Evanston Benchmarking Ordinance
What is city of Evanston Energy Benchmarking Ordinance?
The City of Evanston Energy Benchmarking Ordinance is a regulation that mandates certain buildings within the city to track and disclose their annual energy and water consumption. The main goal is to promote energy conservation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the overall environmental quality of Evanston.
What buildings are required per the city of Evanston Benchmarking Ordinance?
- Public city building exceeding 10,000 square feet.
- Commercial or multifamily building of at least 20,000 square feet.
Your building may qualify for an exemption from reporting if:
- Financial distress
- The building is the subject of a qualified tax lien sale or public auction due to property tax arrearages.
- The building is controlled by a court appointed receiver
- The building has been acquired by a deed in lieu of foreclosure
- Low occupancy
- The building had average physical occupancy of less than fifty percent (50%) throughout the calendar year for which benchmarking is required
- New construction
- The building is a new construction and the building’s certificate of occupancy was issued during the calendar year for which benchmarking is required.
You can view the list of buildings required to submit benchmarking data here.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
Buildings failing to adhere to City of Evanston benchmarking ordinance by the specified deadline will be charged $100 per month of non-compliance.
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. The ordinance requires a certified professional engineer to verify the accuracy of submitted data.
What is the deadline for city of Evanston Benchmarking Compliance?
City of Evanston requires that building owners annually submit their energy usage data using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool by June 30th.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Water
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Energy
- Any other purchased fuel
What is the purpose for Evanston Benchmarking ordinance?
The Evanston Benchmarking Ordinance serves two main purposes:
Environmental Sustainability: The primary goal is to promote environmental responsibility within the city by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Buildings are a major source of these emissions, and the ordinance aims to make building owners aware of their energy and water usage. This awareness can lead to taking action to improve energy efficiency, which ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to a cleaner environment.
Cost Savings for Building Owners: While environmental benefits are a major focus, the ordinance also offers advantages to building owners. By tracking energy and water consumption through benchmarking, owners can identify areas where they might be using excessive resources. This valuable information allows them to implement cost-saving measures like upgrades to lighting systems, appliances, or HVAC systems. Over time, these improvements can lead to significant reductions in utility bills.
In essence, the Evanston Benchmarking Ordinance is a two-pronged approach that benefits both the environment and building owners.
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]