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Tag: Benchmarking

How Using Energy Benchmarking Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
One of the most important global challenges of our day is climate change. The built environment, which includes office buildings and homes, contributes to carbon emissions. According to the World Economic Forum, about 33% of the world’s carbon emissions come from energy used to power buildings. Therefore, lowering energy use in buildings is essential for climate change mitigation.

Energy benchmarking is a useful strategy for lowering building energy use. Energy benchmarking is assessing a building’s energy efficiency and contrasting it with that of comparable structures. This procedure identifies chances to boost energy efficiency and points up areas that need improvement.

In this article, we will look at the advantages of energy benchmarking and how it can lower your carbon footprint. We will talk about the benefits, which range from cost savings and higher effectiveness to better building performance and increased sustainability. Additionally, we will look at a few of the typical difficulties with energy benchmarking and offer workable answers to them. You will have a good knowledge of the significance of energy benchmarking and how to successfully apply it in your building by the conclusion of this essay.

1. Understanding Energy Benchmarking

Comparing a building’s energy performance to a standard or set of standards is a procedure known as Energy Benchmarking. The procedure entails monitoring the energy usage of a facility and looking for areas that might be improved. Here are some more specifics:

How Energy Benchmarking Works

Energy benchmarking involves collecting data on a building’s energy usage, including electricity, gas, and water usage. The data is then compared to a set of standards or benchmarks to determine the building’s energy performance. Some of the common benchmarks used for energy benchmarking include:
- Energy Star
- ASHRAE
- LEED
- Green Globes
Once the energy performance is determined, building owners and managers can identify opportunities for improvement and develop a plan to reduce energy consumption.

Types of Energy Benchmarking

There are several types of energy benchmarking, including:
- Whole building benchmarking
- Portfolio benchmarking
- Targeted benchmarking
Whole building benchmarking involves comparing the energy performance of an entire building to a set of standards. Portfolio benchmarking compares the energy performance of a group of buildings, while targeted benchmarking focuses on specific areas or systems within a building.

Importance of Energy Benchmarking

Energy benchmarking is important because it enables building owners and managers to make informed decisions about energy usage, reduce energy waste, and save money. By benchmarking energy usage, building owners can:
- Identify areas of improvement
- Set energy performance goals
- Prioritize energy efficiency upgrades
- Track progress and measure results
Overall, energy benchmarking is a powerful tool that can help building owners and managers reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

2. How to Implement Energy Benchmarking

Energy benchmarking implementation calls for a systematic process that includes conducting energy audits, acquiring energy data, establishing performance targets, and pinpointing areas for improvement.

Conducting Energy Audits

Conducting an energy audit is the first step in implementing the energy benchmarking process. An energy audit involves evaluating a building’s energy use and identifying potential areas for improvement. The audit can be conducted by an energy consultant or performed in-house by building staff.

During an energy audit, the following steps are typically taken:
- Review of energy bills
- Walkthrough of the building to identify energy systems and usage
- Review of maintenance logs
- Interview with building staff to identify energy issues
Gathering Energy Data

Gathering energy data is the second step in implementing the energy benchmarking process. Building owners and managers can gather energy data by:
- Collecting energy bills
- Installing sub-meters to track energy usage by the system or tenant
- Implementing a building automation system to track energy usage in real-time
The energy data should be collected regularly, such as monthly or quarterly, to ensure energy usage trends can be identified.

Setting Performance Goals

Setting performance goals is the third step in implementing energy benchmarking. Performance goals should be based on industry standards and best practices. Some of the common performance goals include gaining either:
- Energy Star certification
- LEED certification
- Green Globes certification
The performance goals should be challenging yet achievable.

Identifying Opportunities for Improvement

Identifying opportunities for improvement is the fourth step in implementing energy benchmarking. Building owners and managers can identify opportunities for improvement by:
- Analyzing energy data
- Conducting a cost-benefit analysis of potential upgrades
- Prioritizing upgrades based on cost and energy savings potential
Some of the areas for improvement include lighting, HVAC systems, and building envelopes.

3. Benefits of Energy Benchmarking

Energy benchmarking offers several benefits, including cost savings, increased efficiency, improved building performance, and enhanced sustainability.

Cost Savings

One of the most significant benefits of energy benchmarking is cost savings. By identifying areas for improvement and implementing energy efficiency upgrades, building owners and managers can reduce energy consumption and save money on energy costs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), buildings that benchmark energy usage can save up to 7% annually on energy costs.

Increased Efficiency

By locating energy wastage, energy benchmarking also contributes to efficiency growth. Building owners and managers may decrease energy waste and boost the effectiveness of their building systems by adopting energy efficiency enhancements. This can therefore result in enhanced building performance and greater occupant comfort.

Improved Building Performance

Building owners and managers may enhance the efficiency of their building systems by identifying potential areas for improvement and putting those improvements into practice. Numerous advantages may result from this, including better maintenance of building systems, enhanced occupant comfort, and improved indoor air quality. In the end, energy benchmarking may assist property owners and managers in improving the experience for their renters or residents while also lowering their carbon footprint and promoting a more sustainable future.

Enhanced Sustainability

Enhancing sustainability through energy benchmarking may be beneficial. Reduced energy use may help building owners and managers lower their carbon impact and advance a more sustainable future. Building managers and owners may increase the lifespan of building systems and encourage sustainable practices by installing energy efficiency modifications. These advantages can result in cost savings over the long run and better building performance in addition to having a favorable effect on the environment. In the end, energy benchmarking may assist building managers and owners in meaningfully influencing the future to be more resilient and sustainable.

4. Challenges of Energy Benchmarking

While there are many benefits to energy benchmarking, there are also some challenges that building owners and managers should be aware of. Some of the common challenges include:

Data Collection

Accurately gathering energy data can be a challenging task, particularly for buildings with multiple tenants or submeters. Collecting energy data can be time-consuming and expensive when dealing with renters or subcontractors, and building owners and managers may be required to address these challenges.

Fortunately, there are several solutions available to simplify the data collection process. For example, building owners and managers can invest in smart meters, which can automatically monitor and report energy usage data in real-time. Additionally, implementing energy management systems can provide a centralized platform for tracking energy consumption across multiple buildings and tenants.

Cost

While implementing energy benchmarking and energy efficiency upgrades can be beneficial for building performance and sustainability, they can also come with a significant price tag. Building owners and managers need to carefully consider the costs of upgrades against the potential energy savings to determine if the investment is worthwhile.

Fortunately, there are several financing options available to help building owners and managers implement energy efficiency upgrades without breaking the bank. For example, government grants and incentives may be available to support building upgrades, and energy service companies (ESCOs) can provide financing solutions to help offset upfront costs.

Lack of Expertise

Implementing energy benchmarking and energy efficiency upgrades requires a certain level of expertise in energy management and building systems. Building owners and managers may need to hire energy consultants or provide training for their staff to ensure that these practices are implemented effectively.

Expert energy consultants can provide valuable insights into building systems and energy usage patterns, helping building owners and managers identify areas for improvement and develop strategies for optimizing energy efficiency. In addition, providing staff training on energy-efficient practices can help ensure that building systems are used efficiently and that energy-saving opportunities are not missed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, energy benchmarking is a practical and effective way to reduce carbon footprint and improve building performance. By implementing energy benchmarking, building owners and managers can save money on energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Although challenges exist, the benefits of energy benchmarking outweigh the costs, making it a worthwhile investment. We encourage building owners and managers to embrace energy benchmarking and make a positive impact on the environment.

If you are looking for an Energy Benchmark expert for your property, contact us at VertPro.com! We are an award-winning Energy Benchmarking and Audit Consultancy, recognized on Inc. 5000, providing innovative SaaS technology-based solutions for Building Owners & Property Managers to Simplify Energy Compliance with all 50+ Energy Benchmarking & Energy Efficiency Laws Nationwide. From Energy Benchmarking to Energy Audits/RCx Plus and Construction Marketplace, VertPro® has you covered.
May 18, 2023
San Jose Building Performance Ordinance Beyond Benchmarking Requirements

San Jose, California’s bustling city, is leading the way on green solutions with its recently-introduced Building Performance Ordinance. This ordinance goes beyond benchmarking requirements currently employed in other areas to ensure that buildings are as efficient and sustainable as possible.

For those looking for a guide on how their commercial and multifamily buildings can reach optimal performance in an environmentally conscious manner, the Building Performance Ordinance could very well have your answers! Read on to learn more about what this unique approach encompasses and why it’s important for cities like San Jose if we hope to usher in greener times.

What Is San Jose Benchmarking?

San Jose Benchmarking is an efficiency program that focuses on assessing energy and water services in buildings. Under the San Jose Water Building Performance Ordinance, commercial and multi-family residential buildings must meet energy and water performance standards that have been established for their respective building types. This program can track energy use over time, resulting in energy cost savings for building owners and occupants.

Additionally, the benchmarking process ensures that energy and water services are being used responsibly, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. With San Jose Benchmarking, energy or water services is closely monitored to enable progress towards improving energy efficiency while providing necessary services responsibly.

Who Can Comply With San Jose Energy Benchmarking?

San Jose Energy Benchmarking is an important and beneficial measure to take when looking to improve efficiency in energy and water services. Residents, businesses, and city properties can comply with the San Jose Energy Benchmarking standards as it provides a comprehensive list of efficiency improvement measures.

These include reducing electricity and gas usage, efficiently using drinking water resources, capitalizing on efficiency investments, and more. With the help of San Jose Energy Benchmarking, many different entities have begun implementing efficiency measures that otherwise may have gone unrealized.

San Jose building performance ordinance beyond benchmarking requirements

The San Jose Building Performance Ordinance goes beyond the benchmarking requirements imposed on buildings and continually seeks to improve energy performance in the city. It outlines weather normalized site energy standards necessary for compliance with the ordinance. It also provides guidance on adopting efficiency improvement measures to realize greater savings than merely meeting those minimum standards.

This deeper focus on energy consumption cycles is one of the reasons why San Jose’s building performance ordinance has become increasingly important and regarded as an example of proven success, pushing the envelope forward in building energy efficiency.

What Are Requirements For San Jose Energy Benchmarking?

The City of San Jose has implemented energy benchmarking requirements to help reduce citywide energy usage and bolster performance. These requirements involve a performance verification report for all gas water heaters, which must occur every 5 years for commercial buildings holding natural gas accounts.

Additionally, the energy performance of qualifying buildings over 20,000 square feet must be assessed at least once every three years, with performance scoring determined through the ENERGYSTAR Portfolio Manager. In these situations, building owners are given improvement pathways they can use to enhance their performance in order to achieve maximum efficiency.

Deadline For San Jose Energy Benchmarking Report

The energy benchmarking deadline for San Jose is fast approaching. If your energy or water audit report has not yet been submitted, it’s time to move into action and get it in before the date of August 1st.

While energy efficiency programs may require some effort to ensure compliance, they ultimately save energy and water while cutting money off energy bills. Take advantage of this great opportunity to better steward energy and the environment by submitting your report quickly and accurately. You can create an energy efficient living or working space with the right steps in no time.

Penalty For San Jose Energy Benchmarking Report

The energy and water savings achieved by energy benchmarking reports in the city of San Jose have recently been rewarded. Property owners who produce an energy benchmarking report, which informs their energy star score, are eligible to receive financial incentives for energy efficiency investments. These energy savings amount to more than enough energy to power over 1,200 homes.

Additionally, with these incentives come further energy reductions so that San Jose is on track towards meeting its energy reduction goals set forth in the Climate Action Plan. Taking advantage of energy benchmarking and energy star score reports can immensely impact energy savings that benefit the community — giving you a fantastic opportunity to make a positive difference!

Benefits Of San Jose Energy Benchmarking

San Jose Energy Benchmarking helps to track energy usage and identify areas for improvement, allowing businesses and homeowners alike to reduce their energy consumption and save money. It can also help buildings meet various performance standards set by the city of San Jose, such as Title 24 or LEED certification. Some of the key benefits of San Jose Energy Benchmarking include:

• Identifying Energy Usage: San Jose Energy Benchmarking makes it easy to track and compare energy usage and identify trends and pinpoint areas for improvement. This can help businesses reduce their overall energy costs and become more efficient.

• Real-Time Metrics: With San Jose Energy Benchmarking, businesses and homeowners can access real-time energy usage data to act quickly to make changes and reduce their energy costs.

• Compliance with Regulations: San Jose Energy Benchmarking helps buildings meet various performance standards set by the city of San Jose, such as Title 24 or LEED certification. This helps ensure that buildings are built and operated in an environmentally-friendly manner.

• Sustainable Building Practices: San Jose Energy Benchmarking can help businesses reduce their overall environmental impact by encouraging energy efficiency. This encourages sustainable building practices, helping to protect the environment for future generations.

• Cost Savings: Businesses can save money on their utility bills by reducing energy usage. This can result in significant cost savings over the long term.

San Jose Energy Benchmarking is an excellent way for businesses to reduce their energy costs, become more efficient, and meet environmental regulations. It’s a great tool for businesses and homeowners alike to ensure that buildings are run in a sustainable manner.

Things To Consider When Complying With San Jose Benchmarking

1. Gather all the necessary information: To comply with the San Jose Benchmarking Law, businesses must first collect and analyze a range of data related to their building’s energy use. This includes utility bills, meter readings, and other records of energy consumption. Businesses should ensure they have all the necessary data before beginning the benchmarking process.

2. Track progress over time: Benchmarking is an ongoing process, and businesses should track their progress to see if their energy use is improving or not. By monitoring their performance regularly, businesses can identify any areas of improvement that need to be addressed and make changes as necessary.

3. Use the right tools: Analysis of energy data can be complex and time-consuming, so businesses should use the right tools to help them accurately analyze their energy consumption. San Jose offers a number of benchmarking tools that provide detailed information on energy performance and make it easier to track progress over time.

4. Regularly update data: To ensure accurate benchmarking, businesses should regularly update their energy data with the most current information. This includes any changes in building operations or equipment and fluctuations in utility rates.

5. Stay informed of developments: San Jose continually updates its benchmarking regulations, so businesses should stay up-to-date on any changes that could affect their operations. By staying informed, businesses can ensure they always comply with the law.

6. Seek assistance if needed: Understanding and complying with all the benchmarking regulations can be complicated, so businesses may want to seek help from a professional if needed. San Jose offers a variety of resources to assist businesses with benchmarking and other energy-related issues.

Following these steps can help businesses ensure they are in compliance with the San Jose Benchmarking Law and help them save money on their energy bills. With regular tracking of performance, businesses have a better chance of identifying areas where improvements can be made to reduce their energy consumption. Additionally, by staying informed of any changes to the law, businesses can ensure they remain in compliance and make any necessary adjustments as needed.

The Final Verdict

Beyond Energy Benchmarking Requirements: San Jose’s Building Performance Ordinance is a case study for other cities on how to make their own energy efficiency policies more effective. The ordinance goes beyond the requirements of previous citywide codes by mandating regular inspections and reporting, establishing new standards for insulation and windows, and creating an online scorecard system that allows residents to track the progress of individual buildings.

Thanks to these measures, the city has seen a significant decrease in energy usage across all types of buildings since the ordinance was enacted. If your city wants to improve its energy efficiency policy, contact Vert Energy Group today. We can help you establish and implement best practices to save your municipality money while protecting the environment.

March 22, 2023
Understanding the Los Angeles Energy Benchmarking Emission limits

LA is setting the standard for green businesses, and understanding their energy benchmarking emission limits will ensure you don’t get left behind. Far more than an annoyance to business owners, failing to comply with these regulations can directly impact your reputation and wallet size! In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what LA’s rules are; when they apply; why it matters right now; plus how adhering to them might benefit everyone involved – from employees to customers alike!

And if you’re serious about meeting standards across all sizes & sectors of organizations? Then check out our best practices advice at the end – everything a budding eco-friendly entrepreneur needs in one place. Learn today: live ‘green’ tomorrow!

What Is LA Energy Benchmarking Emission Limit?

LA has implemented a comprehensive energy benchmarking and emission limit policy to reduce its non-residential buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions. This program, EBEWE, allows building owners to measure their energy performance against similar structures or the city’s own settings over time.

By implementing efficient technology and operations practices into the design of these policies, LA is creating an effective roadmap for improving energy efficiency in all aspects of commercial real estate ownership. Through this initiative, it can be seen that environmental stewardship plays a crucial role in driving economic growth throughout California and positively impacting global efforts toward climate change adaptation!

Who Can Comply With LA Energy Benchmarking?

With rising energy costs, businesses in Los Angeles are keeping their eyes open for ways to save. The city’s benchmarking policy requires buildings bigger than 20,000 square feet to assess and upload data on water and energy use into Energy Star Portfolio Manager annually. This produces an easy-to-understand score denoting the building’s efficiency level – a higher score means better performance in being more environmentally responsible!

With such a straightforward way of showing commitment towards sustainability goals while cutting back on expenses, LA organizations have plenty of reason to invest time and effort into establishing green practices that make them stand out as leaders in becoming sustainable powerhouse cities!

Deadline For LA Energy Benchmarking Report

Los Angeles energy benchmarking reports are due on June 1! Whether jointly or separately owned, many new and existing buildings over 20,000 square feet of gross floor area in Los Angeles must comply with the city’s energy benchmarking ordinance requirements. This includes performing energy audits and submitting energy performance data to California Energy Benchmarking.

Different energy sources are included in these reports, such as electricity, oil, and natural gas; these energy sources must all be used in accordance with applicable energy standards outlined in the Los Angeles Municipal Code. Hurry and meet the deadline -June 1 is just around the corner!

Understanding The Los Angeles Energy Benchmarking Emission Limits

The Los Angeles City Council has recently passed an ordinance, the LA Energy Benchmarking and Emission Limits Ordinance, that allows building owners in the local area to monitor their existing buildings’ energy consumption easily. With this greater level of detail concerning water usage and energy services performance available, they can assess precisely how well-equipped their establishments are for meeting these new standards set by authorities. This ordinance provides company proprietors with all the data needed to make meaningful upgrades so as to remain compliant with government regulations – a responsibility that now falls on them more than ever before!

What Are Requirements for Los Angeles Energy Benchmarking?

The City of Los Angeles has set a bold goal for achieving energy and water efficiency: mandating benchmarking throughout the city’s businesses and public facilities. By comparing annual gas, electricity, and other resource consumption from year to year at each facility and tracking their progress over time, we can effectively identify potential areas where cost savings – and emissions reductions! – are achievable. It’s an ambitious endeavor but one that carries a great promise; together, let us strive towards realizing increased resource conservation in our beloved hometown!

The city of Los Angeles is committed to conserving resources and upholding established sustainability goals — an effort that begins with businesses consuming a significant amount of energy. To keep them informed on their resource use, organizations must provide year-over-year data reports -comprising baseline figures for the current period and comparison details from previous periods. With this requirement in effect, companies can competitively refer back to prior years’ numbers while making knowledgeable decisions along the way – ultimately resulting in positive outcomes toward growing green initiatives!

Penalty For Los Angeles Energy Benchmarking Report

Los Angeles has taken a firm stance towards energy conservation, with the upcoming implementation of their ‘penalty for not filing energy benchmarking reports’ policy. Starting November 2020, commercial and multifamily buildings that are more than 20,000 square feet will be required to complete and submit energy usage reports on an annual basis.

These reports simulate how much certain energy structures use yearly, allowing Los Angeles to track improvement and keep citizens accountable for meeting sustainability goals. Any buildings that do not meet this requirement by March 31st, 2021, the deadline will face a fine starting at $2 per day until the report has been completed and satisfactorily submitted. It’s a great step forward for the city as they pursue its 2020 goal of slashing carbon emissions by 45%.

Benefits Of Los Angeles Energy Benchmarking

Here are the benefits of LA Benchmarking:

1. Increases Transparency: LA Benchmarking increases transparency in energy use by providing clear data on how much energy is used and how it is distributed throughout the city, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions on their future energy usage.

2. Improves Efficiency: As LA Benchmarking requires regular reporting from building owners, it encourages them to find ways to reduce energy usage through improved efficiency. This leads to lower operational costs and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Improves Building Value: Energy-efficient commercial and multifamily buildings are more attractive to tenants, investors, and buyers due to their lower operating costs. As LA Benchmarking requires energy audits, owners can use the results to make necessary improvements and increase the value of their properties.

4. Supports Climate Action: LA Benchmarking helps the city meet its climate action goals by requiring commercial and multifamily buildings to become more energy efficient. This reduces the city’s carbon footprint, making it a leader in environmental stewardship.

5. Increases Awareness: LA Benchmarking increases awareness of energy usage in commercial and multifamily buildings, providing building owners with the information they need to make informed decisions about their energy use. This encourages more efficient practices and helps create a sustainable future for Los Angeles.

Overall, LA Benchmarking has numerous benefits for commercial and multifamily buildings, from improving efficiency and building value to supporting climate action and increasing awareness. It is an important tool in the city’s efforts to create a more sustainable future.

Things To Consider When Complying With Energy Benchmarking

Let’s check out:

1. Understand the underlying purpose of energy benchmarking: The first step to successful compliance with an energy benchmark is to understand why you are doing it in the first place. Is this a requirement from a government agency or utility? Are you trying to save money on your energy bills? What metrics, such as energy intensity and carbon emissions, are you trying to improve?

2. Choose the right benchmarking tool: There are various energy benchmarking tools available, each with different features and benefits. Make sure you choose a tool that will meet your specific needs, such as integrating other data sources or advanced reporting capabilities.

3. Create an action plan: Before beginning any energy benchmarking project, it is important to create a comprehensive action plan that outlines the goals and steps necessary for optimal energy savings. This includes understanding energy usage patterns, setting energy targets, and determining how energy projects will be implemented.

4. Monitor progress: Once your energy benchmarking project is underway, you need to track progress over time to ensure energy savings goals are being met. A good energy benchmarking tool should provide detailed energy data and reports that enable you to identify areas of improvement.

5. Leverage available resources: The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power has developed energy efficiency programs and incentives to help businesses meet energy savings targets. Businesses can save energy and money by taking advantage of energy incentive programs, rebates, and audits.

By understanding the purpose of energy benchmarking, choosing the right benchmarking tool, creating an action plan, monitoring progress, and leveraging available resources, businesses in Los Angeles can maximize their energy savings while complying with energy benchmarking regulations.

Conclusion

In order to help reduce emissions and protect our environment, businesses need to understand the LA energy benchmarking emission limits. With this knowledge, businesses can ensure they comply with these regulations and help create a cleaner and healthier world for us all.

February 22, 2023
Budgeting for Benchmarking and Beyond

Energy Efficiency Costs
Maintaining the Energy Efficiency of your buildings can appear costly when you’re not planning ahead. There’s the yearly Benchmark filing followed by the 5-10 year Audit and RetroCommissioning (RCx) reports and finally the upgrades and projects you need to complete based on the results of your Audits and RCx. While it’s relatively easy to account for the annual filings, the Audit and RCxs can sneak up on you. In the worst-case scenario, one of your building’s operational systems breaks and needs to be repaired or upgraded immediately. If you haven’t set aside the necessary funds, you’ll most likely find yourself in a pinch.

Planning Ahead

“All the things I could do if I had a little money…” – ABBA
One of the easiest, and best, ways to begin budgeting for your Energy needs is to include it in your Capital Expenditures (CapEx). According to Investopedia, capital expenditures are important for two key reasons:
• The funds help to maintain a building and its equipment
• Allows you to “invest in new technology and other assets for growth”
As a reminder, Benchmarking and Audits/RCxs quite literally track your buildings’ Energy consumptions and needs to be upgraded. By this logic, Benchmarking and Audits/RCxs are investments in a building’s maintenance and growth.
There are a few things to consider when setting up your capital expenditures year-to-year. Firstly, your capital expenditures are not to be confused with your operating expenses. The capital expenditures pertain to expenses that do not occur on a regular basis – such as building upgrades. Conversely, operating expenses deal with your regular or frequent expenses – think utility bills and rent. It’s important to keep your capital and operational expenditures separate so as to avoid confusion or issues.
Based on your yearly Benchmark reports, you will see your Energy Score increase, stay the same, or drop. If your building’s Energy Score begins to drop, that’s a good indication to start prepping your CapEx as there’s a high chance that your building’s operations need to be upgraded. Many Audit/RCx deadlines for city and state ordinances fall around the end of the year, so conducting your Audit and planning your capital expenditures go hand-in-hand.
An Audit/RCx conducted by a licensed professional (LP) is the best way to pinpoint the exact cause for your decreased Energy Score. The finalized Audit/RCx report will provide you with areas for improvement and projected costs for those projects that will save you money and energy in the long run. Potential areas of improvement include, but are not limited to, your building’s HVAC, Lighting, Automation, and Solar systems. Based on these findings, your company will be able to implement a minimum and maximum budget to encompass immediate and maintenance expenses. Investopedia states that common capital expenditure plans are “constructed to over a period of five to 10 years” thus serving as “a company’s ‘five-year plan’ or long-term goals.” As Audits and RCx are only conducted every 5-10 years, it is pertinent that you’re including the head of daily operations in CapEx discussions for your building as they are the most knowledgeable on building issues and repairs. By consulting an LP and your head of daily operations will ensure that the appropriate funds are allocated for your capital expenditures.

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.” – Russell Baker

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Surviving the Summer Heat
Summer heat is in full swing and rising, but that doesn’t mean your energy bills have to increase. There are still many ways to stay cool without racking up the costs. Monitoring your AC and fans’ usage is one of the simplest ways to be energy efficient. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again if you have a smart thermostat make use of it. The Department of Energy found that setting your thermostat 7-10 degrees lower than the outdoor temperature can save up to 10% on AC expenses each year. With that in mind, set your thermostat to kick in when it reaches a certain temperature – for example, 78 degrees – and be sure to turn this feature off when no one’s home to ensure energy is not being wasted cooling an empty home. Keep in mind that the lower the temperature setting, the lower the settings so if you’re at 72 degrees, then you’ll only be saving up to 3% on AC expenses. You also want to be sure that your AC vents are regularly cleaned and dust-free to ensure optimal airflow. If the AC vents are dusty, it’s going to block the cool air trying to get out and you’ll find yourself trying to lower the temperature more and more to feel the effects. The lower the setting, the more your AC is going to have to work and the higher your energy bills.
According to the Department of Energy, 90% of the energy from incandescent lights is actually just the heat with the remaining 10% being actual light. Crazy right? Needless to say, if you’re using incandescent lighting, you might want to keep those off and use natural lighting while the sun’s out unless you want to raise the room’s temperature. A better option would be to switch to LED lighting as they generally give off low amounts of heat. There’s the added bonus that in comparison to incandescent lighting, LEDs use significantly less energy and last significantly longer – 75% less and 25 times longer respectively. Switching to LED will ensure no additional heat is being generated while helping you save money. It’s a win-win.

Moving Past COVID

Many cities have begun to reopen and resume normal operations thus resulting in the reinforcement of Energy ordinances and programs*. As many cities and states start to reinstate their original, pre-pandemic Benchmark and Audit/RCx deadlines, it is important to note that there will also be less leniency. That means, deadlines will be enforced and penalties will be distributed as cities and states see fit. Vert Energy Group has continued to work through these unprecedented times to ensure we’re staying up-to-date with any and all changes made to the various nationwide Energy ordinances. If you’re finding yourself in the position to begin filing again, we’re here for you. Head over to VertPro.com to begin meeting your Benchmark, Audit, and RCx, and/or building upgrade needs. If you’re unsure if your city or state has reinstated your local Energy programs, our support team can help you via email at support@vertpro.com and by phone at 800-585-2690.
*Please note at the time of drafting this section things were beginning to open up. Check with your city’s or state’s guidelines for the most up-to-date information.
Fun Fact: In Northern Australia, the first Monday in August marks the public holiday “Picnic Day

Danielle’s Corner
Back-to-School Season…
August marks back-to-school season! Hopefully the activities I shared in our June and July Vert Report helped keep your little ones occupied all summer long. Now I’m here to help you face the back-to-school shopping nightmare. When I was a struggling college student, I used to hit up my local malls to see what deals they had going on. Pre-COVID, the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, CA used to handed out little booklets full of coupons to use at participating stores and restaurants and held summer night events in August. This provided a great way to stock up on back-to-school supplies and clothes while getting your grub on and attending fun events. The Irvine Spectrum has yet to announce any fun back-to-school event, but you can always do your own little celebration to make the process fun for your kiddos.
Start your day off hitting the back-to-school sales and reward yourself and/or your family with a yummy meal out. And remember, shop for EnergySTAR certified electronics to ensure energy efficiency year-round. If you’re unsure if a product is EnergyStar certified simply look for the official logo or double-check the EnergySTAR website. If you spot any great back-to-school deals for EnergyStar products, share them with the Vert Energy Group community on our Facebook and LinkedIn or find us on Instagram. We’re all one big community, so let’s continue to help one another out!

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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.
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August 4, 2021