Property Size

Existing buildings 10,000 sq. Ft. or larger.

Annual benchmarking reporting requires 12 calendar months of whole-building energy, water, and building use data. For example, in 2025, building owners must report 12 months of 2024 data.

May 15, annually. Benchmarking reports must be submitted on an annual basis using the previous year’s data via ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. This is the EPA’s benchmarking tool that is used for compliance reporting in most ordinances across the country.

Building Performance Standards (BPS) are often considered Phase II of these building energy use ordinances. After reporting your benchmarking data, many ordinances require you to make changes to the building’s operations or equipment to lower energy use over time.

Brisbane BBEP requires covered property owners to meet their Beyond Benchmarking requirements via two pathways:

Performance Pathway

High-performing buildings can achieve compliance by submitting proof that the building is either:

• New and has been occupied for less than 5 years; or
• Has achieved at least one energy and one water performance standard in 3 of the previous 5 years; or
• Is LEED Operations and Maintenance (O+M) certified; or
• Has achieved an ENERGY STAR score of 80 or greater; or
• Has improved its ENERGY STAR score by 20 points or better relative to the baseline year*; or
• Has a weather normalized site energy use intensity (EUI) that is 25% below the median for that property type; or
• Has reduced its weather normalized site EUI by at least 20% relative to its performance during the baseline year*

*Brisbane BBEP baselines years are 2020 by default.

Prescriptive Pathway

Any building between 10,000 and 39,999 Sq. Ft. that cannot comply via performance pathways must complete a prescriptive pathway by conducting an asset score full report and either:

• Performing retro-commissioning
• Adopting improvement measures
• Adopting a green lease

Any building between 40,000 Sq. Ft. and larger that cannot comply via performance pathways must complete a prescriptive pathway by conducting an ASHRAE Level II audit and either:

• Performing retro-commissioning
• Adopting improvement measures
• Adopting a green lease

BBEP Beyond Compliance Due Dates

For the year 5 deadline, you must submit all relevant forms, documents, and reports signed by Qualified Professionals.

Third-party data verification requires owners/managers of covered buildings to hire a third-party expert who will independently review and verify the building’s benchmarking data.

Under Brisbane BBEP, third-party data verification is not required. However, building audits and improvement reports must be completed by a qualified professional.

Failure to comply may subject the owner to non-compliance fees as specified in Section 1.16 the Brisbane Municipal Code which can administer fines of $100 to $500 for violations.

CONTACT US HERE to learn more and get started with compliance.

Brisbane Building Efficiency Program (BBEP) compliance can be confusing and hard to navigate. Bringing on a consultant like VCA Green streamlines the entire process while ensuring accurate reporting. We also offer free consultations with our benchmarking clients to review the reports and identify inefficiencies to improve.

Ordinances such as Brisbane BBEP are already in effect across the country, and deadlines are rapidly approaching. Retrieving historical building data will take time, especially when coordinating with property managers and utilities.

Waiting until the last minute risks missing compliance windows resulting in fines and enforcement penalties. VCA Green takes every measure to ensure complete and accurate data collection. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you will reach compliance.