Minneapolis
Date: 2020-01-15
The city of Minneapolis is reporting a city ordinance requiring one- and two-family homeowners to collect energy consumption and efficiency data before listing their homes for sale came into force Jan. 15, 2020.

Homeowners can comply with the ordinance by having a Truth In Sale of Housing (TISH) inspector collect the data during the mandatory pre-listing evaluation or by getting an energy audit from Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy's Home Energy Squad program.

In either case, an inspection evaluates a home's windows, heating system and attic and wall insulation and compiles the data into an "energy score" of the home's energy efficiency. The inspector will also prepare a report detailing the improvements a homeowner or homebuyer could -- but is not required to -- make, how much those improvements typically cost and how much could be saved annually by making them.

The Minneapolis Climate Action Plan calls for 75 pct of houses to undergo energy retrofits by 2025, and notes the city offers no financing for energy efficiency improvements. (Source: City of Minneapolis, Southwest Journal, Jan., 2020) Contact: www.minneapolismn.gov/ccs/ccs_tish; Home Energy Squad, www.homeenergysquad.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy Benchmarking,  

Energy Efficiency
Date: 2020-01-08
In the Badger State, the cities of Edina and St. Louis Park are reporting the adaptation of energy benchmarking to help landlords reduce natural gas and electricity consumption. They join more than 30 cities across the country that have benchmarking ordinances to reduce energy consumption and cut related costs.

In adopting energy benchmarking, both suburbs sought assistance from the Efficient Buildings Collaborative, a Hennepin County program that helps Minnesota municipalities develop energy benchmarking policies. Next summer, both cities will ask commercial, government and apartment owners to submit data that will eventually include properties of 25,000 square feet or larger. The suburbs will use the U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a free online tool, and receive technical assistance from Denver-based Overlay Consulting.

According to St. Louis Park's director of Building and Energy, Brian Hoffman, benchmarking should be a significant asset in helping his city achieve its goal of cutting energy consumption by 30 pct in large commercial buildings by 2030. (Source: City of Edina, City of St. Louis Park, Finance & Commerce, 6 Jan., 2019) Contact: City of Edina, www.edinamn.gov; St. Louis Park, Brian Hoffman, Director of Building and Energy, 952.924.2584, bhoffman@stlouispark.org, www.stlouispark.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmark,  Energy Efficiency,  

Philadelphia
Date: 2019-12-13
In the city of Brotherly Love, following on its Philadelphia Building Energy Benchmarking , 2019 Report, the city of Philadelphia has enacted legislation creating a Building Energy Performance Program that will impact about 2,000 buildings .

The program requires non-residential buildings of 50,000 square feet or larger to undergo a high-energy performance inspection, submit a certification to the Office of Sustainability and conduct recommended improvements and upgrades. Non compliant building owners could face a fine of $2,000 or more.

Download the Philadelphia Building Energy Benchmarking , 2019 Report HERE. (Source: City of Philadelphia, Dec., 2019) Contact: City of Philadelphia Building Codes, www.phila.gov › codesandregulations › Pages › codes

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmark,  Energy Efficiency,  

CBRE
Date: 2019-11-08
According to the 2019 National Green Building Adoption Index published by CBRE Group Inc., Maastricht University and the University of Guelph, Chicago is the nation's leader in energy-efficient office buildings for the third year in a row. The city added a near 2 pct gain over 2018, outranking San Francisco, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles.

The index analyzed green-certified office space across America's 30 largest office markets and found the highest in the index's history at 42.2 pct -- up from 41.9 pct from 2018. According to the report, 71.1 pct of Chicago's office buildings are market-certified green and hold either an EPA ENERGY STAR® label, USGBC LEED certification, or both.

(Source: CBRE, Lawndale News, 7 Nov., 2019) Contact: CBRE, National Green Building Adoption Index www.cbre.com/about/corporate-responsibility/pillars/environmental-sustainability/green building adoption index; CBRE, Corpcomm@cbre.com, www.cbre.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Building Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  CGRE,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2019-10-28
In Ottawa, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has issued a post-election statement congratulating the re-elected Liberal government of Justin Trudeau and urging the Prime Minister to spur Canada's building industry towards a low-carbon future.

The CaGBC statement also noted that Canada's building stock contributes up to 17 pct of the country's greenhouse gas emissions and that Investing in a low-carbon workforce transition would be a key driver to help Canada's construction workforce develop, construct and manage high-performing energy efficient green buildings. The CaGBC also called for the government to Stimulate the country's retrofit economy through the Canada Infrastructure Bank and to establish national building energy benchmarking and disclosure requirements. (Source: The Canada Green Building Council, Commercial News, 28 Oct., 2019)Contact: Canada Green Building Council, Thomas Mueller, Pres. and CEO, (866) 941-1184, info@cagbc.org, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canada Green Building Council,  Building Energy Bechmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  

Energy Efficiency
Date: 2019-04-24
In the Garden State, the city of Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla has signed an executive order adopting Hoboken's Climate Action Plan committing the city to "achieving carbon neutrality by 2050."

The plan establishes goals for greenhouse gas emission reduction for government operations and as a city based on: increased operating energy efficiency; building energy bench-marking; energy efficient upgrades in 11 municipal buildings resulting in over $100,000 per year in energy costs savings; LED street and traffic lighting; a commitment to 100 pct renewable energy and various other upgrades and initiatives. The city of 56,000 +- residents has also reaffirmed its commitment to exceeding the goals of the Paris Climate Accord. (Source: Hoboken Patch, 23 April, 2019) Contact: City of Hoboken, (201) 420-2000, www.hobokennj.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  LED Light,  Energy Benchmarking,  Renewable Energy,  

Kansas City
Date: 2019-03-20
In the Show Me State, Kansas City Council is reporting a slower uptake and participation and compliance than expected with the city's municipal energy benchmarking requirement.

The ordinance, which was passed in 2015, requires owners of large buildings of 100,000 square-feet or more, to report energy and water use data to the city, which posts the information online so it can be used by tenants, investors and others. City officials had expected an 80 pct compliance rate, but just over 60 pct have reported data to the city.

Kansas City building owners' 60 pct compliance significantly lags behind Chicago's at 92 pct and Minneapolis, which began at began at 87 pct then rose to 93 pct for the 2017 calendar year. (Source: Kansas City Star, Mar., 2019) Contact: City of Kansas City, Dennis Murphey, Chief Environmental Officer, 816-453-1492, www.kcmo.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  

ACEEE
Date: 2019-03-06
According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Florida -- which ranked 4th in energy efficiency jabs in 2017 -- could gain an additional 135,000 jobs by embracing new policies including: appliance and equipment energy efficiency standards; regular energy audits; greater use of combined heat and power (CHP); and an update of building energy codes; building energy benchmarking and other energy policies.

Specifically, the ACEEE noted that the state should set stronger energy savings goals for their utilities. By setting energy savings at a mere 1 pct per year, they said that alone could give the state more than 100,000 jobs. (Source: ACEEE, Energy Insider, Mar., 2019) Contact: ACEEE, (202) 507-4000, www.aceee.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News ACEEE,  Energy Efficiency,  

ENERGY STAR
Date: 2019-02-06
In the Gopher State, the city of Minneapolis officials are reportedly considering a new energy benchmarking and disclosure ordinance requiring apartment and home sellers to complete two additional inspection tests and provide energy-efficiency information to potential renters and purchasers. Initially, the ordinance would apply to private residences and multifamily buildings of 50,000 square feet or more.

The ordinance also requires owners of sub-50,000-square-foot apartment buildings that meter each unit's energy consumption to submit data to a utility-created portal that will be available in 2021. The result will allow renters to compare the energy performance of buildings, using an annual per-square-foot measurement. The city's energy ordinance aims to upgrade 75 pct of the city's homes by 2025.

City officials believe building owners with low-performing properties would be more open to utility and city efficiency programs to reduce their energy use. Portland, Oregon; Austin, Texas; Berkeley, California; and Boulder, Colorado are among the cities with similar programs. (Source: City of Minneapolis, Finance & Commerce, 5 Feb., 2019) Contact: City of Minneapolis, Kim Havey, Sustainability Manager, 612-673-3666, Kim.Havey@minneapolismn.gov, www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@citycoordinator/documents/webcontent/wcmsp-215081.pdf

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmark,  Energy Efficiency,  ENERGY STAR,  

Black Hills Energy
Date: 2018-12-17
Rapid City, South Dakota-based Black Hills Energy report it has pitched its B3 Benchmarking energy efficiency program to the city of Pueblo, Colorado. The program is aimed at identifying buildings that are underperforming and improving them, which they said would result in money savings.

The tool helps identify under performing buildings with the highest potential for energy savings and provides input to help understand the way buildings are using their energy.

The B3 tool works by customers inputting basic data about facilities, such as what the building is used for, overall square footage, number of floors/rooms, hours of use and number of employees, among other data. The information is then uploaded to B3 and then compared to similar buildings within its database. A results report is then generated. (Source: Black Hills Energy, Pueblo Chieftain 16 Dec., 2018) Contact: Black Hills Energy, Jim Dillon, Senior Manager, Energy Efficiency, www.blackhillsenergy.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Black Hills Energy news,  Energy Benchmark news,  

BRE, US Green Building Council
Date: 2018-11-16
UK-based BRE Group and the US Green Building Council (USGBC) are reporting their partnership aimed at making the global built environment more energy efficient and more sustainable.

The partners aim to highlight the role that buildings can play in improving environmental and to encourage buildings and the built environment globally to raise sustainability standards and deliver greater value. The partnership also aims to promote their joint and separate expertise and a new approach to building energy benchmarking and building performance solutions.

BRE offers advisory services, innovative research, sets and monitors industry standards, develops and delivers professional training courses, and provides independent, third-party certification services related to built environment issues. (Source: USGBC, BRE, Construction Index, 14 Nov., 2018) Contact: BRE, Niall Trafford, CEO, +44 (0)333 321 8811, enquiries@bregroup.com, www.bregroup.com; USGBC, Mahesh Ramanujam, Pres., CEO, (202) 552-1500, www.usgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News US Green Building Council,  

RWDI
Date: 2018-11-14
The RWDI Consulting Engineers and Scientists firm is touting the EnergyCompass, a newly launched tool aiming to improve energy literacy in Ontario and help construction professionals make better use of green building designs to reach the goal of net-zero carbon emissions.

The EnergyCompass is a free data visualization platform that will streamline energy benchmarking and reporting during the design phase of building development projects. This tool seeks to accelerate the understanding and adoption of energy-saving solutions, improve conservation program delivery, reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from every proposed building development in Ontario.

Users will be able upload energy models to Compass which will automatically extract more than 400 variables and complete the submission requirements for six building standards, including US Green Buiolding Council LEED, TGS, and Ontario Building Code (OBC) The data visualization platform will allow users to see the modeled building against a database, which will then inform the design. "Previously, data available through energy simulation studies has not been leveraged en masse to analyze performance trends or to benchmark similar buildings to improve energy performance," according to RWI principal Mike Williams.

The RWDI EnergyCompass was developed in partnership with the Ontario Association of Architects and Toronto's Architecture 2030 District. (Source: RWDI, Nov., 2018) Contact: RWDI, Mike Williams, www.rwdi.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News RWDI,  Green Building,  Energy Efficiency,  

Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge
Date: 2018-10-22
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that Pittsburgh -- the Steel City -- is a winner in the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge -- a $70 million initiative aimed at accelerating efforts to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable future.

Pittsburgh will use the money to create and implement a building energy benchmarking policy, develop a statewide clean energy financing program, scale renewable power through community solar programs, encourage a shift in transportation energy use operation, and reduce over-all energy consumption by 50 pct.

About 100 of America's largest cities applied to the challenge, submitting bold plans to cut carbon emissions, Bloomberg said. All aimed to reduce air pollution and citywide emissions with specific projects to reform transit and buildings sectors -- two areas traditionally responsible for 80 pct of all citywide emissions. Atlanta, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Jose and Seattle were also Challenge winners. (Source: Bloomberg Philanthropies, TRIB Live, 21 Oct., 2018) Contact: Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge, www.bloomberg.org/program/environment/climatechallenge

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy Benchmark,  Climate Change,  

Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation
Date: 2018-06-18
In Minneapolis, the not-for-profit Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation reports it is partnering with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the state of Minnesota to further, and provide, sustainability consulting, project funding assistance, energy bench marking and more.

Founded in 1994, the Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation and its state-wide supporters as well as energy companies, work to provide businesses with energy rebates and grants for more energy-efficient materials. (Source: Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation, Eco Press, 6 17, 2018) Contact: Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation, Jill Curran, Exec. Dir., (651) 292-4662, www.mnwastewise.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation,  Energy Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  

NYSERDA,Clean Energy Community
Date: 2018-06-11
In the Empire State, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has designated the Town of Westport as a Clean Energy Community in recognition of its leadership in reducing energy use, cutting costs and driving clean energy locally.

The $16 million Clean Energy Communities initiative provides grant funding to eligible municipalities to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development projects in their communities. To earn the Clean Energy Community designation, The Town of Westport:

Adopted a Benchmarking policy to track and report the energy use of the town's municipal buildings.

Streamlined the local approval processes for solar projects through adoption of the New York State Unified Solar Permit.

Completed energy code enforcement training on best practices in energy code enforcement for the town's code officer:

Installed an electric vehicle charging station at Westport Town Hall, and other upgrades and initiatives.

Program funds are provided through the NY Clean Energy Fund and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). (Source: NYSERDA, Town of Westport, June, 2018) Contact: NYSERDA, www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec: Town of Westport, www.westportny.net

More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA,  Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy Benchmarking,  Clean Energy Community,  

Emirates Green Building Council
Date: 2018-06-04
In the UAE, the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) is touting its Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) Benchmarking Project for schools. The "first-of-its-kind" in the MENA region BEA project assesses the energy and water performance of existing buildings against similar buildings within the same typology. The project aims to establish the first industry energy and water benchmark for schools in the UAE.

The BEA project is a global initiative led by World Resources Institute (WRI) under the UN program Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), which aims to double the global rate of building energy efficiency by 2030. Dubai is the first and only city in the Middle East committed to the BEA, and EmiratesGBC is serving as the BEA City Liaison in partnership with Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) to measure energy performance of 100 buildings in Dubai across hotels, schools and malls.(Source: Emirates Green Building Council, ME Construction News, 3 June, 2018) Contact: Emirates Green Building Council, bea@emiratesgbc.org, www.emiratesgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Emirates Green Building Council,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

NY Clean Energy Community
Date: 2018-05-02
In the Empire State, the Town of Elmira board has unanimously pass two resolutions that would see the community join the New York State Energy Research and Development (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Community program.

Under the program, municipalities or towns can implement ten impact items to promote energy efficiency or renewable energy. Recently, the town of Elmira passed resolutions on solar energy permitting and on building energy benchmarking. The town is also considering the installation of electric vehicle charging stations and the conversion of city street lighting to LED.

Building a more sustainable New York starts with building more sustainable communities. Local governments affect energy choices in their communities, from government operations to homes, businesses, and community institutions. Local governments in New York State can use the Clean Energy Communities program to implement clean energy actions, save energy costs, create jobs, and improve the environment. In addition to providing tools, resources, and technical assistance, the program recognizes and rewards leadership for the completion of clean energy projects, according to the program website. (Source: Town of Elmira, WENY, 1 May, 2018) Contact: NYSERDA, www.nyserda.ny.gov; Clean Energy Communities Program, www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Clean-Energy-Communities

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Building Benchmarking,  LED,  Energy Efficiency,  

City of Providence
Date: 2018-05-02
Rhode Island's largest city, Providence, has unveiled RePowerPVD, a voluntary energy savings program aimed at helping the city meet its climate goals through energy efficiency. The energy benchmarking program challenges the owners of large buildings to commit to a 20 pct cut in energy consumption by 2025 measured against a 2015 baseline. Commercial buildings are the largest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions to the city and will help property owners save energy, reduce costs and improve their marketability.

The program will provide building energy benchmarks and help owners track changes in building energy use. Ten city-owned buildings are enrolled in the program. (Source: City of Providance, AP, Bristol Herald, 30 April, 2018) Contact: City of Providence, www.providenceri.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy Benshmarking,  

NYSERDA
Date: 2018-04-09
In the Empire State, the community councils of Hanover and Silver Creek are reporting participation in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities Program . The program aims to incentivize municipalities to adopt various efficiency "impact actions." Municipalities that complete four of the 10 available impact actions will receive a $5,000 grant and be eligible for future NYSERDA grants.

The first and major resolution passed by both Hanover and Silver Creek involves establishing building energy benchmarking using the EPA's internet-based Energy Star Portfolio Manager to track and assess the relative energy consumption and performance of community owned buildings of 1,000 square feet or larger. The aim is to identify energy consumption and cost cutting opportunities.

Other approved resolutions include the New York State Unified Solar Permit program; energy and building code upgrades, training and enforcement; and electric vehicle charging stations. (Source: NYSERDA, Observer, 2 April, 2018) Contact: NYSERDA, Alicia Barton, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov; Clean Energy Communities Program, www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Clean-Energy-Communities

More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA,  Energy Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  

Milwaukee
Date: 2018-03-30
To date, the City of Milwaukee has reduced energy use intensity by 5%, saving taxpayers on energy-consumption costs. The city of Milwakee is reporting it met previously this month with business and energy industry leaders to discuss energy efficiency opportunities and technologies and how the city can take advantage of them. The meeting -- tagged the second "Benchmarking Jam" -- was part of the city's public-private partnerships and the Milwaukee Better Buildings Challenge and community engagement strategy.

Milwaukee Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) partners have achieved particular energy-efficiency success by securing PACE financing for energy efficiency projects. The city encourages local businesses and K-12 schools to implement energy efficiency projects and to participate in the city's comprehensive energy efficiency program which aims to assist 200+ buildings, particularly Class B & C commercial buildings, small commercial buildings, and K-12 schools, in every aspect of energy efficiency projects, including assessment, financing, and implementation. To date, more than 100 non-city buildings are participating in BBC-MKE. The City of Milwaukee has committed to reduce the energy used in city buildings by 20 pct by 2022. (Source: City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Better Buildings Challenge, Energy Manager, 29 Mar., 2018) Contact: Milwaukee Better Buildings Challenge Download Better Buildings Challenge details HERE

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Building Benchmarking,  

NYSERDA
Date: 2017-12-18
In the Empire State, the village of Livonia -- pop.7,800 -- reports it has been designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). To achieve Clean Energy Community status, Livonia instituted:

building energy consumption earmarking to track and report the energy use of the community's municipal buildings;

installed an electric vehicle charging station in the village's municipal parking lot;

instituted a building and energy code training, best practices, compliance and enforcement program; and

adopted the New York State Unified Solar Permit to streamline the approval process for local solar projects.

With the designation, Livonia is now eligible to apply for up to $50,000 in state grant funding which it will use for the conversion of tradition street lighting to energy efficienct LED models. (Source: NYSERDA, Various Media, ec., 2017) Contact: NYSERDA. Clean Energy Communities, www.nyserda.ny.gov/cec; Livonia, www.livoniany.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News NYSERDA,  Energy Efficiency,  LED Light,  Energy Benchmarking,  

World Bank International Finance Corp.
Date: 2017-12-01
A recent study by the World Bank International Finance Corp. (IFC) has found that investments in "green" or environment-friendly buildings could top a cumulative $3.4 trillion by 2025 "if countries adopt better building codes and standards, create targeted financial incentives such as green-building certification and mandatory benchmarking of energy use, encourage new utility business models; green mortgages and energy-service companies.

In 2010, buildings accounted for 36 pct of the country's total annual power consumption and emitted 33.28 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. In seven years, rapid urban migration is expected to increase the number of new buildings by 20 pct annually.

Since 2005, the IFC has invested $18.3 billion in long-term funding for climate-smart projects and mobilized an additional $11 billion from other investors. (Source: World Bank, International Finance Corp., ProudGreenBuilding, 29 Nov., 2017) Contact: World Bank IFC, www.ifc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Green Building,  Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy Benchmarking,  World Bank International Finance Corp.,  Green Building,  Energy Efficiency,  

MACH Energy, ENERGY STAR
Date: 2017-11-17
Oakland, California-headquartered energy and water management software and services specialist MACH Energy has published the results of its research paper ENERGY STAR: An Analysis Of Economic Benefits To The Built Environment on the role of the EPA's ENERGY STAR program in building management and commercial real estate. MACH found strong support for ENERGY STAR, with industry groups and leaders making unequivocal statements touting its benefits, and the detrimental effects on entire industries and workers should the program be eliminated.

MACH's survey of building professionals including property managers, asset managers, engineers and others found: 78 pct would be concerned if ENERGY STAR funding was reduced/removed; 75 pct are not familiar with building energy benchmarking tools aside from ENERGY STAR; 64 pct reported Portfolio Manager usage; 61 pct are required to benchmark their facility/portfolio's energy consumption.

In the US, buildings account for 40 pct of total energy consumption. With increased sensitivity to energy costs as well as adoptions of building energy benchmarking regulations, ENERGY STAR is a more important tool than ever to help improve energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR certified products and buildings helped Americans save $34 billion in energy costs in 2015 alone, according to the EPA. MACH counts hundreds of commercial, REIT, hotel, and corporate building owners as customers, encompassing hundreds of millions of square feet. (Source: MACH Energy, 15 Nov., 2017) Contact: MACH Energy, Jon Moeller, CEO, www.machenergy.com; ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News MACH Energy,  ENERGY STAR,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

LBL,UC-Berkeley
Date: 2017-11-10
Impact of Energy Factors on Default Risk in Commercial Mortgages, a recent study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the University of California, Berkeley ( UC Berkeley) has found that energy efficient buildings are less likely to default on their mortgages than their more energy-intensive peers.The report also found that commercial buildings with higher energy consumption or higher energy costs had a higher default rate than more energy-efficient buildings. The study also noted that the higher a building's Energy Star score the lower the likelihood that the building would default on its mortgage.

While a building's energy expense is typically up to 30 pct of its operating cost, energy intensity and cost have not historically been included in the building appraisal or pro forma. As a result, mortgage underwriters have not generally included this information in the underwriting process. With building energy data and benchmarking data becoming more and more available -- 25 of the largest U.S. cities and California presently require energy disclosure -- it will be easier for appraisers and underwriters to include these data in their evaluation process. If energy efficiency can be correlated to mortgage default rates, it could have a significant impact on energy disclosure and possibly even mortgage interest rates.

Download the full Impact of Energy Factors on Default Risk in Commercial Mortgages report HERE. (Source: LBL, UC-Berkeley, Oct., 2017) (Contact: City Energy Project , www.cityenergyproject.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Building Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

WegoWise
Date: 2017-11-03
Boston-based building analytics, energy and water benchmarking specialist WegoWise is reporting receipt of $58,303 in Workforce Training Fund matching funds Grants from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The funds will provide customized training to 32 WegoWise team members and create 10 additional positions by 2019.

WegoWise is focused on improving the operational and sustainability performance of multifamily and commercial real estate. The company's software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform is used to benchmark utility and water usage in more than 58,000 buildings, comprising 2.4 million square-feet of multifamily housing in the United States. (Source: WegoWise, PR, GlobeNewsWire, 31 Oct., 2017). Contact: WegoWise, Laila Partridge, Pres., CEO, (617) 367-7346, info@wegowise.com; www.wegowise.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News WegoWise,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

Prior Lake
Date: 2017-11-01
In Minnesota, the city of Prior Lake reports it has been awarded the Wisconsin Center for Sustainable Building Research and the Departments of Administration and Commerce Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond (B3) Best of B3 Benchmarking Award for projects designed to track energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency.

The city of approx. 25,000 residents tracks energy use in seven buildings totaling 160,000 square feet. The city is also 8 pct lower on energy-use intensity than the benchmark, for a 19 pct decrease from 2016. (Source: City of Prior Lake, Prior Lake American, 30 Oct., 2017) Contact: City of Prior Lake, www.cityofpriorlake.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

Minneapolis
Date: 2017-10-30
In Minneapolis, the Building Energy Challenge Awards notes that the city's commercial-industrial sector contributed almost half of the total citywide greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 with building energy use as the main source. An analysis released earlier this year of the energy use of 417 public and commercial buildings in Minneapolis revealed that those buildings have the combined potential to save $27 million in energy costs per year and avoid more than 120,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by increasing their energy efficiency to reduce consumption by 15 pct.

In 2013, Minneapolis adopted its Commercial Building Benchmarking and Transparency ordinance requiring large buildings to track and disclose their energy consumption. All buildings subject to the benchmarking ordinance may participate in the Building Energy Challenge and are eligible for milestone awards. Buildings can qualify as challenge leaders by publicly committing to a 15 percent greenhouse gas reduction. The Building Energy Challenge aligns with the city's Clean Energy Partnership in support of the Minneapolis Climate Action Plan. (Source: Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership, minneapolismn.gov, Oct 27, 2017 Contact: Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership, https://mplscleanenergypartnership.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

Johnson Controls
Date: 2017-10-13
According to Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) 2017 survey of more than 1,500 facility and management executives in the U.S., Canada, and 10 other countries, global interest and investment in energy efficiency is on the rise, with 70 pct of organizations surveyed paying more attention to energy efficiency than a year ago.

Consistent with previous year's studies, investments in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment were the most popular energy efficiency- related improvement made last year. Investments in "smart" buildings, energy management, energy efficient lighting (LED), energy storage and energy security were also on the rise among survey respondents. Building energy benchmarking and certification, along with government policy were found to be the key drivers for energy efficiency upgrades and investments. (Source: Johnson Controls, Facility Exec, Oct., 2017) Contact: Johnson Controls, Bill Jackson, Pres, Building Efficiency, www.johnsoncontrols.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Johnson Controls,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2017-09-22
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has released A Roadmap for Retrofits in Canada, a detailed recommendation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from hospitals, universities and other large building accross Canada. The report provides recommendations to retrofit large buildings that will contribute to achieving a reduction in GHG emissions of at least 30 pct -- 12.5 million tonnes -- by 2030, with the potential to reach 51 pct -- 21.2 million tonnes. Among its key findings, the Roadmap concludes that:

Achieving a 30 pct or more reduction in building emissions by 2030 is achievable by focusing on a targeted number of buildings that have the greatest potential to reduce carbon;

Buildings including office buildings, shopping malls, universities, and arenas constructed between 1960 and 1979 across all provinces represent the age class with the largest opportunity for total carbon emissions reductions;

Alberta and Ontario currently emit the most carbon and therefore have the greatest potential for reducing emissions. This is due to the carbon intensity of Alberta's electricity grid and the number of large buildings in Ontario;

All provinces will need to prioritize recommissioning for large buildings -- between 25,000 and 200,000 sq.ft -- and deep retrofits for buildings over 35 years old in order to meet the target. These two actions will reduce emissions by a collective total of 4.1 MT CO2e, providing 62 pct of the reduction activity needed;

Fuel switching must be completed in 20 pct of buildings over 35 years old across Canada. Currently, fuel switching is particularly attractive in provinces with clean electricity grids such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. In these regions, significant effort should be put into increasing the adoption of efficient heat pump technology. This will reduce emissions by 1.6 MT CO2e, or 25 pct of the reduction activity needed;

In provinces with carbon intense electricity grids -- Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia -- 30 pct of buildings will need to use renewable energy in order to meet the target. This will cut emissions by 0.9 MT CO2e, representing 13 pct of the reduction activity needed.

The report provides the following policy recommendations for the Federal Government: include a GHG metric in Canada's future retrofit building code; develop regional retrofit roadmaps; prioritize investments in scalable retrofit projects; and supporting mandatory energy benchmarking. http://www.cagbc.org/retrofitroadmap.

A Roadmap for Retrofits in Canada details HERE. (Source: CaGBC, Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia., 20 Sept., 2017) Contact: CaGBC, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Canada Green Building Council ,  

Accelerate Group,Green Building
Date: 2017-09-15
In Chicago, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), in partnership with local utility ComEd and the Accelerate Group, reports it is launching the Smart Building Operations Pilot, an innovative program that uses real-time energy data to incentivize energy-efficient choices.

The Smart Building Operations Pilot aims to inform the day-to-day decisions of building equipment operators at 10 large Chicago buildings utilizing smart meters and sub-meters and:

Information -- The building will collect and display energy-use data in real time (or near‐real time), providing direct feedback to a building operator on the energy impact of their actions;

Interpretation -- The building will calculate an energy-use baseline, against which performance will be tracked every half hour, daily, and monthly. To raise awareness, building operators will receive alerts when energy use exceeds or is expected to exceed the baseline;

Motivation -- The program will provide an achievable and meaningful incentive to improve. ComEd will provide up to $5,000 up-front to cover hard costs and $0.05 for each kWh saved compared to the building's baseline.

To date, the combination of Chicago's building energy benchmarking program and ComEd's energy efficiency programs have reportedly saved customers more than $2.5 billion in energy costs. (Source: City of Chicago, Various Media, ProudGreenBuilding, Sept., 2017) Contact: The Accelerate Group, theaccelerategroup.com; ComEd, (312) 394-3500, www.ComEd.com;

More Low-Carbon Energy News SMart Building,  Accelerate Group,  ComEd,  EDF,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

NYSERDA,Clean Energy Community
Date: 2017-09-15
In the Empire State, the village of Bergen has been designated a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

The $16 million Clean Energy Communities initiative supports local governments implement energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable development projects. In addition, the designation gives the village an opportunity to apply for up to $50,000 toward additional clean energy projects, with no local cost share. To win Clean Energy Community certification, Bergen instituted a uilding energy benchmarking program, LED street lighting, and energy code enforcement training — training compliance officers in energy code best practices.

New York state communities designated Clean Energy Communities are eligible to apply for up to $250,000 funding with no local cost share, and up to 25 pct paid in advance to support additional clean energy projects. (Source: NYSERDA, Daily News, 12 Sept., 2017) Contact: NYSERDA, John B. Rhodes, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov; NY Clean Energy Community Program, www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Clean-Energy-Communities

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  NYSERDA,  Clean Energy Community,  

American Institute of Architects,Urban Green Council
Date: 2017-08-07
In the Big Apple, according to The Green Buildings Roadmap, a new report by the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects and Urban Green Council, the real estate industry believes reducing energy use in buildings is key to the city's future.

The report calls for the next city administration to lay out a detailed long-term plan to reduce energy use in all new and existing buildings and to require disclosure of that information when properties are sold. The report also acknowledges that the present de Blasio administration's carbon-reduction plan has made strides in monitoring the energy use of office towers and multifamily buildings, the four groups want to see similar efforts for small buildings, which make up a significant chunk of the city's landscape.

The paper recommends that property managers and building operators have energy efficiency training and calls for the streamlining of red tape that often slows down and hinders smart energy projects and initiatives.

Download the report HERE. (Source: American Institute of Architects, Urban Green Building Council, Crains, 3 Aug., 2017) Contact: American Institute of Architects, (212) 358-6100, https://main.aiany.org; Urban Green Council, (212) 514-9385,www.urbangreencouncil.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Urban Green Council,  Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy Bencsbmark,  

City of Edmonton
Date: 2017-06-07
On the Canadian prairies, the city of Edmonton, Alberta reports it has kicked-off a voluntary Large Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure energy benchmarking program. The three-year pilot will track the energy efficiency of 300 buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. There are an estimated 4,500 buildings of this size in Edmonton.

In exchange for providing the program with building information, owners will be offered financial and non-financial incentives such as tenant information workshops, awards recognition and a rebate of up to $1,500 for each building that undergoes commercial energy audits. They will also be advised of Energy Efficiency Alberta programs for which they may qualify. The city will use the information gathered to set future benchmarks for building owners and develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The city has committed 20 of its own building to the program, including City Hall. (Source: City of Edmonton, Edmonton Journal, 5 June, 2017) Contact: City of Edmonton, Lisa Dockman, Snr. Environmental Project Manager, (780) 442-5311, www.edmonton.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Management,  

Toronto Atmospheric Fund
Date: 2017-05-29
In Ontario, the not-for-profit Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) is reporting the launch of the Building Energy Efficiency Policy Calculator (BEE-Cal) decision support tool for municipal planners. The Excel-based tool helps users calculate the estimated local impacts of various municipal energy efficiency options ranging from tighter building standards to financial incentives and energy benchmarking and reporting.

The BEE-Cal provides a preliminary analysis that can help initiate or inform a dialogue around energy efficiency on the municipal level. In addition to estimating carbon emissions reductions, the BEE-Cal also gauges potential energy savings, local job creation, and improved social equity through a number of metrics. The BEE-Cal allows users to:

Customize energy efficiency policies for a number of municipalities across Canada (through an embedded extensive database);

Compare potential impacts of different policies or groups of policies;

Estimate the potential benefits of energy efficiency policies;

Conduct a sensitivity analysis of a single policy using different impact levels, time length policy is in effect, and building types;

Assess whether a package of policies is sufficient to meet municipal goals or targets.

The TAF, which invests in urban solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, aimms to reduce Toronto's GHG emissions by 80 pct by 2050. (Source: Toronto Atmospheric Fund, PR, 26 May, 2017) Contact: Toronto Atmospheric Fund, (416) 392-0271, towerwise@taf.ca info@taf.ca, www.taf.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Building Energy Efficiency,  GHG Emissions,  

National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Date: 2017-05-10
According to a survey conducted in 2016 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), facility managers in New York City found that 84 pct of facility managers who benchmarked their facilities' energy use in accordance with city and regional ordinances made a low- or no-cost operational change to improve their buildings' performance while 82 pct invested in new equipment to improve energy performance. The most common energy-saving investments included lighting and lighting controls, heating and cooling upgrades, and energy management systems.

Various Studies have shown that commercial, multi-family and public buildings that benchmark their energy consumption have cut their energy use intensity and increased their ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager scores faster than buildings that are not held to similar benchmarking ordinances. These findings help support the conclusion that implementing benchmarking laws can act as a catalyst to increase building efficiency. (Source: National Electrical Manufacturers Association, PR, CFM&D, 8 May, 2017)Contact: National Electrical Manufacturers Association, (703) 841-3200, www.nema.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  ENERGY STAR,  

Canada Green Building Council
Date: 2017-05-05
The Canadian province of Manitoba, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is recommending the province's recently released budget committing $1.7 billion to strategic infrastructure for the years 2017 and 2018, with $641 million for health, education and housing infrastructure and $370 million for municipal, local and other provincial infrastructure, focus on energy efficiency initiatives.

Though green infrastructure was not specified in the budget, the CaGBC is calling for building energy efficiency retrofits as well as a comprehensive building energy benchmarking program to gather performance data on the energy and water use of large buildings.

According to CaGBC, the Manitoba green building industry supported over 5,500 direct jobs and generated $438.8 million in GDP. (Source: CaGBC, JOC News, 2 May, 2017) Contact: Canada Green Building Council, Mark Hutchinson, VP, (613) 241-1184, www.cagbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy BenchmarkingGreen Building,  Canada Green Building Council ,  

Chicago,ENERGY STAR
Date: 2017-04-24
In recognition of its energy efficiency strategies and initiatives the City of Chicago, and its building energy benchmarking ordinance in particular, the City of Chicago is receiving the EPA's ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year recognition for leveraging ENERGY STAR tools and resources, including integration of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® as a critical tool and vital program component. The city's building energy benchmarking ordinance requires commercial, industrial, and residential buildings more than 50,000 square feet to track and report whole-building energy use.

Chicago is also being recognized for:

Partnering with multiple organizations to create the Chicago Energy Benchmarking Working Group, including the U.S. Green Building Council -- Illinois and the City Energy project, to provide over 40 training sessions on Portfolio Manager:

Increasing enrollment in the number of customers obtaining data from utilities from 300 buildings to more than 3,300 buildings between 2014 and 2016:

Generating approximately $11.6 million in energy costs/year and 188,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents annually in energy savings across buildings that benchmarked consecutively for three years:

Facilitating more than 10,000 support interactions through the Chicago Energy Benchmarking Help Center;

Assisting more than 100 properties, on a pro bono basis, with benchmarking and data verification:

Supporting 15 properties in the National Building Competition BOOTCAMP, including two properties also participating in the Retrofit Chicago Energy Challenge. (Source: City of Chicago, US EPA, April, 2017) Contact: ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News City of Chicago,  Energy Efficiency ,  Energy Benchmarking,  ENERGY STAR,  

Emirates Green Building Council
Date: 2017-03-17
In the UAE, the Emirates Green Building Council (EmiratesGBC) , in partnership with the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), reports it is working with Dubai-based hotels, shopping malls and others on an energy benchmarking project to assess building efficiency.

The Benchmarking Project aims to support the Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) initiative under the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) an initiative led by the UN Secretary-General, and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The Benchmarking Project will measure the energy performance of 100 buildings in Dubai in the three focus groups of hotels, malls and schools. DSCE will support to the Benchmarking Project and mark the first BEA demonstration project in Dubai, which will serve as a referral point to advance energy efficiency of buildings in the city, and double the rate of efficiency by 2030. (Source: Emirates Green Building Council, CPI Financial, 14 Mar., 2017)Contact: Emirates Green Building Council, +971 4 346 8244, www.emiratesgbc.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Emirates Green Building Council,  Green Building,  Energy Efficiency,  

2030 District
Date: 2017-02-15
Property owners and managers in Ann Arbor, Michigan are seeking to join the 2030 District program, a unique private-public partnership formed with the goal of a 50 pct reduction in energy usage, water consumption and transportation emissions.

Ann Arbor's 2030 District, currently categorized as "emerging," recently received a $15,000 grant from Architecture 2030 and Summit Foundation as a match to various local commitments. Ann Arbon's 2030 District aims to build the founding membership of property owners and managers, professional service providers and community stakeholders for an official 2030 District launch by the end of 2017. The Ann Arbor district also plans to begin hosting events to showcase local and regional high-performing projects while aligning buildings with the technical assistance necessary to monitor of their energy use. The new district will also leverage the private sector in meeting Ann Arbor's Climate Action Plan goal of cutting carbon emissions 25 pct by 2025 and 90 pct by 2050.

Albuquerque, Austin, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Grand Rapids, Ithaca, Loas ANgeles, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Portland Me., San Francisco, Stamford, Seattle and Toronto are all 2300 District participant cities. (Source: mLive, 13 Feb., 2017) Contact: 2030 District, www.2030districts.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News 2030 District,  Energy Consumption,  Energy Benchmarking ,  

Easty Hampton
Date: 2017-02-10
In New York State, the Town of East Hampton is implementing an annual energy benchmarking program for all municipally owned of 1,000 square-feet or more.

The energy benchmarking program is part of the town's plan to to be carbon-neutral by 2020. Energy Benchmarking is also required for "Clean Energy Community" status with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) which issues grant funding for energy efficiency projects.

If the town can earn NYSERDA clean energy community statusthis year, it would immediately qualify for $100,000 in grant money for energy efficiency projects, and would then be able to apply for broader incentives toward more efficiencies.

Among the initiatives the town is considering to help reduce its energy usage is more efficient lighting in all town facilities, replacing aging town vehicles with electric cars, installing storm windows in the historic Town Hall buildings and installing solar panels on town buildings. The town has already begun replacing street lamps with energy-efficient LED bulbs. (Source: Town of East Hampton, 27 East.com, 7 Feb., 2017) Contact: Town of East Hampton, Building Dept., (631) 324-4145, www.ehamptonny.gov/279/Building-Department; NYSERDA, Dayle Zatlin, Assistant Director of Communications, (518) 862-1090 X 3359, dayle.zatlin@nyserda.ny.gov; John B. Rhodes, Pres., CEO, (518) 862-1090, www.nyserda.ny.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Neutral,  Energy Benchmark,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Audit,  NYSERDA,  

City of Chicago
Date: 2017-02-06
The City of Chicago reports it has cut citywide emissions by 7 pct from 2010-2015, according to an analysis performed by the engineering consultancy AECOM. The reduction was achieved during a period of 1 pct population growth and 12 pct growth in the local economy. According to the AECOM analysis, the built environment contributes about 70 pct of citywide GHG emissions. Over the past 5 years this sector experienced a 10 pct drop in carbon emissions led by energy savings in buildings. The residential building sector cut emissions by 11 pct, commercial buildings by 10 pct and institutional buildings by 8 pct. Over 80 pct of the city's total emissions reductions came from energy savings in buildings.

One strategy that Chicago implemented to encourage energy savings is an energy benchmarking and transparency law for existing buildings. The 2013 benchmarking ordinance came into force in 2016. In 2016, the city had nearly 2,700 buildings track and report energy use -- eleven times more buildings than initially reported in 2014. These properties represent about 733 million square feet of space, 23 pct of citywide energy use, and about $2 billion in energy bills.

The benchmarking report shows that regular tracking and reporting is helping to reduce energy use and emissions. Properties that have reported consistently are demonstrating annual energy reductions of 2 percent year-over-year. Combined, these energy reductions are saving the properties $17.6 million per year. (Source: City of Chicago, NRDC, Lauren Zullo, February 03, 2017) Contact: Retrofit Chicago Energy Challenge, http://www.retrofitchicago.net; City Energy Project, www.cityenergyproject.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Carbon Emissions,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Benchmarking,  

City Energy Project,St. Louis
Date: 2017-02-06
The city of St. Louis Board of Aldermen reports it has approved the implementation of an energy benchmarking requirement for certain commercial properties located primarily in the city center.

St. Louis is one of 20 cities nationwide to be selected for the benchmarking initiative, known as the City Energy Project. A joint venture of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Institute for Market Transformation, the City Energy Project provides funding and technical support for tracking energy usage in large buildings, giving them the tools to save power and money. The program aims to enable $1.5 billion in annual energy savings nationwide by 2030. (Source: City Energy Project, St.Louis Post Dispatch, 3 Feb., 2017) Contact: City Energy Project, www.cityenergyproject.org

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Benchmarking,  City Energy Project,  Energy Efficiency,  Energy Management,  

Montgomery County
Date: 2017-01-30
In the Empire State, the Montgomery County Legislature reports the passage of an "energy benchmarking" resolution requiring municipally owned buildings of 1,000 sq-ft or larger to track and report their annual energy consumption. The reported energy consumption and energy performance data will be correlated and compared to similar buildings.

By comparing the energy performance and use, the county will be able to make smarter, more cost-effective operational and capital investment decisions, reward efficiency and drive widespread and continuous improvement.

The legislation tasks the director, or head of the Department of Economic Development and Planning, to enter the total energy consumed by each municipal building, along with a description of the building, and file it in the EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. (Source: Fonda Leader Herald, 26 Jan., 2017)Contact: EPA ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Benchmarking,  Energy Efficiency,  ENERGY STAR,  

Nebraska State Energy Office,EPA ENERGY STAR
Date: 2017-01-30
In Lincoln, the Nebraska State Energy Office reports it will launch a sweeping energy-efficiency benchmarking review of all 3,700-plus state-owned buildings ranging from cubicle-filled offices to college classrooms, state park cabins, prison blocks and Roads Department machine sheds.

Buildings will be scored using the EPA ENERGY STAR portfolio manager program then compared with similar buildings across the nation to help the state prioritize energy-efficiency projects. The state will then identify potential energy-efficiency improvements and use a tool developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration to estimate how those improvements reduce energy use and greenhouse-gas emissions.

The project is receiving $300,000 in funding from the US DOE and is expected to be completed by 2020. (Source: Nebraska State Energy Office, Jack Osterman, Deputy Director, (402) 471-2867, www.neo.ne.gov

More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency,  Benchmarking,  EPA ENERGY STAR,