Decarbonization Archives

These 5 Cities Just Adopted Building Performance Ordinances

May 27, 2025 Connor Chow

If you work in commercial real estate, property management, or are just fascinated by local government, the odds are you are aware of building performance reporting and improvement standards. Commonly referred to as BPS, short for building performance standards, many cities have been introducing regulations around the efficiency of large commercial properties.

If you aren’t fully aware of how these ordinances work, here are a few articles to help get the ball rolling: 4 Benefits of Benchmarking, Building Performance Standards in California, Ordinance Information. Larger cities, such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Boston were early adopters, which helped shape policy for smaller cities like the five we outline below.

Santa Monica, CA, Clean and Healthy Buildings Ordinance (CHEBO)

One of the newer cities to join the list, Santa Monica has recently initiated their Clean and Healthy Buildings Ordinance (Santa Monica CHEBO). While their BPS policy has yet to be released, their benchmarking is being finalized as of May 2025.

Property Size

Buildings over 20,000 sq ft.

Benchmarking Deadline

June 1, 2026 – annually thereafter.

Building Performance Standards

The City of Santa Monica has yet to finalize their Clean and Healthy Building Ordinance (CHEBO) with its BPS element. However, their BPS program is set to be finalized in 2025 and will go into effect June 1, 2026.

In the proposed policy, covered buildings need to meet greenhouse gas and/or energy use targets every 5 years beginning in 2031 for buildings larger than 50,000 square feet and in 2036 for buildings larger than 20,000 square feet. The final performance target is aimed at net zero emissions by 2050.

Penalties

Penalties for non-compliance in Santa Monica are pending finalization.

West Hollywood, CA, Equitable Buildings Performance Standards (EBPS)

While we’re discussing SoCal policy, West Hollywood also joined the BPS club with their Equitable Building Performance Standards (WeHo EBPS). With benchmarking starting in 2026, they also have set their building improvement deadlines.

Property Size

Buildings over 20,000 sq ft.

Benchmarking Deadline

May 15, 2026 – annually thereafter.

Building Performance Standards

West Hollywood drafted their Equitable Building Performance Standards policy which will require owners of all existing buildings over 20,000 square feet to make improvements to their building to meet performance targets. These will become more stringent over time.

First interim deadline – May 15, 2028

Second interim deadline – May 15, 2032

Final deadline – May 15, 2036

Penalties

Failure to comply with benchmarking deadlines may result in a fine up to $1,000.

Evanston, IL, Healthy Buildings Ordinance (HBO)

Evanston adopted Building Performance Standards (BPS) to cut emissions from buildings through their Healthy Buildings Ordinance (HBO). Beginning with their benchmarking regulations to help property owners identify their baseline to improve upon.

Property Size

Building Type 1: Any building over 100,000 sq ft.

Building Type 2: Any building between 50,000 and 100,000 sq ft.

Building Type 3: Any building between 25,000 and 50,000 sq ft.

Benchmarking Deadline

June 30, annually.

Building Performance Standards

Covered properties in Evanston need to meet interim performance targets beginning in 2031. Every 5 years, performance standards increase, leading to net zero by 2050.

Penalties

Failure to comply with benchmarking reporting requirements can result in a $100 fine monthly until it is resolved. BPS non-compliance penalty amounts will be up to the discretion of the City Manager.

Newton, MA, Building Emissions Reduction Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)

Newton initiated their BPS to cut emissions from buildings through their Building Emissions Reduction Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO). The program is set up similarly to Evanston, starting with benchmarking and interim performance targets.

Property Size

Buildings over 20,000 sq ft.

Benchmarking Deadline

September 15, 2025 – Non-residential buildings over 100,000 sq ft.

September 15, 2026 – All buildings over 20,000 sq ft.

Building Performance Standards

Similar to Evanston, covered buildings in Newton must comply with BPS requirements in 5-year cycles, ultimately leading to becoming net zero emissions by 2050.

Penalties

For each day in which a building has failed to comply, it will be considered an individual violation with a penalty of $1,000 per day for buildings over 35,000 sq ft. or $300 per day for buildings between 20,000 and 35,000 sq ft.

Providence, RI, Building Energy Reporting Ordinance (BERO)

Last but not least, Providence joined the club with their Building Energy Reporting Ordinance (BERO). Although they have yet to set building performance standards, they have initiated incoming benchmarking requirements for existing buildings.

Property Size

Buildings over 20,000 sq ft.

Benchmarking Deadline

Buildings over 50,000 sq ft: May 15, 2025 – annually thereafter.

Buildings over 20,000 sq ft: May 15, 2026 – annually thereafter.

Building Performance Standards

Building performance standards in Providence have not yet been finalized.

Penalties

First non-compliance violations will be a warning. Second violations result in fines of $40 per day, not exceeding $4000 per year (buildings over 50,000 sq ft.) or $30 per day, not exceeding $3,000 per year (buildings between 20,000 and 50,000 sq ft.).

Benefits to Building Performance

You may be wondering – what’s the point of all of this? Of course, there is the environmental impact of these buildings being inefficient. However, there is also the business side of these ordinances. Properties that are efficient save money on operating costs and increase property value.

Ultimately, cities are beginning to recognize that their building standards are not what they used to be. Pushing these ordinances means that cities are working towards modernizing and improving their infrastructure.

While we couldn’t cover every detail on these ordinances, we encourage you to reach out if you want expert guidance and compliance services. Green Econome, a woman-owned, full-service energy and water efficiency construction and consulting company, has over 20 years of combined experience. Feel free to reach out to Green Econome’s founder and CEO, Marika Erdely, at marikae@greeneconome.com.

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How to Comply: Colorado’s Building Performance Standards

April 22, 2025 Connor Chow

While the state of sustainability in the federal government remains on ice, it seems that some states are continuing with their environmental goals. Among them is Colorado. At the end of March, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against the state’s energy efficiency standards.

Since it’s here to stay, we wanted to take a moment to dissect the state’s building performance standards, what they are, how to comply, and everything else you need to know.

Why is the State Pushing These Regulations?

I think before getting into Colorado’s building performance standards, it’s worth noting why they implemented them. In recent years, they recognized that they need to consider how to protect the air quality across the state.

As mentioned in the bill, policymakers acknowledge that climate change adversely affects Colorado’s economy, air, and quality of life. As a result, they set goals to achieve at least a 26% reduction in statewide greenhouse gas pollution by 2025, a 50% reduction by 2030, and 90% by 2050.

Building Performance Colorado: State-Wide Policy and Deadlines

There are many nuances involved in Colorado’s Building Performance Colorado (BPC) program, but here are the main points. Covered buildings are required to report benchmarking data every June 1st for the previous calendar year. This started on June 1, 2024 (reporting for 2023 data).

In 2024, the annual benchmarking report required building owners to specify which of the compliance pathways they wanted to follow to reach their 2026 targets. These were pre-set in the bill. Similarly, the 2028 report will need to include their compliance pathway to achieve their 2030 target.

Each of these reports are sent to the Colorado Energy Office (CEO). For benchmarking data reported between 2027-2030, reporting entities need to demonstrate that they met the 2026 site EUI, GHG emission reduction target, data center target, or building specific target.

We recommend reviewing the regulations or contacting us for any fine details.

Energize Denver

In addition to the statewide ordinance, Energize Denver will impact buildings in Denver over 25,000 square feet. It breaks up covered buildings between 5,000 and 24,999 sq. ft. and over 25,000 sq. ft. The city’s main goal is to implement long-term cost savings, a stronger resilient economy, and significantly cut its pollution.

Buildings between 5,000 and 24,999 sq. ft. must certify that 90% of the building’s total lighting load is provided by LED lights or utilize renewable energy generation to meet a minimum of 20% of the building’s annual site energy usage.

Recent Updates to Energize Denver

Interim and final target deadlines extended to 2028 and 2032 for buildings over 25,000 sq. ft.
Further extensions allowed for buildings approved with long-term compliance plans
Vacancy or financial distress allows for 2-year hold on compliance requirements
Possible financial penalties for energy efficiency non-compliance cut in half and no penalties will be levied until late 2029
No building is required to reduce energy usage by more than 42%

DOWNLOAD ENERGIZE DENVER BROCHURE

Getting Started

Whether you are planning for your next compliance deadline or are just finding out about these regulations now, you should review the state’s guidelines and Denver’s if applicable. Of course, it can get complicated and confusing so consultants like Green Econome make it easy for building owners, managers, and tenants to achieve stress-free compliance. We manage this whole process for you, so you can focus on doing your job while we do ours!

Green Econome, a woman-owned, full-service energy and water efficiency construction and consulting company, has over 20 years of combined experience. We can help explain these complicated tax benefits and make sure your property is getting the most from them. Furthermore, we can recommend solutions that will increase the NOI of your property and increase market value. Feel free to reach out to Green Econome’s founder and CEO, Marika Erdely, at marikae@greeneconome.com.

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Building Performance Standards Insights

Energy Efficiency 101 – EBEWE Phase II and Building Retrofits

April 15, 2025 Connor Chow

So, you just received your phase I benchmarking report back. Now what? If Green Econome did your benchmarking, it’s time to schedule your consultation, which is included with your services. During this meeting, we review the results of your benchmarking, discuss areas of concern, and identify potential opportunities for savings. Your building’s benchmarking gives you the foundation to understand how the building is performing. This baseline is required in most building performance ordinances, and it’s the key to unlocking energy and water reduction and cost savings.

Having a comprehensive benchmarking report prepares you perfectly for phase II audits and retrofits. With all the preliminary information in hand, let’s dive into what happens next.

What is Phase II?

If you benchmarked for LA EBEWE Phase I, then you should be looking at Phase II Audit and Retro-commissioning (A/RCx) requirements. If your building does not meet an exemption, you will need an ASHRAE Level II audit. These energy and water audits summarize your building’s performance and then take a detailed account of the specific conditions of your building. Each report identifies room for growth with a cost-benefit analysis of various retrofits that you could complete.

With compliance being required every 5 years, we have found that our clients are best off investing in retrofits to improve their property and qualify for an exemption rather than spending thousands on audits to remain compliant but not gain the value of becoming more efficient.

Across all ordinances with building performance standards (BPS), this second phase is one of the key parts of your local government’s strategy to meet climate action goals. And if a BPS hasn’t already been implemented in your city or state, you can expect it to be in the future as more governments adopt these programs.

It’s important to remember that this audit benefits your building. On average, 30% of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted, and identifying these inefficiencies presents an opportunity to significantly reduce your operating costs.

Improving Efficiency

Once you have someone complete the audit, you will have a clear understanding of where your building is struggling and what type of project it would benefit from. This is where retrofits come into play.

A great example is a large aerospace company was looking to reduce their energy usage at their manufacturing plants. After upgrading their lighting to LED, incorporating occupancy sensors, and installing more efficient HVAC equipment, we were able to reduce their energy cost by 25%.

We live for projects like that. There are thousands of buildings who benchmark just for compliance sake without using that valuable data to drive high-return improvement projects. Not only are they missing out on savings, but they are having to spend the money unnecessarily on audits moving forward. If you want to see an example of an audit, reach out to us and we can walk you through one!

Why Should I Care?

Beyond the environmental benefits of making your property as efficient as possible, your business becomes future-proofed and saves on costs.

Future Proofing

Efficient buildings ensure long-run operational reliability. While others are paying obscene amounts of money for rising energy costs, you will be doing the opposite while protecting the viability of your investment. And as your local government continues establishing building efficiency regulations, you will be eligible for compliance exemptions having already completed your retrofit.

Cost Saving

In terms of immediate effects, inefficient buildings are expensive. If your benchmarking revealed obvious inefficiencies, a level II audit and potential retrofit can remedy the issue. These don’t have to be intrusive projects. We start with no or low-cost adjustments, then make the best recommendations based on our cost-benefit analysis. Sometimes, it can be as small as a new thermostat system that can make improvements.

Getting Started

If you feel like all of this is confusing, that’s because it is. Every term has its own rabbit hole of information that could leave you with more questions than answers. That’s where we thrive. We manage this whole process for you. Starting with benchmarking, then the audit and our free follow-up consultation to walk you through the important takeaways.

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Building Performance Standards Decarbonization Insights

2025 Outlook: Building Performance Standards & Decarbonization

March 28, 2025 Connor Chow

While there is a seemingly endless list of changes being made by the federal government, especially with respect to ESG and sustainability standards, many states are carrying on as usual. On the state level, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Colorado have joined California in continuing to uphold building performance standards.

With so much going on, let’s review existing standards and upcoming reporting deadlines to make sure everyone is up to date.

Reviewing LA EBEWE and Standards in SoCal

If you are reading this post and are located in the Los Angeles area, odds are you are already well aware of LA EBEWE. As a quick refresher, the City of Los Angeles Existing Buildings Energy and Water Efficiency program is a two-part ordinance. Phase I benchmarking required reporting for commercial buildings with more than 20,000 sq. ft. and no residential utility accounts, and residential buildings with more than 20,000 sq. ft. and 17 or more utility accounts. Phase II Audit/Retro-commissioning (A/RCx) requirements are due every 5 years and compliance is based on the benchmarking and performance results of the building.

Most currently, if your building ID from LADBS ends in 8 or 9, your compliance due date is December 1, 2025. That’s this year! While that may seem daunting, exemptions can streamline the entire process and save you money. You can dive into that here.

What’s Happening Across California?

AB 802 requires commercial buildings over 50,000 sq. ft. with no utility accounts and multi-family residential buildings with 50,000 sq. ft. and more than 17 utility accounts to make benchmarking reports annually.

Beyond Los Angeles, the state of California has continued pushing energy compliance and reporting standards. Most notably, Senate Bills 253 and 261, and Assembly Bill 98. SB 253 and 261 are part of the state’s Corporate Climate Data Accountability Act, requiring businesses to report on their emissions and climate-related financial risks. AB 98, on the other hand, impacts warehousing standards, implementing several specific requirements for logistics use facilities of varied sizes.

Locally across California, many cities have ordinances like LA EBEWE such as:

States That Are Following Suit

You may be thinking “oh, well that’s just California”. Well, not quite. In addition to California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado, and other states nationally have followed suit. Each has come up with their own reporting standards, along the lines of California’s reporting bills. It is likely that more states are coming.

Moreover, many cities across the country have local ordinances that will require various levels of reporting and building performance standards. Examples that come to mind are Boston BERDO and Orlando BEWES.

How Do I Afford the Reporting Process?

If you find that you are one of many who are required to report it can be daunting, especially financially. Luckily, there are many ways to fund the reporting and retrofitting process.

For LA EBEWE, the cost of meeting an exemption can be up to 65% less than receiving an ASHRAE Level II energy and or water audit and RCx report. If you are eligible, you can also gain ENERGY STAR Certification which can help with the lease rate and marketing of your property.

High performing, efficient buildings also save money on utility bills and attract higher value tenants that can help offset the costs of an audit or retrofit. There are also many opportunities for tax credits and other financial incentives for buildings that exceed standards depending on your region.

Where Can I Learn More?

Depending on where you are located, you should review the local and state requirements for your business or property. Green Econome specializes in consulting through these processes and has tons of informational materials for ordinances across the country.

The most important part is starting your benchmarking and audits now. These building compliance projects are not done overnight. By getting ahead of the game you will be able to offset future costs and reduce your current operating expenses.

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California Senate Bill 261 - Climate-Related Financial Risk Reporting

Decarbonization Insights

An Overview of SB 219 Section 2 – Climate-Related Financial Risk

March 6, 2025 admin

One of the hottest topics in corporate sustainability right now is the passing of California’s SB 219. This bill combines what was previously two separate bills (SB 253 and 261), consolidating them into one Corporate Climate Data Accountability Act.

If you follow Green Econome, then you probably read about SB 219 Section 1. The second part of the bill works alongside it, acting as its little brother. As with our previous post, we will discuss who is impacted by it, and what exactly they are expected to do under Section 2.

What’s the Purpose of SB 219 Section 2 and Who Needs to Report?

This bill was prefaced with the following assumptions:

Climate change is impacting California’s communities and economy.
Global leaders have established that long-term economic strength is dependent on an economy’s ability to withstand climate-related risks.

The state decided to pass SB 219 to improve transparency amongst businesses that operate in California and their preparedness for the impacts of climate-change.

Covered entities are businesses that operate in California and had more than $500 million in revenue in the prior fiscal year. As with Section 1, this revenue figure applies to the entire business, not just the business it does in the state.

Here’s the Specifics of SB 219 Section 2

Covered entities are expected to report in accordance with the framework outlined by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (June 2017). These guidelines ask companies to report on their exposure to climate-related financial risks and what tactics they are implementing to reduce those risks.

The first report will be on or before January 1, 2026 and biennially moving forward. The report must be publicly accessible (via corporate website, or other means).

Additionally, the state board will contract with a climate reporting organization to prepare a report that reviews a subset of the risk reports and analyzes the systemic and sector-wide climate-related financial risks in California.

Additional Points to Consider

For larger businesses, they only need to report on the parent company level. Each of its subsidiaries are not expected to report individually. Also, for any business that is subject to regulation by the Department of Insurance, they are not expected to report. If any covered entity does not complete a report consistent with the required disclosures, they need to complete a report to the best of its ability and provide a detailed explanation for reporting gaps.

What is the Cost to Comply?

Maybe the better question is what is the cost to everyone if companies don’t comply? But as for the law, there are associated fees due when filing the report. While the bill does not define the amount, it specifies that it will be, “an amount adequate to cover the state board’s full costs of administrating and implementing this section”. Any proceeds will go to the Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosure Fund, which will continuously be appropriated toward purposes of the bill. Failure to report may impose a penalty of up to $50,000 in a reporting year.

How to Prepare

It is essential that businesses work on their data collection immediately and engage with reporting experts. If you are looking to further your emission reductions and save on operating costs, please reach out.

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An Overview of SB 219 Section 1 – Scope Emissions Reporting

February 20, 2025 admin

Let’s be honest, government writing is boring. These bills can be bothersome to read – I would be lying if I said I didn’t have to read it a few times before fully grasping its contents. That being said, SB 219 Section 1 has an interesting framework that will improve transparency for businesses operating in California and their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.

SB 219 combines what was previously two separate bills (SB 253 and 261), consolidating them into one Corporate Climate Data Accountability Act. In this post we will cover what needs to be reported, who needs to report, and the implications of the SB 219 Section 1.

You should also see our post about SB 219 Section 2, the adjoining senate bill regarding climate-related financial risk.

What’s the Purpose of SB 219 Section 1 and Who Needs to Report?

The purpose behind this bill is to improve transparency and accountability amongst businesses that operate in California. The state recognizes that climate change poses a threat to companies’ long-term economic success and the value chains they rely on. Thus, emphasizing the importance of companies being transparent about their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.

However, this bill does not apply to all businesses across the state. Reporting entities are any businesses (corporations, LLCs, Partnerships, etc.) that operate in California and had more than $1 billion in revenue in the prior fiscal year. This revenue standard applies to the entire business, not only the revenue generated in California.

Here’s the Specifics of SB 219 Section 1

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) oversees the specific reporting requirements and ensures that the standards are updated as needed in the coming years.

Although that information has yet to come out, we do know it will focus on three types of emissions: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. The first report on Scope 1 and 2 emissions will be due on or before January 1, 2026 and annually thereafter. CARB will set a later deadline for Scope 3 emissions reporting.

What Needs to be Reported?

Scope 1 Emissions:

All direct greenhouse gas emissions that stem from sources that a reporting entity owns or directly controls, regardless of location
Including but not limited to fuel combustion activities

Scope 2 Emissions:

Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from consumed electricity, steam, heating, or cooling purchased or acquired by reporting entity, regardless of location

Scope 3 Emissions:

Indirect upstream and downstream GHG emissions, other than scope 2 emissions, from sources the entity doesn’t own or control
May include but is not limited to:
- Purchased goods or services
- Business travel
- Employee commutes
- Processing and use of sold products

What is the Timeline?

Additional Points to Consider

In addition to creating and publicly disclosing the reports, reporting entities must also engage with a third-party assurance provider to ensure accurate information. Larger companies are able to report at the parent company level meaning subsidiaries do not need to report individually.

Upon submission of reports, businesses will also need to pay a fee to CARB that has yet to be set. If they fail to report, the board can distribute fines upwards of $500,000 depending on the case.

If you are worried about reporting your first cycle, it is worth noting that CARB has issued an Enforcement Discretion Notice. Thus, for the first reporting cycle, reporting entities are only required to report information that they are already tracking at the time of the bill’s passing.

How to Prepare

It is essential that businesses work on their data collection immediately and engage with reporting experts. Even though the first cycle has been slightly altered, these reports aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they are likely only going to become more extensive.

3 Ways We Can Help With SB 253 Compliance

1. Data Collection, and ENERGY STAR® Benchmarking

The foundation of SB 253 reporting is in the collection of data and benchmarking energy, water, and waste use. Benchmarking helps you develop a baseline understanding of your property’s performance and prepares your data for reporting.

2. Third Party Verification

After collecting all the required data for a report, it must be verified and audited for accuracy and compliance. Green Econome acts as a third-party verification entity by scrubbing data to evaluate and verify a company’s greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Consulting

If you are looking to further your emission reductions and save on operating costs, please reach out. Properties and businesses can save immense amounts of money by reducing emissions, lowering operating costs, and setting themselves up to report impressive data. Using the data collected, Green Econome can consult and provide businesses with strategic plans to increase efficiency and reach its savings goals.

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Decarbonization Insights

California Logistics Development: Offsetting the Costs of AB 98

February 3, 2025 admin

Approved by Governor Newsom in September 2024, Assembly Bill No. 98 (AB 98) is making waves in California’s logistics development and has left many in the logistics real estate industry grappling with its implications. While the new energy efficiency requirements bring challenges, it also opens the door to unexpected opportunities in warehouse sustainability.

What if complying with AB 98 could save money, attract tenants, and give logistics properties an edge above their competition? Let’s look at the bill and how to take advantage of it.

What Is AB 98?

Taking effect on January 1, 2026, this bill is poised to change the future of logistics in California. Its main goals are to reduce the environmental impact of logistics developments, particularly for warehouses near sensitive receptors. Since the bill also incorporates forthcoming California Title 24 building energy standards and CALGreen reach codes, it poses a challenge to the development of logistics properties in the state.

AB 98 Key Terms

Which Building Types are Affected by AB 98?

To reduce the impact on surrounding communities and set up infrastructure for a more efficient future, any newly proposed logistics development or existing ones expanding by 20% and within 900 feet of a sensitive receptor, will face many new restrictions.

What are 21st Century Warehouse Design and Build Standards?

Truck loading bays will need to be oriented away from sensitive receptors
New minimum distances between loading bays and residential areas
Updated mitigation standards for noise and light pollution using screening and buffering
Must incorporate energy-efficient features, such as EV charging infrastructure, PV solar panels and battery storage, cool roofing, and high-efficiency HVAC systems

In addition to the updated building standards, facility operators will need to submit truck routing plans to and from the state highway system that avoid sensitive receptors. AB 98 also seeks to protect affordable housing, requiring a 2-to-1 replacement of demolished housing units that have been occupied within the last 10 years.

Who is Affected by AB 98?

As with most newly passed bills, there are many stakeholders that will be impacted. Logistics owners and developers will certainly face higher costs as they design and build around the updated building regulations. While existing properties are unaffected, any new developments or current buildings wanting to expand by 20% or more will need to be green building compliant.

Simultaneously, the communities surrounding these facilities will benefit from reduced pollution and face fewer disruptions from truck routes.

Top 5 Ways to Offset AB 98 Development Costs

1. 21st Century Warehouse Retrofitting

Retrofitting existing facilities with features like PV solar panels, LED lighting, and high-efficiency HVAC systems will be essential in being AB 98 compliant. If a property is looking to expand, having these features will make the entire development process simpler and more cost effective in the long run.

2. Cost Offsets from High-Efficiency Developments

By optimizing logistics developments to be as energy efficient as possible, building owners can save on operational costs, offsetting the more expensive regulations required under AB 98. Additionally, they could take advantage of tax incentives and rebates for renewable energy adoption, further offsetting the cost of becoming AB 98 compliant.

3. Property Value Enhancement

Beyond basic level compliance, qualifying for building certifications such as ENERGY STAR, Fitwel, LEED, and WELL can make your development more attractive to investors and prospective tenants. Having higher-value tenants and certified buildings can give you a significant competitive advantage while other developments struggle to become compliant.

4. Roadmap to Become AB 98 Compliant

With all the new regulations of California warehouse compliance, it can be daunting to adjust. A consultant, such as Green Econome, can help owners procure the necessary experts, manage the implementation of AB 98 requirements, and help secure financial incentives. Additionally, Green Econome can measure and monitor savings through ongoing l benchmarking of existing data and find the most effective path to staying compliant with AB 98 and current energy policy.

5. Facility Futureproofing

Although AB 98 is extremely expansive in its regulations, it is likely just the beginning of the transition towards more sustainable practices both within the commercial real estate industry, and the ESG requirements of the tenants that occupy those spaces. The way I see it, forward-thinking developers and real estate owners have the chance to get ahead of the curve and improve their property’s efficiency to protect the longevity of their investments.

Green Econome, a woman-owned, full-service energy and water efficiency construction and consulting company, has over 20 years of combined experience. We can help explain these complicated regulations and make sure your property is exceeding basic-level compliance. Furthermore, we can recommend solutions that will increase the NOI of your property and increase market value. Please Contact Us for more information or to get started with your project.

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Media

IMN Spotlight Podcast with Marika Erdely

October 23, 2024 admin

In this episode of IMN’s Spotlight Podcast: Shining the Light on Real Estate Market Players, Green Econome’s founder Marika Erdely sits down to talk about what running a woman-owned business focusing on ESG in commercial real estate is like. She discusses the importance of energy benchmarking, successful case studies, mentorship, and the future potential of Green Econome and the industry.

You don’t want to miss this tell-all episode! You can listen to this episode and more on IMN’s Spotlight Podcast on SoundCloud or Spotify.

LISTEN

Events

April 16, 2024 Bisnow Bay Area ESG Summit

April 11, 2024 admin

Bisnow Bay Area ESG & Sustainability Summit

Tuesday, April 16th
8:00 am – 11:15 am

The Marker Hotel San Francisco
501 Geary St
San Francisco CA 94102

Green Econome will be in San Francisco! Please join us at The Marker Hotel San Francisco for the Bisnow Bay Area ESG & Sustainability Summit. Green Econome CEO, Marika Erdely will be joining a stellar roster of panelists discussing:

The Evolving Landscape of ESG Initiatives
Tracking and Streamlining the Process
Regulations, and Green Financing

Register below and enjoy 20% off of your ticket! Use code: E20jerorUS

News Recognition

Two Years Strong: Green Econome Earns 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award

March 26, 2024 admin

Los Angeles, CA (March 26, 2024) – Green Econome is proud to announce that it has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a second consecutive year.

Green Econome Founder and CEO, Marika Erdely reflects on the meaning of this award, “I am incredibly proud to be an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, two years in a row. Since founding this company in 2009 from scratch, to being acknowledged by the EPA for the quality work we do, I am very appreciative of the hard work and integrity of our team, and our clients who entrust us with their business. We have achieved this recognition together.”

Each year, the ENERGY STAR program honors a select group of businesses and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to energy efficiency and the transition to a clean energy economy. ENERGY STAR award winners lead their industries in the production, sale, and adoption of energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, services, and strategies. These efforts have saved more than five trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity over the past 30 years. In 2023, Green Econome benchmarked over 1,200 buildings, with 9 buildings earning their first-ever ENERGY STAR certification. Through ENERGY STAR^® Portfolio Manager^® web services, Green Econome introduced custom analytics and client reports in 2023, and is developing a client dashboard, further customizing how clients can view and interact with their building data.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda creates unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy, and private sector partners through programs like ENERGY STAR are leading the way,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “I congratulate this year’s ENERGY STAR award winners for their innovation and leadership, in delivering cost-effective energy-efficient solutions that create jobs, address climate change, and contribute to a healthier environment for all.”

Winners are selected from a network of thousands of ENERGY STAR partners. For a complete list of 2024 winners and more information about ENERGY STAR’s awards program, visit energystar.gov/awardwinners.

About Green Econome

Green Econome is a woman-owned small business in the dynamic intersection of sustainability and commercial real estate, providing energy and water efficiency compliance, consulting, and construction services nationwide. Our integrated team has over 20 years of combined experience finding energy-efficient solutions that positively affect market valuations, reduce environmental impact, meet ESG and sustainability goals, and ensure regulatory compliance.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR^® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped American families and businesses avoid more than $500 billion in energy costs and achieve more than 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. More background information about ENERGY STAR’s impacts can be found at www.energystar.gov/impacts.

Media Contact:

Karalyn Honea
karalyn@greeneconome.com

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Santa Monica, CA, Clean and Healthy Buildings Ordinance (CHEBO)

West Hollywood, CA, Equitable Buildings Performance Standards (EBPS)

Evanston, IL, Healthy Buildings Ordinance (HBO)

Newton, MA, Building Emissions Reduction Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)

Providence, RI, Building Energy Reporting Ordinance (BERO)

Benefits to Building Performance

RELEVANT SERVICES

ENERGY STAR® Benchmarking

RETROFIT & CONSTRUCTION

BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS

Why is the State Pushing These Regulations?

Building Performance Colorado: State-Wide Policy and Deadlines

Energize Denver

Recent Updates to Energize Denver

DOWNLOAD ENERGIZE DENVER BROCHURE

Getting Started

RELEVANT SERVICES

ENERGY STAR® Benchmarking

ENERGY & WATER AUDITS

BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS

What is Phase II?

Improving Efficiency

Why Should I Care?

Getting Started

RELEVANT SERVICES

ENERGY STAR® Benchmarking

ENERGY & WATER AUDITS

RETROFIT & CONSTRUCTION

Reviewing LA EBEWE and Standards in SoCal

What’s Happening Across California?

States That Are Following Suit

How Do I Afford the Reporting Process?

Where Can I Learn More?

RELEVANT SERVICES

ENERGY & WATER CONSULTING

ENERGY STAR® Benchmarking

ESG & SUSTAINABILITY

What’s the Purpose of SB 219 Section 2 and Who Needs to Report?

Here’s the Specifics of SB 219 Section 2

Additional Points to Consider

What is the Cost to Comply?

How to Prepare

DOWNLOAD SB 219 SECTION 2 BROCHURE

RELEVANT SERVICES

ENERGY & WATER CONSULTING

INCENTINES & FINANCING

ESG & SUSTAINABILITY

What’s the Purpose of SB 219 Section 1 and Who Needs to Report?

Here’s the Specifics of SB 219 Section 1

What Needs to be Reported?

What is the Timeline?

Additional Points to Consider

How to Prepare

3 Ways We Can Help With SB 253 Compliance

1. Data Collection, and ENERGY STAR® Benchmarking

2. Third Party Verification

3. Consulting

DOWNLOAD SB 219 SECTION 1 BROCHURE

RELEVANT SERVICES

ENERGY & WATER CONSULTING

ENERGY STAR® Benchmarking

ESG & SUSTAINABILITY

What Is AB 98?

AB 98 Key Terms

Which Building Types are Affected by AB 98?

What are 21st Century Warehouse Design and Build Standards?

Who is Affected by AB 98?

Top 5 Ways to Offset AB 98 Development Costs

1. 21st Century Warehouse Retrofitting

2. Cost Offsets from High-Efficiency Developments

3. Property Value Enhancement

4. Roadmap to Become AB 98 Compliant

5. Facility Futureproofing

DOWNLOAD AB 98 BROCHURE

RELATED PROJECTS

RELEVANT SERVICES

ENERGY & WATER CONSULTING

INCENTIVES & FINANCING

RETROFIT & CONSTRUCTION

Bisnow Bay Area ESG & Sustainability Summit