Benchmarking (Local Law 84)
Owners of large buildings must measure and report on consumption of energy and water every year. This is a proven way for buildings to decrease emissions and energy use. Having your own data available to be compared with others incites positive changes in behavior.
Before:
It used to be that buildings at least 50,000 square feet had to benchmark their information. However, in 2016, the minimum square footage of buildings was decreased.
Changes for 2018:
Buildings between 25,000 and 49,999 square feet are now also required to comply. The data must be submitted by May 1, 2018.
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®, located here, is the online tool used for reporting all data. The Portfolio Manager scores your building on how well it is performing compared to similar buildings across the country. You may also measure your current performance against past years.
The law requires resources to be available for those who want help with the benchmarking process. For any assistance you may need, you can contact the NYC Benchmarking Help Center by email at questions@benchmarkinghelpcenter.org, or by phone at 212-566-5584.
Staying on Top of Deadlines
Failure to submit benchmarking data by May 1st, 2018 will result in a penalty of $500. Additional $500 fines for missing data are administered quarterly, on:
- August 1st
- November 1st
- February 1st of the following year
By planning ahead and seeking out help, you’ll be able to stay on top of the deadline.
