Tag: Fun Facts

Prepare Your Building for an Earthquake

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Started Your 2022 Benchmark Yet?

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

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

New Annual Energy Laws

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

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

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

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

Saint Valentine

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

Danielle’s Corner

Black History Month

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

February 2, 2022

Kick Starting 2022

The Sooner the Better

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

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

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

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

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

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

ENERGY STAR Certification (ESC) – The Little Blue Label

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

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

Inflation and Your Building

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

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

I Have a Dream…

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

Danielle’s Corner

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

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January 5, 2022

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

Holiday Energy Savings

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

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

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

Ringing in the New Year

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

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

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December 1, 2021

Planning Your 2022 Energy Budget

Time to Start Planning For 2022

2021 is quickly ending which means there’s no better time than now to begin prepping for your 2022 energy budgets. If you’ve been keeping up with us, you know that there are a lot of existing, updated, and new deadlines. From annual filings to filings 5-10 years out, there’s a lot to keep track of.

Over the past two years – 2020 and 2021 – building owners have seen changes to their annual Benchmark deadlines because of COVID-19. Some cities continued as if the pandemic didn’t exist, while other cities pushed back their Benchmark deadlines or gave extensions to assist with filing. In 2021, any Benchmark program that was impacted by the pandemic slowly began returning to normalcy. Based on what we have seen, Vert Energy Group predicts that the majority – if not all – Benchmark programs nationwide will fully resume and be reverted to their original annual filing deadlines. In 2021, we even saw the start of a new Benchmark program for the city of Fort Collins, CO called the Building Energy and Water Scoring. Presently the program is required for commercial and multifamily buildings 10,000+ gross sq. ft. with an annual deadline of March 1^st. The current size requirement is expected to drop to 5,000+ gross sq. ft. for commercial buildings in 2022 and for multifamily buildings in 2023. Fort Collins properties that fail to report can face a $1,000 violation for each year of noncompliance. You can refer to the below chart – which is downloadable – for a list of the current Benchmarking deadlines in the U.S.

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

Despite a few Benchmark programs being affected by the pandemic, other energy programs didn’t see much change with some cities sticking to their upcoming deadlines and some launching new programs altogether. Take New York City for example. Back in 2009, NYC announced that properties will need to perform Lighting Upgrades and Sub-Meters projects via Local Law 88 (LL88) by January 1, 2025. While the local law has seen updates and expansions to the terms with Local Law 132 (LL132) and Local Law 134 (LL134) the deadline has remained. Not even with COVID-19 ongoing did NYC even consider halting the annual Benchmark requirements for the LL84 program. And while 2025 still seems far out, it is safe to say NYC won’t budge on the LL88 deadlines should the pandemic or any other special circumstances arise. Aside from NYC, San Jose, CA also appears to be moving forward with their energy requirements. This past year San Jose launched Ordinance No. 30550 – the San Jose Energy Audit Ordinance – with the first filing deadline being May 1, 2023, for properties 50,000+ gross sq. ft. That gives San Jose building owners a little over a year to start and file their Audit reports to the city. Do keep in mind that NYC and San Jose are simply examples of ongoing or new energy requirements. There are countless other cities with their own additional energy requirements other than the annual Benchmark filings. The below downloadable chart is a list of additional energy requirements that may be applicable to your property.

Additional Energy Requirements
City	Program
Atlanta, GA	Audit and Retro-Commissioning
Boulder, CO	Audit and Retro-Commissioning
Los Angeles, CA	Audit and Retro-Commissioning
Los Angeles, CA	Non-Ductile Concrete Retrofit Program
Los Angeles, CA	Soft-Story Retrofit Program
Miami Dade, FL	Miami-Dade Recertification – Building Retuning, Audit and Retro-Commissioning
New York City	Local Law 11 (LL11) – Façade Inspection and Safety Program
New York City	Local Law 33 (LL33) – Energy Letter Grade
New York City	Local Law 87 (LL87) – Audit and Retro-Commissioning
New York City	Local Law 88, 132, 134 (LL88, LL132, LL134) – Lighting Upgrades and Sub-metering
New York City	Local Law 152 (LL152) – Gas Line Inspection
Orlando, FL	Audit and Retro-Commissioning
San Francisco, CA	Audit and Retro-Commissioning
San Jose, CA	Audit and Retro-Commissioning

While managing all your deadlines and prepping for all the costs, can be confusing. Through VertPro we help make it easier on you by compiling all your required annual Benchmarks and 5–10-year Audits and Retro-Commissioning deadlines onto one platform. Via VertPro you can also place Upgrade Projects you may have for your property – i.e., LL88 lighting projects – and we’ll help you get bids from pre-vetted local contractors. This makes keeping track of all your energy requirement expenses easier by having everything in one area. You’ll be able to see year-to-year what your deadlines are, what’s coming up, and how much it could cost you. To get your building portfolio set up on VertPro today, contact us by email at support@vertpro.com or by phone at (415) 912-1523.

The Impact of Work from Home Set-Ups

“Now that companies have built the framework – and experienced the cost and time savings associated with it – there’s no real reason to turn back” – Mark Lobosco

Over the past two years, there has been a rise in remote work and distanced learning as companies and schools have had to adjust to stay-at-home orders that cities nationwide were enforcing. As a result of the increase in remote work and learning, Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM) released updated filing guidelines for commercial buildings and K-12 schools. ESPM determined that there are three key factors that must be updated if the building’s operations were impacted by COVID-19:

1. Weekly Operating Hours

2. Number of Workers on Main Shift

3. Weekend Operation – only applicable to K-12 schools

It’s
important to note that all properties, regardless of their property type, should
regularly update their specific property details if significant changes occur
as those details help determine a building’s energy score. Failure to keep
updated records of your building’s operations will skew your score as the ESPM
will be basing your energy usage off inaccurate details. The below chart is an
example of the property details used in determining the energy scores for
office and multifamily buildings:

Office	Multifamily
Floor Area	# of Units
# of Workers and Computers	# of Bedrooms per Unit
Operating Hours	% of Units in Low-Rise Buildings
Climate	Climate

Updating
your property details in ESPM will only ensure accurate Benchmark filings
year-to-year. As companies continue working remotely, it would be a good idea
to begin looking into operational changes and building upgrades to help with
operational and energy savings in the long run. In two separate case studies,
energy advisors – CBRE and ASHRAE ETF – found specific areas where buildings
saw the most effects due to the pandemic and suggestions on how to combat those
impacts. They determined that properties should make the following changes and
upgrades to their buildings to see potential savings:

Using free cooling in full economizer mode

Reducing run times on individual heat pumps

Upgrade to MERV-13 filters

Disable Demand Control Ventilation (DCV)

Increase minimum outdoor air to 100%

HVAC settings:

o Turning off HVAC for specific tenants per their requests

o Adjusting the cooling set-points to limit the demand

o Reducing the pump and fan motor consumption and the overtime usage

o Switching to flushing mode operation

Even if your company has no plans to return to the office anytime soon, it’s never a bad idea to begin looking into updating your building’s operational systems. Making the operational changes and upgrades now will help get you set up once you resume in-person operations. Head over to VertPro® Upgrades or schedule a one-on-one meeting with our Director of Business Development to see how Vert Energy Group can help you with your building upgrade projects. Click here to schedule a meeting or email kevin.sullivan@vertenergygroup.com.

Fun Fact:

The term “Movember” was coined by a group of Australians in 2003, but No-Shave November wasn’t officially created till 2009 by Matthew Hill’s family – NationalToday.com.

Movember & No-Shave November

We all know at least one guy who stops shaving every November and lets his beard go wild. Chances are that he’s participating in No-Shave November or Movember. For over a decade, men worldwide have adopted the practice of not shaving for the entirety of November to raise awareness surrounding men’s health. Participants of No-Shave November forgo shaving altogether while Movember participants attempt to grow a specific type of mustache. As a result of not shaving, participants will save money as they will not be purchasing razors and shaving cream throughout the month. Ideally, participants will donate their Movember or No-Shave November savings to charities focused on men’s health – e.g., prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer research. While participants are primarily men, it is not uncommon for women to participate in the movement by not shaving and/or waxing their legs. In fact, both the No-Shave November and Movember charities even encourage men and women to participate. All the money raised is used to help fund research projects. Movember has “funded over 1,250 men’s health projects globally” and No-Shave November has raised “over $12,000,000 for cancer awareness, research, and prevention” since beginning in 2009. If you want to help raise awareness for men’s health but forgoing shaving doesn’t suit you or if your job doesn’t permit it, Movember has “Move for Movember.” Participants of Move for Movember will run or walk 60 miles over the course of the month. You can join Move for Movember by registering on the Movember official site and linking your personal fitness app to your Movember account. We’re already a few days into November, but it’s never too late to join and show your support for men’s health.

“Be present in all things, and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou

Giving Thanks

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to truly appreciate the little things. Thanksgiving used to be about family and friend gatherings where we caught up over a shared meal and watched football games and the Macy’s parade on TV. While the pandemic really put a damper on the festivities there is still a lot to be grateful and thankful for. Schools have resumed in-person learning and businesses are reopening. Theaters – both movies and musical – have reopened with safety guidelines to keep their patrons safe while still allowing for a few hours of entertainment. Take-out only options are slowly fading and dining in options are available again. It looks like things are slowly starting to return to normalcy and that’s something we can be thankful for. At Vert Energy Group, we have become especially grateful for one another. From weekly meetings to monthly virtual events, we’ve been able to foster real connections with one another despite being completely remote. We are also incredibly grateful for you – our clients – in continuing to trust us with your energy requirements through these uncertain times. It has allowed us to keep the lights on and grow as a company. Thank you for sticking by our side and helping us reach new and monumental achievements in 2021 – 23^rd Fastest Growing Private Company in the Engineering industry and a Top 10 Smart Building Solution Provider.

Danielle’s Corner

Autumn Holidays

One of my favorite things about autumn is that it kicks off three straight months of holiday celebrations. Be it Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Eve I love hosting a good get-together for my friends and family. Over the past two years, I haven’t really been able to do much because of the pandemic, but as things start to return to normal, I look forward to hosting gatherings again. With Thanksgiving around the corner, I’m using that holiday as my guinea pig for navigating the holiday season during these uncertain times. Now, I do want to preface that I am blessed to be fully vaccinated. With that in mind, my focus – other than putting together a fun Friendsgiving – is making sure all parties involved are safe. Here are five tips I’m keeping in mind while planning my Thanksgiving:

1. Consider your space when making your guest list. Do you have an outdoor space you can use or only indoors? If you have an outdoor space, then keep in mind the CDC recommends being 6-feet apart. If you don’t have an outdoor space, consider doing something virtually. Or even doing a mixed event and providing a virtual option to attend. For me personally, I’ll be requiring anyone who has been unable to get vaccinated or who has been recently exposed to COVID-19 to attend virtually.

2. Ask your guest to keep their masks on when not eating or drinking. I know it seems weird to be wearing a mask at home but remember that you’re opening your doors to friends and family who don’t live with you. They could be vaccinated and take safety measures, but that doesn’t mean everyone they encounter is.

3. Have two guests volunteer to buy, prep, and serve the meal to limit the number of people handling the food. Guests can share recipes if they all want to feel included in the food prep. Keep the receipts and then fairly divide them amongst all the guests so those in charge of the meal aren’t eating the costs alone.

4. If you’re hosting something outdoors and have access to a firepit, utilize it to keep warm. Otherwise, provide warm beverages – mulled wine, apple cider, pumpkin spiced lattes, hot chocolate, etc. – and blankets. If you want to go above and beyond, you can gift each guest a hot chocolate bomb at the start of the evening. Then once it starts getting cold out you can serve hot milk for them to drop their chocolate bombs in for a warm and delectable treat. Or they can save it to use at home. I love the ones from The Treat Bombs as they have tea and hot chocolate options.

5. Find activities that have online options in case any guest needs to attend virtually. Think Netflix party or online trivia and games.

I know that the pandemic has changed how we celebrate, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I’m hoping that the tips I’ve shared can help you and your loved ones safely enjoy the holiday festivities. If you end up hosting your own little Thanksgiving gathering or have any delicious recipes you want to share, tag us on Instagram @vertenergygroup. I’d love to see how you celebrated and all the yummy treats you made!

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November 3, 2021

San Jose Energy Audit Ordinance

San Jose’s Additional Energy Requirement

The past few years San Jose has been busy developing their city’s Energy programs.
Like other cities, San Jose began with an annual Energy Benchmark program and then added on an Audit program. On May 14, 2021, the city of San Jose announced that Ordinance No. 30550 aka the San Jose Energy Audit Ordinance was now in effect. But what exactly does this mean for property owners and managers in San Jose?

Beginning 2023 and 2024, San Jose property owners must prove that their building is
either energy and water-efficient or has been improving annually through the
annual Energy Benchmarking. Based on your building’s performance, you will
either need to file a Performance Verification Report and/or an Energy Audit
and Retro-Commissioning report by your assigned deadline. Deadlines are
determined by property Gross Floor Area (GFA sq. ft.) and the last digit of its
assigned Santa Clara County Tax Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN):

Properties 50,000+ sq. ft.
Last Digit of APN	First Deadline	Subsequent Deadlines
0	May 1, 2023	Every five years thereafter
1
2	May 1, 2024
3
4	May 1, 2025
5
6	May 1, 2026
7
8	May 1, 2027
9
Properties 20,000 sq. ft. – 49,999 sq. ft.
Last Digit of APN	First Deadline	Subsequent Deadlines
0	May 1, 2024	Every five years thereafter
1
2	May 1, 2025
3
4	May 1, 2026
5
6	May 1, 2027
7
8	May 1, 2028
9

Property owners looking to file a Performance Verification Report must demonstrate and
provide sufficient evidence that the building meets one of the following
requirements:

• A Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or a Certificate
of Occupancy to prove the property is new and has been occupied for less than five years from its first filing deadline

• A California Licensed Professional (e.g., engineer,
architect, or qualified Auditor or Retro-Commissioning Professional) has determined that the property has achieved one or more Energy and Water standards each for a minimum of two out of three calendar years prior to their filing deadline. These standards are:

o ENERGY STAR® and US EPA Water Scores:

§ Received a score of 75 or higher from the US EPA

§ Score has improved by 15 points or more relative to its performance during the baseline year

o Weather normalized site Energy Use Intensity (EUI) and
Water Use Intensity:

§ Site EUI and/or Water Use Intensity per the Benchmarking Tool calculations is 25% below the calculated mean for its given property type

§ Site EUI and/or Water Use Intensity has dropped by at least 15% relative to its performance during the baseline year

If you can prove that your San Jose building has met both one Energy and one Water standard, you will only need to file a Performance Verification Report before the filing deadline. Otherwise, a Performance Verification Report must be filed in tandem with either an Energy and Water Audit or Retro-Commissioning report, or an Efficiency Improvement Measure Report. It is important to note that an Efficiency Improvement Measure Report must demonstrate that two measures were completed and reported no later than May 1^st of your deadline year. The following is a list of Energy and Water Efficiency Improvement Measures set by the state of California:

• Installation of one or more of the following items on the property:

o In accordance with the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24)

§ Common area and exterior lighting features

§ Domestic hot water heater

§ Plumbing systems

§ Outdoor landscaping and irrigation systems

§ Greywater system

o Smart thermostat

o Solar thermal heating/cooling system

o Insulation on all hot water pipes in, accessible
locations

• Replacement of one or more of the following items on
the property:

o All refrigerators to ENERGY STAR® Certified models

o All gas stoves to electric induction stoves

o All gas water heaters to an electric heat pump or tankless water heaters

• Enrollment or participation in department-approved
actions:

o A utility demand response program

o An Energy and/or water utility retrofit program (e.g., rebate and/or incentive programs pertaining to upgrades)

This extensive report is due no later than your deadline. You could apply for a 60-day extension – no more than 180 days if proof of hardship is available – but the city isn’t required to grant you this request. Given this, it’s best to get started with filing right away. Schedule a meeting with
one of our professionals to learn how we can help you meet this new San Jose requirement. Click here or the Audit department and here for Building Upgrades.

Tackling Climate Change

“Climate change is no longer some far-off problem; it is happening here, it is happening now.” – Barack Obama

Last month, the World Economic Forum published a 14-page report titled “Urban Transformation: Integrated Energy Solution” in which they discuss how cities worldwide can become “decarbonized, sustainable, and resilient urban ecosystems” to help fight climate change. Through 13-case studies, World Economic Forum discovered that to achieve net-zero carbon goals and promote healthy communities, cities must develop integrated urban ecosystems based on two things:

1. Environment: green building standards, low-cost green financing, and smart energy infrastructures

2. Mobility: decarbonized public fleets and compact urban forms and planning

Based on the 13-case studies, there were a few notable projects and initiatives that we feel cities and building owners should consider adopting. In Asia, the Jurong Lake District in Singapore is considered a leading sustainable district with its mixed-use buildings (e.g. office and retail spaces, entertainment and attractions, and residential and travel accommodations). With numerous walking and cycling paths and plans for four major rail lines, the Jurong Lake District aims to reduce locals and visitors’ reliance on cars while still meeting high sustainability targets. At the Viettel corporate headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, they have saved up to 20% in energy fees by making the switch to smart building technologies. Using smart building technologies, Viettel worked with ABB to set up a digital system to enable precise controlling of the building’s operational systems (e.g., lighting, heating, security, and energy).

Over in Italy, they have developed two separate consumer programs: 110% Superbonus and Open Meter. Via the 110% Superbonus, apartment buildings, and homeowners can claim up to 110% tax credit on energy efficiency and/or anti-seismic improvements. The credit can be used over 5-year towards their taxes, sold to third parties, or used as credit on their supplier invoices. Italy’s Open Meter project aims to allow 35 million Italian consumers the ability to track and control their usage via a smart meter device that collects real-time energy data from the grid. Similar to Italy’s Open Meter project, Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand has FutureFit – a “gamified carbon calculator” that allows citizens to measure their personal climate impacts in regards to transportation, food, energy, and living. Based on their individual carbon emissions, citizens can participate in “challenges” to help reduce their carbon impact. And like any other game, you can share your progress and/or compete with friends and family.

Whether it’s constructing new walking and cycling paths, adopting smart building systems, or releasing consumer programs (i.e., Open Meter and FutureFit) there are numerous ways that governments and the people can help fight the global climate crisis. To read the full report by the World Economic Forum, click here.

Feliz Día de los Muertos

Día de Los Muertos, aka Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday where families honor and celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones. This two-day celebration – November 1^st and 2^nd – has traditions inspired by Aztec religious beliefs and practices. The Aztecs believed that when a person dies, their souls would travel to Mictlán – the final destination in the afterlife. To help the souls on their journey, the living would leave offerings upon decorated tree stumps. This Aztec tradition is like the Ofrendas that Mexican families create for their deceased. Ofrendas are typically adorned with pictures of the deceased, marigolds, calaveras (sugar skulls), foods, and objects the deceased enjoyed. In Disney’s Coco, we see the bridge the deceased are traveling on is made of marigolds which highlights the flower’s importance to the celebration. Marigolds, or flor de cempasúchil, have strong unique scents that are believed to attract spirits hence why they are placed on ofrendas to help guide the departed souls home. Something that many of us may be able to relate to is how families will even clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones where they will then share meals and stories beside the graves. To best summarize, Dayofthedead.holiday writes that Día de Los Muertos “is unlike any holiday where mourning is exchanged for celebration.”

Fun Fact:

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and was popularized in the United States by Irish immigrants around the 1850s. – History.com.

Jack-O-Lanterns – More Than Just a Pumpkin

Did you know that the term “jack-o-lantern” originates from an old Irish folktale? According to History.com, there is an Irish myth about a man named “Stingy Jack” who tricked the Devil twice. On the first occasion, Stingy Jack invited the Devil for a drink and convinced the Devil to turn into a coin so they could pay. Instead of paying, Stingy Jack pocketed the money and kept it next to a silver cross so the Devil couldn’t escape. The Devil only got free once he agreed would leave Stingy Jack alone for a year and not claim his soul. A year passes and when the Devil goes to see Stingy Jack, he’s tricked again. This time Stingy Jack convinces the Devil to climb a tree to retrieve a piece of fruit. Once in the tree, Stingy Jack carved the sign of the cross on the tree so the Devil could not climb down until he agreed to leave Stingy Jack alone for another 10-years. When Stingy Jack dies, it’s believed that God refused to let him in for his poor behavior. The Devil – still upset for having been tricked twice – keeps his word to not claim Stingy Jack’s soul and therefore cannot let him into hell. Instead, the Devil gives Stingy Jack a lump of single burning coal to use as light and sends him off into the night. It is said that Stingy Jack took the coal and placed it in a carved-out turnip and uses it to wander the earth for eternity. The Irish would see his ghostly figure and deemed it “Jack of the Lantern” which was later shortened to “Jack O’Lantern.” But it doesn’t end there. To scare off Stingy Jack and any other potential evil spirits, people in Ireland, Scotland, and England began carving scary faces into vegetables such as turnips, potatoes, and beets. When the Irish immigrants came to the U.S., they brought Halloween and began carving faces into pumpkins instead of turnips and potatoes. And that’s how the jack-o-lanterns as we know it came to be.

Danielle’s Corner

Halloween Halloween is easily one of my favorite holidays so even during a pandemic I’m on the hunt for fun ways to celebrate while also staying safe. Personally, I think the safest way to celebrate is virtual as you can participate from the confines of your own home. You can either attend a virtual event or host your own. Eventbrite.com has a good selection of free and paid virtual events all throughout October to get you in the Halloween mood. On October 17^th, the Historic Dumfries Virginia, Inc. is hosting a free event called Halloween Tea where you’ll hear scary stories and learn fun food and drink recipes. You’ll even get a PDF copy of the recipes in case you plan on hosting a Halloween soirée of your own. Speaking of, for those who enjoy being hostess with the mostest, you can plan a virtual Halloween celebration. For those with kids, I’d recommend doing Halloween-themed Bingo or Scavenger Hunts. You can get free Halloween Bingo and Scavenger Hunt templates from teambuilding.com or create your own. Even as an adult I think that sounds like fun! Should you have little ones who enjoy the thrills of trick-or-treating, I would recommend pre-making goodie bags. Now, this may take some cooperation with your neighbors, but if they agree, you simply give your neighbors pre-filled and sealed goodie bags full of candies and treats to hand to your kids when they come knocking on Halloween night. This allows your kids to enjoy some semblance of Halloween normalcy while also helping to keep them safe. Even if you don’t have kids, you could do this with your friends. I made my boyfriend a “spooky basket” last year filled with Halloween and autumnal-themed goodies – not just food – and he loved it. Spooky baskets are a fun way for adults to almost relive the excitement of trick-or-treating. Plus, if you’re a creative soul it’s just fun to make. Have a spooktacular Halloween and if you end up doing something fun, tag us on Instagram @vertenergygroup so the Vert Community can get ideas for next year!

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October 6, 2021

Building Energy Upgrades

Coming Soon…
You may have noticed a new shiny logo on the VertPro main page. If you haven’t seen it yet, then we have exciting news… Vert Energy Group has made the Inc. 5000 list at #1603 for 2021’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies and #23 for the Engineering industry! Each year Inc. 5000 puts together a list of fast-growing companies in the U.S. On top of that, Vert Energy Group is going to be featured on the cover of PropTech Outlook magazine’s “Smart Building Edition.” The magazine is releasing this edition on September 15th. Let us know if you see and/or read it! Between ranking #1603 & #23 on the Inc. 5000 2021 List and landing the cover of PropTech Outlook, that’s TWO amazing new milestones for the Vert Energy Group family made up of all our members and our clients – YOU!
Vert Energy Group is here today because of YOU! Without the support, empathy, and trust we have received from our countless clients, we wouldn’t have been able to keep going during these difficult times. Achieving these huge milestones does nothing more than fuel us to keep working hard to provide you with quality service. We at Vert Energy Group send our sincerest thank you and gratitude to you for the continued good relations. We look forward to continuing to serve you!

Benchmarks, Audits, and RCx, what’s next?

“Better safe than sorry” – Old Proverb
It’s no secret that California is a hot spot for earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey found that the Southern California region alone had a 75% chance of being hit by earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.0 or more in the next 30-years starting in 2014. In response, Los Angeles introduced Ordinance 183893 and 184081 deemed the Los Angeles Soft-Story and Non-Ductile Concrete Retrofit Programs. The goal is simple, reduce structural deficiencies of wood and non-ductile concrete buildings to prevent potential structural failures due to earthquakes. It is important to note that property’s complying with the Non-Ductile Concrete Retrofit Program must meet three milestones upon receipt of notice to comply:
• 3-year mark: Submit completed checklist for review to determine if the building is considered a non-ductile concrete building
• 10-year mark: Submit evidence of retrofit and demolition plans – past and future
• 25-year mark: Complete construction
While the programs are currently only required for LA properties it is still highly recommended that any property that meets certain building details also perform a retrofit inspection as the property could be vulnerable. These additional criteria are as follows:
• Soft-Story Buildings:
• Consisting of 2+ stories of wood frame construction
• Built and/or approved for the build before January 1, 1978
• Containing ground floor park or similar open floor spaces
• Non-Ductile Concrete Buildings supported by concrete walls and/or columns
If you have a property in NYC, you’re probably aware of the seemingly endless list of building requirements such as commonly known Local Laws 84, 33, and 87 and the lesser-known Local Law 11 (LL11) aka the Façade Inspection and Safety Program. Through the LL11, a licensed professional (LP) will conduct and report a thorough evaluation of the conditions of buildings 6-stories or more to the NYC Department of Building every 5-years. The scope of work will account for all visual distresses, structural components, thermal insulation, and HVAC and fire protection systems. Some façade details that your hired LP will look for include, but are not limited to:
• Cracks, chipping, abrasions, and peeling
• Erosion and corrosion
• Efflorescence
• Disintegrating, missing, displaced, and budging units/parts
• Improper repairs
*For a full list of features – and their definitions – your LP will inspect your building for, refer to the NYC presentation of LL11 beginning on page 5.
Any defects found during the inspection must be repaired within 90-days of the report’s filing and amended reports must be filed within 2-weeks of completion of repairs. Upon submission of your LL11, NYC DOB will classify your building as either Safe, Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program (SWARMP), or Unsafe. Properties that are deemed Unsafe, must install building protection – such as sidewalk sheds or construction fencing – immediately. Like the LL84, 33, and 87 requirements, the LL11 has hefty violation fees:
Chart 1:
Reason for Violation Cost of Violation
Late Filing (initial report) $1,000/month
Failure to File (initial report) $5,000/year
Failure to correct unsafe conditions See Chart 2
Failure to correct SWARMP conditions $2,000
Chart 2:
Failure to Correct Unsafe Conditions Cost of Violation
Year 1 $1,000/month
Year 2 $1,000/month + $10/linear foot of shed/month
Year 3 $1,000/month + $20/linear foot of shed/month
Year 4 $1,000/month + $30/linear foot of shed/month
Year 5 $1,000/month + $40/linear foot of shed/month
Upon reaching 40-years or older, buildings in Miami-Dade, FL are recommended to perform recertification on the building to ensure continued safety. The Miami-Dade Recertification must be completed by a registered Florida LP such as an architect or engineer. During the recertification, your hired LP must evaluate the condition of the building’s general structure and electrical systems to determine its safety for occupants. A thorough report must be conducted to include and identify each building on a property. Building inspections conducted will include:
• A visual examination of all habitable and non-habitable areas
• Testing and analysis of onsite and system procedures
• Manual sampling and/or testing where visual examinations are unable to provide sufficient information
*For a full breakdown of inspection requirements and definitions, refer to pages 1-6 of the Miami-Dade application/form.
All discoveries during the examination must consider how the movement of structural components and the deterioration and age of materials correlate with one another. Final reports must be submitted within 90-days upon notice to comply and must clearly provide evidence to support the classification of the building’s current level of safety: Safe, Unsafe, Safe with Qualifications, or Safe by Restrictive Interpretation. Failure to submit your Miami-Dade Recertification on time can result in a fine of up to $10,510 and any building deemed unsafe will be vacated and potentially demolished. There are potential exemptions and extensions provided which can be located on the official Miami-Dade site.

Fun Fact:
Professor Henry Fielding Reid of John Hopkins University created the Elastic Rebound Theory as a result of his findings from the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

The Great 1906 San Francisco EarthQuake
In the early morning of April 18, 1906, a 7.7-8.3 magnitude earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area. In the aftermath of the earthquake, fires spread throughout the city due to damages and unsafe construction of buildings done intentionally by city officials and contractors to save money. To make matters worse, broken water mains made it difficult for firefighters to fight the spreading fires. According to History.com, by the time the fire department was able to get control over the fires, nearly 30,000 buildings had been destroyed and roughly 3,000 people had died. The catastrophic damages caused by the earthquake and fires served as a rude awakening to city officials nationwide about the importance of ensuring the safety of buildings and their occupants through regular building evaluations and upgrades.

Fun Fact:
The first recorded Labor Day was celebrated in 1882 which was 31-years before the U.S. Department of Labor was formed in 1913.

Thank You for Your Hard Work

Labor activists Peter J. McGuire and Matthew Maguire hold an equal claim to the proposition of Labor Day. The idea was to have a single day where Americans paid tribute to and celebrated all the contributions workers across the U.S. made to better the country. In 1887 Labor Day became officially recognized when Oregon passed a law stating February 21 as Labor Day. Other states slowly followed suit before Congress finally passed the law making the first September of each year the official Labor Day nationwide on June 28, 1894. While Labor Day was not officially recognized as a nationwide holiday till 1894, the first recorded celebration of Labor Day was September 5, 1882, in New York. The U.S. Department of Labor notes that celebrations began at 10:00 am with a parade of 10,000-20,000 working men and woman through Manhattan and lasted till 9:00 pm in Reservoir Park where 25,000 people gathered for “speeches, a picnic, an abundance of cigars, and ‘Lager beer kegs.. mounted in every conceivable place.” Since then, Labor Day festivities are less about union speeches and parades and more about cookouts, pool parties, and Labor Day Sales. Regardless, it’s important to remember the origins of the day and honor the working people.

Danielle’s Corner
Mid-Autumn Festival Autumn is here which means the Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner. In Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival, aka the Moon Festival, is held on the 15^th day of the 8^th month of the Chinese calendar. Given this, the date is constantly changing – this year it’s September 21^st in case you were curious. The Moon Festival dates back to Ancient China when emperors and commoners would worship the moon and the moon goddess, 嫦娥 (Chang’e), through offerings. Typical celebrations include lighting lanterns, going to see the dragon dances and fireworks, and having a family meal around a round table. When I was younger my older brother convinced me that the dragons were real and random spectators would be eaten for luck. Unfortunately, because of my brother’s white lie, I forbade my family from ever attending the dragon dances. However, I wholeheartedly agreed to family dinners around our tiny dining table. To this day my favorite part of the meal is the mooncakes symbolizing the prosperity and reunion of the family. Every Moon Festival – and Lunar New Year – my dad buys mooncakes filled with sweet red bean paste and a center of salted duck egg yolk representing the full moon. My mom and siblings aren’t fans of mooncakes which meant more for me. Nowadays you can find various mooncake fillings ranging from sweet (red bean, lotus seed, fruits, chocolate, and green tea) to savory (meats and seafood) so there’s something for everyone! If you’ve never had a mooncake, I definitely recommend heading to your local Asian market or bakery to pick some up this month. From me to you, 中秋快乐 or Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

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September 1, 2021

Tag: Fun Facts

Prepare Your Building for an Earthquake

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

Started Your 2022 Benchmark Yet?

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

New Annual Energy Laws

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

Saint Valentine

Danielle’s Corner

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Kick Starting 2022

The Sooner the Better

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

ENERGY STAR Certification (ESC) – The Little Blue Label

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

Inflation and Your Building

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

I Have a Dream…

Danielle’s Corner

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Closing out 2021

2021 at a Glance

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

Holiday Energy Savings

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

The Season of Cheer

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

Ringing in the New Year

Danielle’s Corner

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Planning Your 2022 Energy Budget

Time to Start Planning For 2022

The Impact of Work from Home Set-Ups

“Now that companies have built the framework – and experienced the cost and time savings associated with it – there’s no real reason to turn back” – Mark Lobosco

Fun Fact:

The term “Movember” was coined by a group of Australians in 2003, but No-Shave November wasn’t officially created till 2009 by Matthew Hill’s family – NationalToday.com.

Movember & No-Shave November

“Be present in all things, and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou

Giving Thanks

Danielle’s Corner

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San Jose Energy Audit Ordinance

San Jose’s Additional Energy Requirement

Tackling Climate Change

“Climate change is no longer some far-off problem; it is happening here, it is happening now.” – Barack Obama

Feliz Día de los Muertos

Fun Fact:

Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain and was popularized in the United States by Irish immigrants around the 1850s. – History.com.

Jack-O-Lanterns – More Than Just a Pumpkin

Danielle’s Corner

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Building Energy Upgrades

Benchmarks, Audits, and RCx, what’s next?

“Better safe than sorry” – Old Proverb

Fun Fact:

Professor Henry Fielding Reid of John Hopkins University created the Elastic Rebound Theory as a result of his findings from the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

The Great 1906 San Francisco EarthQuake

Fun Fact:

The first recorded Labor Day was celebrated in 1882 which was 31-years before the U.S. Department of Labor was formed in 1913.

Thank You for Your Hard Work

Danielle’s Corner

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