Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO)
What is Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO)?
The Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) is a regulation requiring owners of certain buildings to track and report their energy usage to the city. It aims to promote energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Cambridge buildings.
What buildings are required per Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance?
- Commercial building(s) where such building(s) singly or together contain 25,000 or more Covered Square Feet.
- Residential building(s) that singly or together contain 50 or more residential Dwelling Units.
Your building may qualify for an exemption from reporting if:
- Building Under Construction or Renovation: The building was under construction or renovation during the reporting year and did not have a valid Certificate of Occupancy.
- Building Demolition: The building is scheduled for demolition and a permit has been issued.
- Multifamily Housing – No Electricity Data Aggregation: For multifamily buildings only: Electricity data cannot be aggregated from individual units, and there is no master meter for the entire building.
- Commercial Building – Limited Control Over Electricity: For commercial buildings only: Electricity data cannot be aggregated, there is no master meter, and the building owner does not control or maintain the electrical equipment.
- Financial Hardship:
- No Utility Services: The building has no active utility services (electricity, gas, etc.) during the reporting year.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
Non-compliance with BEUDO may result in a written warning and/or fines of up to $300 per day.
What is the compliance process?
Building owners must report their energy usage data to Energy Star Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.
What is the deadline for Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance?
BEWES requires that building owners annually submit their energy usage data using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool by May 1st.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Water
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
What is the purpose for Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance?
The Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO) has several purposes aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings:
Transparency and Awareness: BEUDO compels building owners to track and report their energy usage. This transparency allows:
- Building owners: To identify areas for improvement and potentially reduce energy costs.
- Prospective buyers or tenants: To assess the energy efficiency of a building, impacting purchase or rental decisions.
Informed Decision-Making: By making energy use data available, BEUDO empowers various stakeholders:
- Building owners: To make data-driven decisions about energy-saving upgrades.
- Policymakers: To develop targeted programs and incentives promoting energy efficiency in buildings.
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Buildings are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. BEUDO encourages energy efficiency, which directly translates to:
- Lower energy consumption
- Reduced reliance on fossil fuels
- Decreased greenhouse gas emissions
Interested in benchmarking help?
If you are interested to learn more how Energy Fave can help with Energy benchmarking for your building or if you have more questions about the whole reporting process, feel free to email us: [email protected]