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PHASE II BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS

Every 5 years, covered buildings must undergo an ASHRAE Level II Energy & Water Audit and Retro-Commissioning (A/RCx), unless they meet certain energy and/or water exemptions.

LA EBEWE PHASE II A/RCx COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE

*Reissued deadlines due to the tolling of deadlines associated with the COVID-19 Emergency Order issued in 2020, and lifted in 2023.

OPTION 1: PERFORMANCE EXEMPTION DETAIL

Buildings that meet an Energy Exemption are not required to have an Energy Audit & RCx. Likewise, buildings that meet a Water Exemption are not required to have a Water Audit & RCx. All Energy and Water Exemptions, except Water Exemption #4, must be certified by a California-licensed architect or engineer.

ENERGY EXEMPTIONS

Buildings must meet one of the following requirements to be exempt:

1. ENERGY STAR Certification for the building’s compliance year (CY). Requires ENERGY STAR score greater than 75.
2. ENERGY STAR Certification for two of the three years preceding the building’s compliance year. Requires ENERGY STAR score greater than 75.
3. For property types not eligible to receive an ENERGY STAR score, the building must perform 25% better than the national median of similar building types.
4. The building has reduced its Source Energy Use Intensity (EUI) by 15% when compared to the five years before a building’s compliance due date.
5. A building that does not have a central cooling system or has a cooling system having an aggregate input capacity of less than 100 refrigeration tons (1,200,000 Btu/h) and has completed four of six prescribed measures within the five-year Phase II compliance cycle, in accordance with Title 24, and permitted when required.
6. The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years based on the Temporary or Final Certificate of Occupancy.
7. The tenant pays the energy and water bills as specified in Section 91.9704.

WATER EXEMPTIONS

Buildings must meet one of the following requirements to be exempt:

1. The building has reduced its Water Use Intensity by at least 20% when compared to the five years prior to the building’s compliance due date.
2. A building with no central cooling system or a cooling system that does not operate by the consumption of water as part of the cooling process and has installed two of the three prescribed measures within the five-year Phase II compliance cycle, in accordance with Title 24, and permitted when required.
3. The building’s water use conforms to the LA Municipal and Title 24 Code in effect at any time during the five-year compliance cycle.
4. The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years based on the Temporary or Final Certificate of Occupancy.
5. The tenant pays the energy and water bills as specified in Section 91.9704.

OPTION 2: AUDIT REPORTING DETAIL

ASHRAE LEVEL II AUDIT (A)

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level II Audit includes an in-depth identification and documentation of a building’s energy and water-use equipment, by examining existing conditions to pinpoint potential areas of improvement for energy and water efficiency. A building must meet or exceed ASHRAE Level II standards to comply.

RETRO-COMMISSIONING REPORT (RCx)

The report creates a schedule of maintenance and repairs (i.e. “tune-ups”) for existing building systems (energy and water). The owner does not have to utilize these options to comply with the ordinance. The owner must only be informed that such options and incentives exist.

GREEN ECONOME PHASE II (A/RCx) PROCESS

1. 1. Evaluate the Phase I benchmarking report(s) for the building's best path to Phase II compliance (or complete benchmarking, if annual EBEWE disclosure hasn't been met).
   2. Provide Phase II proposals for those exemption and/or audit services.
   3. Upon signed agreement, fulfill Phase II services, submit proof of compliance to LADBS, and provide reports to the building owner/representative.