TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMPLIANCE GUIDE
WHAT IS THE LOS ANGELES EXISTING BUILDINGS ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY PROGRAM?
The City of Los Angeles Existing Buildings Energy and Water Efficiency Program (EBEWE), is a two-part local ordinance. Phase I benchmarking requires commercial buildings with more than 20,000 sq. ft. and no residential utility accounts, and multifamily residential buildings with more than 20,000 sq. ft. and 17 or more utility accounts to submit whole-building energy and water benchmarking reports annually. Phase II Audit/Retro-commissioning (A/RCx) requirements are due every five years and compliance is based on the benchmarking results and performance of the building.
DOWNLOAD THE LA EBEWE BROCHURE
LA EBEWE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Policy
LOS ANGELES' GREEN NEW DEAL
Bill Text
DIVISION 97 TO THE LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODE (LAMC)
Enforcing Agency
LOS ANGELES DEPT. OF BUILDING AND SAFETY (LADBS)
Size of Property
20,000 SQ. FT. AND ABOVE
Property Type
COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS
Required Information
12 MONTHS ENERGY, WATER AND BUILDING USE DATA
Phase II Building Performance
Standards
AUDITS & RETRO-COMMISSIONING (A/RCx) REQUIREMENT
Due Date
BENCHMARKING: JUNE 1, ANNUALLY
A/RCx REQUIREMENT: EVERY 5 YEARS
Fees
$66.41 ANNUAL BENCHMARKING REGISTRATION FEE
$199.22 5-YEAR A/RCx REGISTRATION FEE
EXEMPTIONS FROM BENCHMARKING
- The building is scheduled to be demolished within the calendar year.
- The building is and/or was unoccupied for the entire compliance year.
- The building did not receive energy or water service during the entire compliance year.
- The building use types are excluded in 91.9703. SCOPE.
Compliance List: LA City Public Disclosure Dashboard
PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT
$202 non-compliance fee. Payment of this fine does not constitute compliance.
PHASE II BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
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.
OPTION 1
PERFORMANCE PATHWAY
Meet Energy and/or Water Exemptions based on program-defined efficiency standards.
OPTION 2
PRESCRIPTIVE PATHWAY
Perform an ASHRAE Level II Energy and/or Water Audit and Retro-Commissioning (A/RCx) Report.
LA EBEWE PHASE II A/RCx COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE
| LAST DIGIT OF DBS BUILDING ID | INITIAL COMPLIANCE DUE DATE | ENERGY CONSUMPTION COMPARATIVE PERIOD | NEXT COMPLIANCE DUE DATE |
| 0 or 1 | Dec 1, 2021 Sept 7, 2023* |
Dec 1, 2016 - Dec 1, 2021 Sept 1, 2018 - Sept 1, 2023 |
Dec 1, 2026 |
| 2 or 3 | Dec 1, 2022 Sept 7, 2023* |
Dec 1, 2017 - Dec 1, 2022 Sept 1, 2018 - Sept 1, 2023 |
Dec 1, 2027 |
| 4 or 5 | Dec 1, 2023* | Dec 1, 2018 - Dec 1, 2023 | Dec 1, 2028 |
| 6 or 7 | Dec 1, 2024 | Dec 1, 2019 - Dec 1, 2024 | Dec 1, 2029 |
| 8 or 9 | Dec 1, 2025 | Dec 1, 2020 - Dec 1, 2025 | Dec 1, 2030 |
* Bold text (0-3) reflects the reissued due date from tolled deadlines.
* Green Econome can provide historic benchmarking and Phase II reporting, to bring any past-due EBEWE compliance up to date.
OPTION 1: PERFORMANCE PATHWAY 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:
- ENERGY STAR Certification for the building’s compliance year (CY). Requires ENERGY STAR score greater than 75.
- ENERGY STAR Certification for two of the three years preceding the building’s compliance year. Requires ENERGY STAR score greater than 75.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years based on the Temporary or Final Certificate of Occupancy.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The building is new and has been occupied for less than five years based on the Temporary or Final Certificate of Occupancy.
- The tenant pays the energy and water bills as specified in Section 91.9704.
OPTION 2: PRESCRIPTIVE PATHWAY 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
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- Evaluate the Phase I benchmarking report(s) for the building's least-cost path to Phase II compliance (or complete benchmarking, if annual disclosure hasn't been met).
- Provide Phase II proposals for applicable services.
- Upon signed agreement, fulfill Phase II services, submit compliance requirements to the City, and provide reports to the building owner/representative.
Meeting exemptions can save up to 65% off the cost of a full ASHRAE Level II Audit/RCx Report. If you need benchmarking performed or an evaluation of your existing benchmarking report, please contact us right away. Our company has been working with Los Angeles EBEWE compliance since the beginning.
AS BENCHMARKING CONSULTANTS AND ESG REPORTING EXPERTS, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO DEVELOP A BUILDING PERFORMANCE BASELINE FOR COMPLIANCE
Green Econome takes an accurate, efficient, and comprehensive approach to ENERGY STAR® benchmarking that ensures you receive meaningful data about the performance of your building for disclosure compliance, ESG reporting, green loans, auditing, or whatever your project needs may be. Our property use details and utility data collection, review, and verification process leads to complete benchmarking.
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