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How Energy Audits Can Boost Commercial Building Performance

As businesses across the world strive to become more eco-friendly, many are turning their attention to energy efficiency. Energy audits are a critical tool in the effort to reduce your business’s environmental footprint and get the most from your building.

By examining how resources such as electricity, gas, and water are used in commercial buildings, energy audit processes can reveal invaluable information about how these resources can be managed for maximum savings without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Let’s look at some ways an energy audit may boost the performance of energy efficiency upgrades in any commercial building.

What are energy audits?

Energy audits are assessments of the energy use in a building. An auditor looks at how much energy is used, where it’s used, and what can be done to reduce the overall energy consumption and improve efficiency.

Audits provide detailed data which helps identify potential improvement areas and pinpoint savings opportunities. They also provide guidance on ways to enhance comfort and energy efficiency improvements, increase safety, and reduce operating systems and equipment costs.

Energy audits can range from basic walk-throughs that capture a snapshot of current conditions to more in-depth analyses covering all aspects of mechanical and electrical systems within a facility or an entire campus. Auditors may use tools such as infrared cameras, blower door tests, computer simulations, or other diagnostic equipment to assess energy consumption and uncover opportunities for improvement.

Overall, energy audits are used to help identify the most cost-effective ways to reduce a building’s energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. They can be a helpful tool in helping facility managers meet their goals of reducing operating costs while still providing adequate comfort and safety levels.

Energy audits also provide an opportunity to gain valuable insight into the performance of a building’s systems and its potential areas of improvement. Building energy audits and evaluating current conditions can help inform decisions about future investments in equipment or upgrades that may prove beneficial in the long run.

In summary, energy audits are invaluable for facilities looking to save on operating costs, enhance occupant comfort, and improve efficiency. They can help identify areas where improvements and significant energy savings are needed and provide guidance on the most effective ways to implement changes that will lead to long-term savings.

Benefits of an Energy Audit for Your Commercial Building

The following are the benefits of an Energy Audit for Your Commercial Building:

1. Identify areas of inefficiency:

A professional energy audit will analyze your building’s current energy usage and identify potential problem areas where you can save on energy costs. The proper energy audit may uncover problems with insulation, energy efficiency measures, HVAC systems, lighting systems, control systems, or other equipment that can be resolved to reduce your overall operating costs.

2. Improve air quality:

By assessing the air quality inside your commercial building, an energy audit will detect any harmful toxins or allergens present within the space. These contaminants could not only affect the health of employees but also lead to a decrease in productivity if left unaddressed.

3. Reduce operating costs:

An energy audit can provide detailed reports outlining how changes to the building can reduce energy consumption, thereby reducing operating costs for commercial building owners. This could be in the form of installing more efficient appliances and implementing smarter control systems that automatically adjust temperature or lighting depending on occupancy levels.

4. Maximize operational efficiency:

An energy audit can help you maximize operational efficiency by identifying equipment that is not being used effectively and making recommendations for more efficient operation. These efficiency improvements could include replacing old HVAC systems with newer models or optimizing airflow patterns to improve airflow and reduce energy usage.

5. Increase environmental sustainability:

By improving the efficiency of your commercial building, an energy audit will help you decrease your carbon footprint while meeting green building standards. This could involve switching to LED lighting, installing solar panels, or upgrading insulation to save energy and reduce the energy needed to power your building. In addition, reducing emissions will also help you meet local regulations and improve air quality in the area.

6. Develop a long-term energy plan:

An energy audit can provide an in-depth analysis of your current energy consumption patterns and develop a customized plan for reducing operating costs over time. This could involve implementing more efficient operation strategies, such as investing in smart technology or scheduling regular maintenance checks on equipment.

You can also do energy bill analysis and use this information to create budgeting plans that allow you to make strategic investments into green initiatives without breaking the bank.

7. Enhance customer satisfaction:

By improving the efficiency of your commercial building, you can reduce energy and utility bills and create a more comfortable environment for customers. This will lead to enhanced customer satisfaction, which could translate into increased sales or an improved reputation in the business world.

8. Increase the value of your property:

Lastly, making improvements suggested by an energy audit may increase the value of your commercial building. The upgrades made as part of an audit can help you save money on energy costs while also increasing the commercial building owner’s resale value if you ever decide to sell or lease the space.

An energy audit provides many benefits for commercial buildings. By identifying areas where efficiency can be improved, improving air quality, reducing operating costs, maximizing operational efficiency, and increasing environmental sustainability, an energy audit can help you make your building more efficient and increase its value.

Additionally, it can help you develop a long-term energy plan to ensure that you are always meeting your customers’ needs while staying within budget. Doing an energy survey and investing in an energy audit will pay off in the long run!

What Should Commercial Property Owners Look for in an Energy Audit?

As a commercial property owner, it is important to understand the energy efficiency of your building and its systems. A building energy audit assesses the building’s current energy performance, identifies potential wasteful practices, and offers recommendations for improvement.

Here are some tips on what to look for when selecting an energy auditor:

Look for Certified Energy Auditors

The first thing that any commercial property owner should consider is ensuring that the person or organization they choose has been certified by Building Performance Institute (BPI). These organizations train and certify their members as professional inspectors and commercial building energy audit auditors. Certified energy auditors are more qualified than non-certified auditors because they have received specific training in inspecting and evaluating energy efficiency.

Consider Specialty Services Available

A commercial property owner will also want to review any specialty services their potential auditor offers that may not be included in a standard inspection. Many organizations offer these services at an additional cost, such as indoor air quality testing or air leakage tests. Depending on the size of the facility and its specific needs, these added services could be essential for ensuring the building’s health and long-term sustainability.

Understand Any Additional Fees

Many auditors charge additional fees beyond the base rate for their service. These extra costs can include things like travel fees, report fees, equipment rental fees, personnel costs, or setup/testing fees – so make sure you understand what kind of additional expenses you may encounter with your selected auditor.

The good news is that many government programs will reimburse businesses for part or all of these costs if they meet certain criteria. Research these programs before undertaking your audit to see if they might apply to you.

Verify Credibility Through References & Reviews

Finally, everyone–especially business owners responsible for large properties–should check references from past clients before hiring an auditor. Online reviews can also be helpful—on sites like Yelp! For instance—but take them with a grain of salt; sometimes competitors leave negative reviews about each other under fictitious names just to sway customers one way or another.

Asking for references from prior customers is a great way to verify an auditor’s credibility so you can decide who will do the best job vetting your property’s energy efficiency potential.

Conclusion

In conclusion, energy audits can help commercial building owners and operators gain greater insight into how their buildings are performing, pinpoint areas for potential improvement, and take steps to make those improvements. Not only will these changes improve the efficiency of their buildings, but they’ll also save money in the long run. That’s a win-win solution!

Moreover, regular energy auditing improves asset performance. Furthermore, by partnering with an experienced energy audit provider such as VertPro®, building owners can benefit from sophisticated technology, accurate assessment results, detailed data collection, and analysis tools, among other advantages designed to help develop strategic energy management plans suited to individual business needs.

May 4, 2023
How to Qualify for an EBEWE Exemption from the Audit and Retro-commissioning

Are you looking to save time and money on the audit, commissioning, or retro-commissioning your building’s energy systems? EBEWE Exemptions are an invaluable resource for organizations that comply with various codes and standards that waive certain requirements to minimize tedious processes like inspections and additional paperwork.

Learning more about eligibility criteria and potential exemptions can help reduce costly procedures while improving the effectiveness of existing strategies.

In this post, we’ll explain everything you need to know about qualifying for an EBEWE Exemption from audit and retro-commissioning – so read on!

What Are Audits And Retro-Commissions?

Audits and retro-commissions are energy consumption surveys that tell us how energy is being used in a given building, system or organization. They provide us with a comprehensive understanding of energy use by measuring energy efficiency through diagnostic tools. This can highlight certain areas of energy waste.

Moreover, retro-commissions provide a roadmap to help organizations reduce energy usage and save costs through pinpointing specific adjustments that can be made to increase energy efficiency. The ultimate goal of audits and retro-commissions is to give organizations the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their energy use going forward.

How to Qualify for an EBEWE Exemption from the Audit and Retro-commissioning?

If you’re looking to qualify for an EBEWE exemption from the energy audit and retro-commissioning, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, it must be verified that energy and water consumption has steadily decreased over at least the last four years or until energy usage has reached a certain threshold.

Additionally, energy audits should be conducted every two years to prove energy efficiency is improving. Finally, any energy efficiency measures recommended in the energy audits must be completed before an exemption is granted. By meeting these requirements, your organization can secure an exemption from energy auditing and retro-commissioning—ensuring your business is as energy efficient as possible!

Who Can Comply With EBEWE Energy Benchmarking?

Energy benchmarking is essential for building owners looking to improve energy performance and conserve energy. EBEWE energy benchmarking is no different – it’s an effective way to determine the energy consumption of existing buildings energy and measure energy efficiency. To comply, building owners must complete an energy consumption survey for each building and submit the results to an energy advisor.

This process yields useful data and insights about how the building uses energy, allowing owners to make informed decisions about energy performance upgrades or to take other corrective measures.

Compliance Deadline For EBEWE Energy Benchmarking Report

Are you a business owner with central cooling systems in your commercial building? If so, you may want to take note of the upcoming compliance deadline for EBEWE Energy Benchmarking report. As of June 1st, 2021, all commercial buildings with central cooling systems must submit a water efficiency program report, including source energy use intensity data, to their local government.

Doing this allows you to determine if your central cooling system is as efficient as possible, helping your business save money on utility bills in the long run. Don’t miss out on this opportunity – make sure to check your local government’s policies and get that report in before the deadline!

Benefits Of EBEWE Exemption From The Audit And Retro Commissioning

EBEWE Exemption from the Audit and Retro Commissioning can help reduce energy costs through:

– Improved Efficiency: By performing an EBEWE Exemption, commercial building owners are able to identify areas of inefficiency and make improvements before the audit, or retro commissioning process is completed. This helps to improve the efficiency of all systems, resulting in lower energy costs.

– Reduced Costs: By reducing the amount of time and money associated with pre-audit and retro commissioning, building owners can save money on audit and retro commissioning costs. This helps to reduce overall energy expenses over time.

– Improved Comfort Level: EBEWE Exemptions allow building owners to ensure that all systems function correctly and efficiently. This helps to improve comfort levels for occupants, resulting in improved productivity and reduced absenteeism.

– Increased Safety: EBEWE Exemptions can help reduce the risk of fire or other safety issues by ensuring that all systems are functioning properly and safely. This helps to increase the overall safety of a building, ensuring that occupants are safe and secure.

– Increased Productivity: EBEWE Exemptions help to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs, resulting in increased productivity for occupants. This can lead to higher revenues for businesses, as well as improved morale for employees.

Overall, EBEWE Exemptions can positively impact a building’s energy efficiency and costs, resulting in improved comfort levels for occupants, increased safety, and higher productivity. This makes EBEWE Exemption from the Audit and Retro Commissioning an attractive option for many building owners.

Things To Consider When Qualifying For An EBEWE Exemption From The Audit And Retro-Commissioning

1. The project must meet all applicable building code requirements and have been constructed according to the approved plans, including any changes or modifications made during construction.

2. The building systems must be operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the EBEWE Exemption Guidelines (see Appendix A).

3. The building must have been designed according to recognized energy efficiency design principles and practices, including use of renewable energy technologies (e.g., solar hot water or photovoltaic systems).

4. The building must be equipped with a Building Automation System (BAS) that is set up for remote monitoring and control of the building’s energy systems to enable continuous and/or periodic monitoring of energy performance.

5. The building must have been designed with energy efficiency measures that are not dependent on the BAS, such as occupancy sensors and automatic lighting controls.

6. The building must be equipped with a comprehensive system of meters that accurately monitor energy consumption and provide data for comparison of energy performance before and after the retro-commissioning process.

7. The building must have been designed with systems that allow easy access to make any necessary adjustments or repairs to the building’s energy systems.

8. The building must be equipped with an ongoing training program for staff and/or occupants, so they can become familiar with the systems and use them efficiently.

9. The building must be certified as meeting current energy efficiency standards by an approved third-party auditor or commissioning authority. This certification must be renewed on a regular basis to ensure ongoing compliance with the EBEWE Exemption Guidelines.

10. An application for the exemption must include a detailed description of the energy efficiency measures implemented in the building, along with supporting documentation. This must include copies of all applicable building permits and a complete list of equipment and materials used in the cooling process.

Penalty For EBEWE Energy Benchmarking Report

Recent energy benchmarking regulations require local governments to track and report their buildings’ energy usage in EBEWE Energy Benchmarking Reports. Those who do not comply may face hefty fines. Businesses and corporate entities have not been exempt from this, ensuring everyone can quickly submit the necessary documentation or deal with the consequences. The only exception is residential properties, which are far from getting away with anything, since they still need to adhere to all local municipal requirements. Anyone avoiding compliance will surely face the penalty for their non-compliance, so it’s essential for everyone to take these regulations seriously.

The Final Word

You can save energy and money by following these simple tips to qualify for an EBEWE exemption from the audit and retro-commissioning. The first step is to find a reputable company like Vert Energy Group to help you with the process. Once you have found a reputable company, they will take care of the rest!

April 4, 2023
How to Request Energy Usage Data from the Building Benchmarking Portal

If you’re looking for ways to become more energy efficient in your building or business, requesting data from the building benchmarking portal is a great place to start. Benchmarking is an invaluable tool that enables you to compare and monitor your property’s or properties’ performance over time, allowing you to identify potential issues and take corrective action. In this post, we will explore what benchmarking is, why it matters, and explain how to use the convenient building benchmarking portal by requesting energy usage data. We understand that with limited time on hand it can be easier doing it online, and not dealing with paperwork, while increasing their efficiency too! Ready? Let’s get started!

Basics Of A Benchmarking Portal

Benchmarking portals provide a great service for busy professionals and teams looking to manage their performance more effectively. Benchmarking portals provide an opportunity to access, analyze and compare data on metrics like customer satisfaction, financial returns, industry trends and efficiency rates. This reliable data sourced via the portal allows you to quickly gain insights into how your organization performs relative to others in the same market or sector. You can identify areas for improvement and opportunities for growth across all areas of your operation – from sales and marketing campaigns to customer service processes. With a benchmarking portal, powerful decision-making becomes just a few clicks away.

How to request energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal?

For building owners in California, requesting energy usage data is quick and easy since the state’s building benchmarking portal administers the Collection-Disclosure Program as part of the California Energy Commission. All that owners need to do is register their facility with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®, a free web tool that helps you track and assess energy and water consumption, give permission to share data, and view reports of combined energy performance. The process can be completed with just a few clicks — it’s that simple!

Benefits Of Requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal

Energy benchmarking helps building owners and operators identify opportunities to save energy, money and reduce their carbon footprint. Requesting data from the building benchmarking portal allows for better understanding of a building’s performance and potential savings opportunities.

Some of the benefits of requesting energy usage data include:

1) Access to real-time energy data: Requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal can provide real-time insights into a building’s energy performance. This allows for a better understanding of how the building uses electricity, natural gas and other utilities, which can lead to improved operations and efficiency.

2) Identifying potential savings opportunities: Requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal can help identify potential areas for cost savings. Through understanding a building’s energy performance, owners and operators can uncover hidden costs in their operations and find ways to reduce their energy consumption.

3) Supporting green initiatives: Requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal allows users to track their energy usage and emissions, helping to support green initiatives. This data can also help owners and operators compare their buildings’ energy performance with similar buildings in the same area and sector.

4) Simplifying compliance: Requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal can simplify compliance with local laws and regulations, such as city or state-mandated building energy efficiency requirements. Owners and operators can quickly and easily comply with regulations by accessing the data.

5) Saving money: Requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal allows users to identify potential savings opportunities, reducing operating costs. This data also helps inform decisions that can lead to long-term savings on utility bills.

Overall, requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal can help owners and operators better understand their buildings’ performance, identify potential savings opportunities, and support green initiatives. By utilizing this data, users can save money while also helping to reduce their carbon footprint.

Things To Consider When Requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal

When requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal, it is important to consider certain factors, such as:

1. The type of energy the building uses: Different types of buildings require different types of energy. For this reason, it is important to determine what type(s) of energy is used in a particular building before requesting energy usage data.

2. The age of the building: Older Buildings may require more energy to operate than newer buildings, so it is important to consider the age of the building when requesting energy usage data from the portal.

3. The size and occupancy of the building: The size and occupancy level can also impact its energy usage, so it is important to consider these factors as well.

4. The location of the building: Where a building is located can affect its energy consumption due to environmental conditions, so it is important to consider the location of the building when requesting energy usage data from the portal.

5. The type of energy efficiency measures implemented: Different types of buildings may have different types of energy efficiency measures in place, so it is important to consider this when requesting energy usage data from the portal.

These are some of the factors to consider when requesting energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal. Considering these factors can help ensure that the data provided is accurate and reliable.

What Is Benchmarking Energy Report Use?

Benchmarking energy reports are invaluable resources for businesses and organizations looking to understand their energy consumption better. Such reports comprehensively analyze energy consumption, cost, and intensity relative to national peers, competitions, industry standards and local performance standards. This detailed benchmark allows one to compare their own performance—both in terms of absolute consumption levels and the efficiency of the processes used across regions, communities, or even buildings. Thus benchmarking energy reports go beyond just offering best practices in sustainable development: they provide actionable insights for organized efforts to reduce overall energy use and its associated costs.

What Is Energy Benchmark Compliance?

Energy benchmark compliance is an important concept for businesses and organizations to understand. It refers to the practice of ensuring buildings and other assets meet or exceed energy efficiency standards set by regulatory bodies. By being compliant, organizations strive to reduce their operational costs related to energy use while at the same time lowering their carbon footprints. To achieve this, key performance indicators must be monitored and tracked throughout a building’s lifecycle to identify areas needing attention or improvements. The aim is that through ruling compliance standards such as certification processes, organizations will become more efficient with their energy usage over time, reducing emissions and safeguarding the planet for future generations.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to request energy usage data from the building benchmarking portal, take the next step and contact Vert Energy Group. We specialize in helping our clients reduce their carbon footprints and save money on energy costs. Our team of experts will work with you to collect the necessary data and Benchmark your property. We’ll develop a custom plan tailored specifically for your needs so you can start saving money and reducing your environmental impact today. Contact us now to get started.

March 16, 2023
Guide to San Francisco Energy Benchmarking

Are you tired of locating the best available energy data for San Francisco? If so, then look no further! Our guide to San Francisco’s energy benchmarking portal has all the necessary information. We’ll take you through each step with ease, clearly outlining what is needed to understand better and improve your building or portfolio’s energy use. With our help, you’ll be able to access actionable insights from real-time and historical performance metrics. Whether optimizing existing systems or developing new projects – our guide will show how this portal can provide a competitive advantage over other cities worldwide!
What Is San Francisco Energy Benchmarking?
San Francisco Energy Benchmarking is a citywide initiative to provide San Francisco building owners with a way to measure and report their properties’ energy use. This groundbreaking program helps property owners save money on energy costs by tracking their usage and making informed decisions about sustainability improvements. It uses benchmarking software to compare a building’s energy performance to similar buildings in the area, allowing property owners to identify areas where they can reduce waste and increase efficiency. The generated data allows property owners and policy-makers to make informed decisions regarding energy management practices that can help reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions while saving money in the long run.
Who Can Comply With San Francisco Energy Benchmarking?
Energy efficiency has never been easier in San Francisco, thanks to energy benchmarking! Energy benchmarking is the process of measuring energy consumption relative to energy performance standards. It’s a framework that lets folks know how much energy their building or structure uses compared to similar buildings.
Anyone can use San Francisco’s energy benchmarking initiatives and tools; this includes property owners, building managers, real estate portfolio companies, and anyone else who needs to meet energy efficiency requirements. To get started with energy benchmarking in San Francisco, you’ll need access to the EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager—a free online tool designed specifically for service providers and end users. With it, you can enter your building or structure’s information, such as location, square footage, and energy sources—as well as energy usage estimates— to easily track your progress on reaching greater energy efficiency goals.
Guide To San Francisco Energy Benchmarking Portal
San Francisco has recently released its online Energy Benchmarking Portal, a definitive guide that outlines the city’s Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance. As part of this ordinance, building owners and operators in San Francisco must request energy usage data from tenants annually. This information allows the city of San Francisco to understand better how and why buildings use energy, enabling them to develop more efficient solutions while keeping costs down. With the San Francisco Energy Benchmarking Portal, building owners receive energy benchmarks for their own units and information about local resources, incentives, programs, and other best practices related to energy efficiency.
What Are Requirements For San Francisco Energy Benchmarking
For energy benchmarking in San Francisco, energy use data must be reported to the Department of Environment every three years. Energy performance metrics must be compared to similar buildings using energy scorecard metrics. Furthermore, energy auditors with sufficient training, experience, and expertise must perform energy audits and commission energy efficiency retrofits in compliance with city building energy efficiency requirements. Buildings entering the Energy Scorecard program must meet specific size and electrical energy use criteria. At the same time, all other structures are subject to voluntary benchmarking, giving landlords serious incentives to evaluate how their buildings are performing regarding energy use.
Deadline For San Francisco Energy Benchmarking Report
Are you a building owner in San Francisco? If so, don’t miss the energy benchmarking report deadline! Every year, owners of non-residential buildings over 10,000 square feet can participate in energy benchmarking. The goal is to assess energy performance and decrease energy use with energy efficiency upgrades. All energy benchmarking reports must be completed by June 1st in order to comply with the regulations set by the California Energy Commission and receive their Energy Star Score. Using the data gathered from this report, owners will have all the information they need to identify energy-saving opportunities in their facility and make meaningful investments to improve energy efficiency. Get started today on meeting this important deadline for your energy benchmarking report!
Penalty For San Francisco Energy Benchmarking Report
The San Francisco energy benchmarking report is a vital measure of how energy is used in buildings and commercial spaces throughout the city. There are serious consequences for households and businesses that fail to comply with these standards. Non-compliance can lead to a civil penalty fine ranging from three hundred to six thousand dollars. Additionally, failure to submit the necessary online forms annually can result in administrative fines of up to five thousand dollars for each violation. Citizens of San Francisco and business owners must take responsibility and ensure compliance with this essential city policy—otherwise, financial penalties may apply.
Benefits Of San Francisco Energy Benchmarking
Let’s have a look at the benefits:
1. Increased Productivity: San Francisco energy benchmarking is an effective way to reduce energy consumption in buildings and save money as a result. By tracking and analyzing building energy data, businesses can make informed decisions about improving efficiency and reducing costs. This improved efficiency can increase employee productivity, allowing them to focus their efforts on more important tasks.
2. Improved Environmental Impact: San Francisco energy benchmarking helps reduce the energy consumed in buildings and make them more sustainable. By using less energy, businesses can reduce their carbon footprint and help to slow the rate of climate change. This can have a positive impact on both people and the environment.
3. Money Saved: San Francisco energy benchmarking can help businesses save money on their energy bills. By reducing the energy used in buildings, businesses can reduce their monthly costs and put that money toward other initiatives. This can have a positive effect on the bottom line and help to improve profitability.
4. Increased Awareness: Doing an energy audit on a building can help raise employees’ awareness about how their energy consumption affects the environment. This improved understanding can lead to more responsible energy use, reducing costs and improving efficiency.
5. Improved Building Performance: Businesses can identify areas where improvements can be made by tracking and analyzing building energy data. This could include things like replacing old equipment with more efficient models, improving insulation, or installing solar panels. All these improvements can lead to better building performance and a higher comfort level for occupants.
Overall, San Francisco energy benchmarking offers numerous benefits for businesses in terms of improved efficiency, reduced costs, and increased sustainability. By taking the time to track and analyze energy data, businesses can make informed decisions about reducing their energy consumption and making their buildings more efficient. This can lead to improved productivity, environmental impact, and money saved in the long run.
Things To Consider When Complying With San Francisco Energy Benchmarking
Here is what you should consider when complying with San Francisco benchmarking:
1. Energy Audits: An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of your building’s current energy use and can help identify potential areas for improvement. Make sure to take advantage of this service, as it can help you meet the benchmarking requirements more efficiently.
2. Benchmarking: San Francisco requires a full analysis on a building’s benchmarking performance, as well as the potential for improvement. Make sure to keep track of any changes you make so that it can be reflected in the analysis.
3. Reporting: San Francisco requires annual energy reports on buildings larger than 10,000 square feet. Accurately tracking and reporting energy use is essential for meeting the benchmarking requirements.
4. Documentation: Keep detailed records of all energy-efficient upgrades for your building, such as new equipment, insulation, or lighting changes. This documentation will be necessary when filing annual reports.
5. System Upgrades: It may be necessary to upgrade existing systems, such as HVAC and lighting, to meet the benchmarking requirements. Make sure to research your options and choose upgrades that provide maximum efficiency and cost savings.
6. Financing: San Francisco provides incentives for energy-efficient upgrades, such as rebates or grants. Leverage these resources to improve your building’s efficiency cost-effectively.
7. Compliance: Make sure to stay up-to-date on all the benchmarking requirements. San Francisco occasionally changes the rules, so it’s important to comply with all regulations.
Following these guidelines will help ensure that your building meets and exceeds the San Francisco Energy Benchmarking standards. Taking a proactive approach and making small changes can save time, money, and energy in the long run.
Conclusion
The City of San Francisco has made it easy for building owners to find out how their buildings measure up in terms of energy performance with the Benchmarking Portal. With this valuable tool, you can track your progress over time and compare your building’s energy use to similar properties across San Francisco. Energy benchmarking can be a time-consuming and confusing process. Need help? VertPro® simplifies energy benchmarking for your entire portfolio! It’s as easy as 1,2,3! Sign up for free today at VertPro®.
Making your property more energy efficient not only saves you money, but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps create a healthier environment for everyone. Log into the portal today and start benchmarking your property’s energy performance.

February 28, 2023
How Energy Benchmarking – Improves Building Performance

Do you use energy benchmarking to assess your building’s performance? If not, now is the time to start. Energy benchmarking can help you make the most of the energy usage in your building and save money in the process. In this blog post, we’ll explore why your business needs to invest in energy benchmarking and some key strategies to help improve your building’s efficiency over time. From reduced costs and increased comfort levels, there are countless benefits that come with improving a building’s performance—so let’s take a look!
What Is Energy Benchmarking?
Energy benchmarking is an important tool to help measure energy efficiency in buildings. It compares energy consumption levels of buildings against similar facilities, allowing for energy performance comparisons over time and aiding in energy conservation decisions.
Through energy benchmarking, building owners and property managers can monitor energy usage trends to identify problems, find energy savings opportunities across their portfolio or facility, and track progress and investments over time. In addition to helping buildings become more energy efficient, benchmarks also provide a way to measure the effectiveness of upgrading building systems with cutting-edge technology like renewable energy sources. As such, energy benchmarking is a valuable tool in the push toward green energy solutions that can help us save on operating costs and benefit the environment.
How Can Energy Benchmarking Data Improve A Building’s Energy Performance?
Benchmarking a building’s energy performance is essential in driving consumers towards higher-performing buildings. With benchmarking data, businesses and organizations can better understand their building’s energy performance and set targets for improved energy use and efficiency.
There are benchmarking and transparency policies that promote the usage of benchmarking data and platforms, such as Energy Star Portfolio Manager, which allows users to compare their benchmarked buildings with other similar buildings in terms of energy use, consumption, emissions, and performance.
Benchmarking a building’s energy performance can equip owners to identify potential opportunities for reducing energy costs and help to reduce waste so that they can make meaningful improvements in their buildings’ energy performance.
Why Is Energy Benchmarking Important For Building Owners?
Energy benchmarking is an invaluable tool for building owners looking to reduce energy consumption and, ultimately, energy costs. By providing energy data collected from metering and energy use analysis, energy benchmarking helps building owners gain insight into their energy consumption. This data provides a snapshot of energy consumption in comparison to the energy performance of other similar buildings, helping them evaluate energy performance and understand how costly changes to their facility could impact energy use over time.
For this reason, benchmarking has become an important part of the environmental protection agency’s (EPA) efforts toward creating more sustainable energy practices across the nation. For any property owner looking to make their building more energy-efficient and cost-effective, energy benchmarking is an invaluable tool that should be taken advantage of today.
How To Conduct Energy Benchmarking Assessment?
Energy benchmarking is an important part of building performance standards, as it helps to track energy consumption data and use it to implement energy-saving initiatives. An energy benchmarking assessment should begin with a survey to understand the building’s physical characteristics, including its size and age. Next, analyze building energy bills and other documents related to building operations.
After collecting relevant information and data, compare the building’s Energy Star score against similar scores from other buildings in the area and develop potential ways to improve its score. With continued effort and consistent monitoring of the building’s energy usage, progress can be tracked over time to continuously reduce energy costs and drive greater efficiency for a more sustainable building.
Tips To Reduce Energy Consumption Of A Building
Here are some tips to reduce the energy consumption of a building:
1. Utilize Natural Lighting: Take advantage of natural light to reduce the need for electric lighting during the day. Installing larger windows, and skylights, and adding reflective surfaces can all help to bring more natural light into your building while reducing energy consumption.
2. Install Motion Detectors: Automatically turning off lights when no one is in the room can greatly reduce energy consumption. Installing motion detectors or sensors on lights and other appliances can help you save money.
3. Install Efficient Lighting: Replacing traditional bulbs with LED bulbs can result in significant energy savings. Also, using task lighting instead of main lighting to reduce your energy costs.
4. Utilize Power Strips: Plugging all computers and other electronics into one power strip can help reduce energy consumption by cutting off their power when not in use. You can also set a timer on the power strip so that it will automatically shut off after a certain period of time.
5. Insulate Your Building:Insulating your building can help to keep the warm air inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer. This can reduce your energy costs as you won’t need to use heating or cooling systems as often.
6. Upgrade To Energy-Efficient Appliances: Replacing old appliances with newer, more efficient models can help you cut energy costs. Look for ENERGY STAR-certified appliances to ensure you get the most efficient models available.
7. Utilize Smart Thermostats: Installing programmable thermostats, and smart thermostats can help you better manage the temperature in your building without overworking your heating and cooling systems. This can help you save money while still maintaining a comfortable environment.
Following these tips can reduce your energy consumption and lower your utility bills. Taking steps to become more energy efficient is an important part of being eco-friendly and responsible for the environment. Your efforts will also pay off in terms of savings as well!
Benefits Of Energy Benchmarking
Let’s have a look at the benefits of energy benchmarking:
1. Cost Savings: Energy benchmarking provides a clear understanding of energy use and helps to identify cost savings opportunities. It allows organizations to track and measure their performance, compare it with similar buildings, set goals for improvement, and develop strategies for achieving those goals.
2. Improved Performance: Benchmarking reveals inefficiencies and areas of improvement in the energy use of a building. It helps to illustrate how buildings operate and enables organizations to track progress over time. This information can be used to make informed energy consumption and performance decisions.
3. Increased Awareness: Energy benchmarking encourages improved awareness of energy use among occupants and staff members, which often leads to increased consciousness and a better understanding of how energy can be used efficiently.
4. Improved Energy Efficiency: By benchmarking the energy use of a building, organizations can develop strategies for improving its efficiency. This process helps identify areas where improvements can be made to reduce overall energy consumption and save money on utility bills.
5. Increased Value: By making the necessary improvements to a building’s energy efficiency and performance, organizations can increase its value in the market by demonstrating to potential buyers that the building is well-managed and has a low environmental impact.
Energy benchmarking is an important tool for helping organizations save money on energy costs and improve the overall performance of their buildings. It is a simple, cost-effective way to track and analyze energy use, identify opportunities for improvements, and set goals for future energy efficiency initiatives. Ultimately, benchmarking can lead to greater savings in energy costs and an improved bottom line for organizations.
Best Energy Benchmarking Tools
Regarding energy benchmarking, the best tools are those that provide detailed analytics, allow for customization and offer specific recommendations for efficiency improvement. Some of the top tools on the market today include Energy Star Portfolio Manager, and VertPro®.
These programs provide various features to simplify energy benchmarking in commercial and buildings, such as user-friendly dashboards, automated data updates, and rebate options. With these powerful tools, anyone can improve energy efficiency with just a few clicks!
Things To Consider When Investing In Energy Benchmarking
Investing in energy benchmarking is a great way to improve the environment and cut your operating costs. Whether you are an individual investor or a company looking to reduce emissions, it’s important to consider a few components when determining the best strategy. First, identify what types of energy sources you need to analyze.
Then assess the current and projected usage of that energy source by collecting data from previous bills or surveys of the customer base. Additionally, you should take into account how long it will take for any changes made through energy benchmarking to take effect; for example, if new equipment is being installed, this can significantly raise upfront costs but save money in the long run by heading off higher utility bills down the road.
Finally, think about potential savings over time — are there any potential incentives you can use? If so, capitalize on them and maximize your return on investment while helping protect our planet.
Conclusion
Energy benchmarking is a valuable tool for improving building performance. By understanding how your buildings use energy, you can make informed decisions about where to invest in improvements. Benchmarking allows you to compare your building’s performance against similar properties and track progress over time. If you’re not already using energy benchmarking, now is the time to start!

February 1, 2023
How Does EBEWE Benchmarking Help in Building an Energy Management System?

Benchmarking is an important component in building a successful energy management system, helping you recognize areas for improvement, prioritize strategies and track performance. EBEWE Benchmarking is an innovative benchmarking tool specifically developed to help organizations size up their own energy performance against comparable facilities and take steps toward reducing energy costs.
It uses key baseline indicators – including historical data, available technologies, and current market prices – to identify opportunities for increasing efficiency and optimizing operations at the organizational level. In this blog post, we’ll explore how EBEWE benchmarking can help identify areas of significant savings potential that contribute towards a strong energy management plan.
What is EBEWE Benchmarking?
EBEWE Benchmarking is a powerful benchmarking tool used to measure performance against industry standards or best practices. It allows decision-makers to see how their business stacks up against competitors in a way that goes beyond pure financial metrics. With EBEWE, businesses can identify areas of improvement by studying successful traits, such as customer service processes, and understanding where they stand relative to the rest of the market.
The process of benchmarking through EBEWE helps organizations increase efficiencies and make better strategic decisions based on accurate data and analysis. By having detailed insights into industry positionings and opportunities, companies can compare their current performance with trends across their sector to identify key areas for growth.
Step-By-Step Guide To EBEWE Benchmarking
Learning energy benchmarking with the EBEWE energy benchmarking system is a straightforward and simple way to measure energy performance. This energy benchmarking system takes you through every step to accurately measure energy consumption in buildings. The process starts with completion of an energy consumption survey, which helps identify areas where energy can be saved or improved upon.
After this step is complete, you will submit the survey along with other building and tenant data for printing a score card that meets requirements set by the Los Angeles Municipal Code and California Green Building Standards Code. Finally, EBEWE streamlines the tracking process for long-term energy performance goals, helping you meet sustainability standards easily and efficiently.
How does EBEWE benchmarking help in building an energy management system?
Through EBEWE Benchmarking, energy performance across many types of buildings is monitored and routinely tracked. This energy performance is represented as an energy efficiency grade, which illustrates energy usage in comparison to other similar buildings or to energy benchmarking standard points. With this energy efficiency grade, building owners have access to better energy management feedback that helps them make informed decisions on energy spending.
The energy audit process from EBEWE allows building owners to see where energy and water can be saved, which helps with cost savings for any company. In addition, the water efficiency program provided through EBEWE allows for enhanced tracking and reporting of commercial building water requirements, providing valuable insight on your business’s resource consumption. All this information gathered from EBEWE energy benchmarking helps in shaping up a more effective energy management system.
How to Comply with EBEWE Benchmarking?
Complying with EBEWE Benchmarking is a great way for businesses and organizations to track energy savings and become energy-efficient. The energy star portfolio manager is an easy one-stop energy assessment and efficiency tracking tool that allows businesses to measure energy savings, set goals, and compare their energy performance against others in the same industry.
With energy star certification, businesses can promote their efforts to be energy conscious and demonstrate their commitment to energy conservation through online recognition of their accomplishments. Becoming energy efficient not only saves money on energy costs but also shows your organization places importance on taking care of our environment. With the help of the energy star portfolio manager, you can easily monitor and improve your energy efficiency goals!
Requirements for EBEWE Benchmarking?
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has strict requirements when it comes to benchmarking a building’s energy performance. The EBEWE benchmarking process is designed to provide detailed insight into the inherent energy efficiency of any given structure, giving owners and tenants the tools they need to make informed decisions about their building’s use of resources.
With EBEWE, certain metrics must be reported in order for benchmarking to be completed, including details such as utility bills and occupancy rates. For an even more comprehensive look at a building’s energy usage, benchmarks can be adjusted to account for weather patterns and other matters that influence a space’s energy consumption levels. It is important to remember that benchmarking is not necessarily mandatory but can certainly provide helpful insights.
Deadline for EBEWE Benchmarking Report
Starting off in the new year, it’s a great time to assess performance and goals. The EBEWE Benchmarking Report allows you to gain insight into your organization’s progress and future targets for improvement. It is essential to submit the report by the June 1st deadline.
That way, your leadership can use the data for developing strategies and plans for further growth. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and stay current with industry trends – be sure to submit your report on-time!
Benefits Of EBEWE Benchmarking
Here are the benefits of EBEWE benchmarking:
Improved Performance
EBEWE benchmarking helps to identify areas of improvement in performance and processes, enabling organizations to make adjustments that can lead to improved performance. This can be especially beneficial for organizations that are looking to optimize their operations and become more efficient.
Identifying Best Practices
By comparing different companies’ performance and processes, EBEWE benchmarking can help identify best practices that can be adopted to improve performance. This allows organizations to easily identify the most successful strategies employed by their competitors and adapt them to their own operations.
Cost Savings
By identifying areas of improvement through EBEWE benchmarking, organizations can save money on costs associated with inefficient processes. This can lead to significant cost savings, which can be used to fund further improvements or reinvested in other areas of the business.
More Efficient Processes
EBEWE benchmarking can help to identify and streamline processes that are not performing as efficiently as they could be. By reducing inefficiencies in processes, companies can improve their overall efficiency and performance.
Improved Decision Making
By providing a comprehensive view of the business environment, EBEWE benchmarking can help organizations make better decisions that are informed by accurate data. This has the potential to increase the success rate of strategic decisions and ensure that organizations remain competitive in the market.
Competitive Advantage
By identifying best practices and improving performance, EBEWE benchmarking can give organizations a competitive edge in their industry. This can help companies to stay ahead of their competitors and remain at the top of their game.
Increased Customer Satisfaction
Finally, improved performance and processes resulting from EBEWE benchmarking can lead to increased customer satisfaction. By offering a better product or service, organizations can increase their customer base and create loyal customers that will help them grow in the future.
By taking advantage of EBEWE benchmarking, organizations can reap many benefits and gain a competitive edge in the market. This type of analysis can help to identify areas of improvement and ensure that organizations remain on the cutting edge of performance and efficiency.
Why is EBEWE Benchmarking Important?
Benchmarking is a vital tool when running any business, and EBEWE Benchmarking helps businesses gain insightful and valuable data that allows for informed decision-making. It enables enterprises to accurately assess the performance of their products and services against those of their competitors, making it possible to gain invaluable insight into how they are performing in the marketplace.
Not only does this boost efficiency, but it also provides insight regarding different areas such as product features, pricing, quality control, customer service, and more. Moreover, benchmarking can be extremely useful in helping establish long-term goals for business growth and positive personal development. With EBEWE Benchmarking, businesses can stay ahead of the competition by looking beyond what others are doing to gain an edge in the ever changing economic environment.
Things to Consider when Complying with EBEWE Benchmarking
Here is what you should consider before complying with EBEWE benchmarking:
1. Understand your business: Understanding the ins and outs of your business operations is the first step to successful benchmarking. Analyze what you have done in the past, what processes need improvement, where you are doing well, and where there may be opportunities for improvement.
2. Set measurable goals: Setting clear objectives that can be measured is essential. It allows you to track your progress and measure success or failure. This will also help you identify the areas where the greatest improvements need to be made in order to achieve your goals.
3. Compare industry standards: With EBEWE benchmarking, you are comparing your operations with those of competitors in the same industry. Comparing yourself to industry averages will give you an idea of how your operations are performing and where there is room for improvement.
4. Analyze external factors: It is important to consider any external influences that may be affecting your business performance such as changes in the economy, customer trends, technological advancements, etc. This can provide valuable insight into why your operations may not be as successful as they could be.
5. Create an improvement plan: Once you have identified the areas that need improvement, create an action plan to help you reach your goals. This could include implementing new processes, training employees, investing in technology, etc. Depending on the size of your business, it might even be beneficial to hire an external consultant who can provide specialized advice and guidance.
6. Monitor progress: It is essential to monitor your progress in order to determine if the changes you have implemented are having the desired effect. Track and assess the results of your improvement efforts on a regular basis so that you can adjust as necessary.
Conclusion
Adopting an EBEWE approach to energy benchmarking and management can help you identify cost-saving opportunities, track your progress over time, and make informed decisions about future investments. Energy benchmarking is a powerful tool that can help you optimize your facility’s performance and achieve long-term sustainability goals. Are you ready to start saving money and reducing your environmental impact? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get started with EBEWE benchmarking.

January 25, 2023