watts which is the same usage produced by a 55-inch T.V. – ElectricChoice.com

Holiday Energy Savings

“Winter is a time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” Edith Sitwell

The Season of Cheer

“The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us.” – Terri Marshall

Ringing in the New Year

Danielle’s Corner

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Fun Fact: Leprechauns may be associated with Saint Patrick’s Day, but they have their own holiday – Leprechaun Day – which falls on May 13^th each year.

**Fun Fact: In a 2019 BBC Article, it was found that approximately 50,000 people a year write to Juliet, from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, seeking comfort and/or advice in the realm of love.**