The City of Cambridge Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (Cambridge BEUDO), is a citywide energy benchmarking & disclosure program requiring owners of existing buildings to report energy and water use annually, using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. Effective as of June, 2023, this program provides building owners insight into their building’s energy efficiency and helps meet the City of Cambridge’s Climate Action Plan goals.

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WHAT BUILDINGS ARE COVERED UNDER CAMBRIDGE BEUDO?

Property Size

Commercial buildings over 25,000 Sq .Ft. or 50+ residential dwelling units.

Municipal buildings over 10,000 Sq. Ft.

WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED FOR BENCHMARKING?

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.

WHEN ARE CAMBRIDGE BEUDO BENCHMARKING REPORTS DUE?

May 1, 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.

WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED FOR BPS?

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.

Cambridge BEUDO requires covered properties to meet Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions reductions requirements on a schedule outlined below. These reductions use the baseline years 2018-2019, meaning they must meet the reduction targets relative to the data from those years.

WHEN ARE CAMBRIDGE BEUDO BPS REPORTS DUE?

For Buildings Over 100,000 Sq. Ft.

Compliance Period 1 (2026-2029) – annual GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 20% from baseline.

Compliance Period 2 (2030-2034) – annual GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 60% from baseline.

From 2035 onwards, GHG emissions will not exceed zero.

For Buildings Between 25,000 Sq. Ft. and 100,000 Sq. Ft.

Compliance Period 1 (2026-2029) – annual GHG emissions cannot be more than emissions from the baseline year.

Compliance Period 2 (2030-2034) – annual GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 40% from baseline.

Compliance Period 3 (2035-2039) – annual GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 60% from baseline.

Compliance Period 4 (2040-2044) – annual GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 80% from baseline.

Compliance Period 5 (2045-2049) – annual GHG emissions must be reduced by at least 90% from baseline.

From 2050 onwards, annual GHG emissions will not exceed zero.

WHAT IS THIRD-PARTY DATA VERIFICATION?

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 Cambridge BEUDO, data verification was required for the two baseline years (2018-2019) and is required during the first year of each BPS compliance period.

WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES IF YOU DON'T COMPLY WITH CAMBRIDGE BEUDO?

BEUDO violations will result in:

  • A written warning for first violation

  • Fines of $300 per violation, per day for any subsequent violations

    • Each day that a property remains in violation will be considered a separate offense

These penalty guidelines apply individually to all aspects of the ordinance including, benchmarking, data verification, and emissions reduction requirements.

HOW DO I COMPLY WITH CAMBRIDGE BEUDO?

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

Cambridge BEUDO compliance can be confusing and hard to navigate. Bringing on a consultant like Green Econome 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.

WHEN SHOULD I START CAMBRIDGE BEUDO COMPLIANCE?

Ordinances such as Cambridge BEUDO 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. Green Econome takes every measure to ensure complete and accurate data collection. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can achieve compliance.

CAMBRIDGE BEUDO RESOURCES

GREEN ECONOME IS A CAMBRIDGE BEUDO AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDER

GREEN ECONOME APPROACH

With every phase of the process, Green Econome’s experienced and knowledgeable team is here to guide you on the results, options, and path forward to meet your compliance goals.

RELEVANT SERVICES

DOWNLOAD BPS PRESENTATION

As cities and states implement climate action plans, energy policy is rapidly shifting to meet reduction targets. For existing buildings, the main strategy is through Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards (BPS).

Watch the recording to look back on actionable insights from industry experts Marika Erdely, CEO of Green Econome, and Tyler Stafford, Business Development Manager of Abraxas Energy. In the presentation they unpack the key components of BPS, how you can benefit from compliance, and the roadmap to get you there.

Key Takeaways

  • What are Building Performance Standards and why you should care?
  • Why you should act: benefits of compliance
  • Getting it done: compliance roadmap
  • Paying for it: incentives, tax credits & rebates
  • Success stories from CA, CO, and MA.

Who Should Watch

  • Commercial and multifamily property owners, managers, and tenants
  • Commercial real estate brokers and asset managers
  • Commercial real estate service providers

Speakers

Marika Erdely, MBA, CEA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador

Founder & CEO, Green Econome

Marika Erdely is the founder and CEO of Green Econome, a Southern California-based, full-service Energy Consulting and Construction Company with over 20 years of combined experience in the energy and water efficiency industry.

Prior to founding Green Econome, Marika held the role of CFO/VP at New Millennium Homes, a major home builder and land developer of The Oaks of Calabasas and had previously worked as an accounting professional for nearly thirty years. Marika acquired her Contractors License B (#1001368) in 2007 and C-10 in 2018. Marika is a LEED AP BD+C (Building Design and Construction), a Certified Energy Auditor and a Fitwel Ambassador.

Marika holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BA in Business Economics from UCSB. Marika is currently participating as Advocacy Lead for the USGBC Regional Leadership Advisory Board for the LA region.

Tyler Stafford

Business Development Director, Abraxas Energy

Tyler Stafford is the Business Development Director at Abraxas Energy, a forward-thinking energy consulting firm that empowers clients with end-to-end solutions for energy and water efficiency. With a strong focus on sustainable energy management, Abraxas supports its clients from the initial identification of energy-saving opportunities all the way through to the implementation of energy efficiency projects.

With over 10 years of industry experience, Tyler has built a reputation for delivering tailored energy solutions across a wide range of sectors including commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education, federal/local government, multifamily, and more.

Tyler holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and continues to leverage his technical and strategic knowledge to drive meaningful impact within the energy sector.  He is also active within the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and the National Association of Energy Services Companies (NAESCO).

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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMPLIANCE GUIDE

WHAT IS THE CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 802?

Commercial buildings with more than 50,000 sq. ft. and no residential utility accounts, and multifamily residential buildings with more than 50,000 sq. ft. and 17 or more utility accounts must submit whole-building energy benchmarking reports annually.

DOWNLOAD AB 802 BROCHURE

AB 802 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Policy

CLEAN ENERGY AND POLLUTION REDUCTION ACT SB 350

Bill Text

CA ASSEMBLY BILL 802

Enforcing Agency

CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION (CEC)

Size of Property

50,000 SQ. FT. AND ABOVE

Property Type

COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS

Required Information

12 MONTHS ENERGY AND BUILDING USE DATA

Phase II Building Performance
Standards

N/A

Due Date

JUNE 1, ANNUALLY

Fees

N/A

EXEMPTIONS FROM BENCHMARKING

  1. No/temporary certificate of occupancy for more than half of the reporting calendar year.
  2. The building is scheduled to be demolished one year or less from the reporting date.
  3. Condominium complexes.
  4. When more than half of the gross floor area of a building is used for scientific experiments requiring controlled environments, or for manufacturing with production lines or industrial purposes.
  5. The building is in compliance with its local disclosure law listed on the CEC’s website (e.g. City of LA’s EBEWE), granted that the square footage requirements are met by each program.

PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT

Public Resource Code #25321 states:¨If after five working days, the owner does not comply, the owner will be subject to a civil penalty (after a hearing that complies with constitutional requirements. Civil Penalty will not be less than $500 nor more than $2,000 for each category of data for each day the violation existed and continues to exist.”

WHAT IS BENCHMARKING

ENERGY STAR benchmarking measures a building’s efficiency performance by calculating its energy/water, and property use data, then compares those metrics to similar buildings in the EPA’s software. The building may receive an ENERGY STAR score from 1-100, with 100 being the most energy efficient. Eligible building types with a score over 75 may be eligible for ENERGY STAR Certification.

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.

RELEVANT SERVICES

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

  1. The building is scheduled to be demolished within the calendar year.
  2. The building is and/or was unoccupied for the entire compliance year.
  3. The building did not receive energy or water service during the entire compliance year.
  4. 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


*8-9 initial compliance due, where 0-7 is entering their second compliance cycle. 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:

  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: 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

    1. 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).
    2. Provide Phase II proposals for applicable services.
    3. 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.

RELEVANT SERVICES

In this episode of The Commercial Real Estate Report podcast, Chris Berg of Abernathey Holdings and Green Econome Founder and CEO, Marika Erdely take a deep dive into:

  • Solar and clean energy requirements in CA
  • The positive impacts of ESG
  • Challenges facing CRE and building performance
  • Financial incentives and the tax benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act

The Commercial Real Estate Report is dedicated to bringing you in-depth analyses, market trends, and expert opinions from the world of commercial real estate. Whether you’re an investor, a developer, or simply someone interested in the dynamics of commercial properties, they’ve got you covered. Find them on YouTube @TheCommercialRealEstate. Listen, share, subscribe.

CREW Orange County and Green Econome present Connections 2024 Outlook Lunch and Learn

Please join us on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, for lunch, learning, and networking at Tangram Interiors‘ beautiful space in Newport Beach. Green Econome CEO, Marika Erdely will be discussing:

  • What you need to know about energy and water disclosure laws for existing buildings.
  • Critical insight into ESG and its impact on commercial real estate.
  • Available utility incentives and tax benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act for new development, renovations, and efficiency upgrades.

Space is limited. Registration is required and closes on January 9, 2024 at noon. We hope to see you there!

CREW Connections 2024 Outlook Lunch and Learn

Wednesday, January 10th
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Tangram Interiors
1375 Dove Street, Suite 300
Newport Beach, CA 92660

TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMPLIANCE GUIDE

WHAT IS THE BERKELEY BUILDING ENERGY SAVING ORDINANCE (BESO)?

The Berkeley Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO) requires building owners and homeowners to complete and publicly report comprehensive energy assessments of their building’s energy performance and opportunities for improvement. The assessments are conducted by registered energy assessors who provide tailored recommendations on how to save energy, eliminate fossil fuels, and link building owners to incentive programs for energy efficiency and electrification upgrades. 

BESO PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Policy

BESO

Bill Text

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

Enforcing Agency

CITY OF BERKELEY

Size of Property

 > 15,000 SQ. FT. (BENCHMARKING)
 850 – 24,999 SQ. FT. (ASSESSMENT AT LISTING)
> 25,000 SQ. FT. (ASSESSMENT EVERY 5 YRS)

Property Type

COMMERCIAL, MULTIFAMILY, & MIXED USE

Required Information

12 MONTHS ENERGY AND BUILDING USE DATA

Phase II Building Performance
Standards

ENERGY ASSESSMENTS

Benchmarking Due Date

JULY 1 ANNUALLY

DOWNLOAD BERKELEY BESO BROCHURE

EXEMPTIONS FROM BENCHMARKING (Energy Assessment still required)

The following options defer or exempt submission of energy benchmarking data for a calendar year. For buildings over 50,000 Sq. Ft, the City will report these deferrals and exemptions to the State to satisfy AB802
requirements. An energy assessment is still required.

  • Data Unavailable Deferral.
  • Controlled Environments Exemption.

BESO ENFORCEMENT

$85 administrative late fee. After 90-day notice, citation penalties range from $100 – $500 per violation, per day.

PHASE II ENERGY ASSESMENT REQUIREMENT

Phase II of the Berkeley Building Energy Savings Ordinance (BESO) requires energy assessments.

For buildings 850-24,999 sq ft, before listing your building for sale, you must hire a qualified assessor to complete an energy assessment and report, and provide it to the City and prospective buyers. Alternatively, sellers may defer the BESO assessment requirement to the buyer. 

For buildings 25,000 sq ft and larger, owners must submit energy reports every five years and energy benchmarks annually to comply with the Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO). Some buildings qualify for exemptions or deferrals; refer to the summary document for details. Collect verification documentation, such as your EnergyStar report or building permit, to submit with your application. 

EXEMPTIONS FROM ASSESSMENTS (Annual Benchmarking still required)

The following options defer submission of an energy assessment for that reporting cycle. Annual energy use benchmarking is still required.

  • High Performance Exemption. 
  • Deferral for Long-Term Tenancy under Rent Control.
  • Deferral for New Construction or Extensive Renovation.
  • Low Energy Use Deferral.

AS BENCHMARKING CONSULTANTS AND ESG REPORTING EXPERTS, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO DEVELOP A BUILDING PERFORMANCE BASELINE FOR COMPLIANCE

The first step to Berkeley BESO compliance is benchmarking. 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. Upon completing your report we submit it to the city and verify your compliance status.

COMPLIANCE GUIDE

WHAT IS THE BRISBANE BUILDING EFFICIENCY PROGRAM (BBEP)?

The city launched the Brisbane Building Efficiency Program (BBEP) to address energy and water use in existing buildings to help make them more efficient, thereby saving owners money, improving the safety and comfort of building stock, and reducing emissions that are driving climate change  

DOWNLOAD BRISBANE BBEP BROCHURE

BBEP PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Policy

BUILDING EFFICIENCY PROGRAM

Bill Text

ORDINANCE

Enforcing Agency

CITY OF BRISBANE, CA

Size of Property

10,000 SQ. FT. AND ABOVE

Property Type

COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS

Required Information

12 MONTHS ENERGY AND BUILDING USE DATA

Phase II Building Performance
Standards Compliance

YES, BEYOND REQUIREMENTS

Enforcement

$100-$500 FINES

BBEP ORDINANCE DEADLINES

PHASE I – BENCHMARKING DISCLOSURE

May 15 – Annually

PHASE II – BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

May 15, 2023 (Commercial) 

May 15, 2024 (Multifamily, Industrial) 

*Every 5 years 

EXEMPTIONS FROM BBEP BENCHMARKING

  • If a Certificate of Occupancy or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for the building was not issued for more than half of the calendar year required to be benchmarked. 
  • If the building were vacant for more than half of the calendar year required to be benchmarked. 
  • If the building did not receive energy or water services for more than half of the calendar year required to be benchmarked. 
  • If a demolition permit for the entire building has been issued. 

PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT

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.

PHASE II BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS

The BEYOND requirements of the Brisbane Building Efficiency Program aim to help inefficient buildings improve their energy and water usage and reward high-performing ones. The cycle operates on a 5-year cycle and is separate from the BBEP annual benchmarking report. To meet the Beyond requirements of the Brisbane Building Efficiency Program, buildings must show that they are high-performing (Performance Path) or take steps to improve (Prescriptive Path)

PERSCRIPTIVE PATH

Conduct an audit under the supervision of a Qualified Auditor and prepare an audit report for the year 1 deadline.

For the year 3 deadline, you must decide which action you will take to improve your building and provide an update to BBEP staff. Options include:

  • Green Lease
  • RCx (Retro Commissioning)
  • Improvement Measures

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

PERFORMANCE PATH

Verify that your building meets the qualifications for high performance for both energy and water and prepare performance verification report for the year 1 deadline.

For the year 3 deadline, you must decide which action you will take to improve your building and provide an update to BBEP staff. Options include:

  • Green Lease
  • RCx (Retro Commissioning)
  • Improvement Measures

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

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.

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.

COMPLIANCE GUIDE

WHAT IS THE CHULA VISTA BUILDING ENERGY SAVING ORDINANCE (BESO)?

The Chula Vista Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO), is a citywide energy benchmarking & building performance program requiring owners of existing commercial and multifamily buildings to report energy use annually, using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®, meet building performance standards every 5 years, and demonstrate improvements every 10 years.

DOWNLOAD CHULA VISTA BESO BROCHURE

BESO PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Policy

CITY OF CHULA VISTA CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

Bill Text

CHULA VISTA BUILDING ENERGY SAVING ORDINANCE

Enforcing Agency

CITY OF CHULA VISTA

Size of Property

20,000 SQ. FT. AND ABOVE

Property Type

COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS

Required Information

12 MONTHS ENERGY AND BUILDING USE DATA

Phase II Building Performance
Standards Compliance

YES

Fees

N/A

BESO ORDINANCE DEADLINES

PHASE I – BENCHMARKING DISCLOSURE

May 20 – Annually

PHASE II – BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
CONSERVATION REQUIREMENT COMPLIANCE DUE DATE 50,000+ SQ.FT. COMPLIANCE DUE DATE 20,000-49,999 SQ.FT.
Commercial Buildings Performance Targets / A/RCx Every five (5) years beginning
2023 or later. Schedule TBD.
Every five (5) years beginning
2026 or later. Schedule TBD.
Commercial Buildings Min. Improvement Requirements Every ten (10) years beginning
2028 or later. Schedule TBD.
Every ten (10) years beginning
2031 or later. Schedule TBD.
Multifamily Prescriptive
Upgrades
2023 or later, schedule TBD. 2023 or later, schedule TBD.

EXEMPTIONS FROM BENCHMARKING

  1. No/temporary certificate of occupancy for more than half of the reporting calendar year.
  2. The building is scheduled to be demolished one year or less from the reporting date.
  3. The building is under financial distress.
  4. The building does not receive energy or water service.
  5. Disclosure of energy usage data would result in the release of proprietary information covered by applicable privacy law(s).

PROGRAM ENFORCEMENT

Failure to comply with this law results in a notification and a 60-day window. If a building owner/agent does not submit the report within that time, they are subject to fines of up to $2,250 on a per-incident basis, with the amount based on the building’s gross floor area (GFA).

PHASE II BUILDING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS

Phase II consists of conservation requirements every five (5) years, and demonstrating minimum improvements every ten (10) years. The requirements are categorized between multifamily and commercial building types.

COMMERCIAL

CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS

Buildings must meet either the Performance Targets or the Audit Requirement every 5 years, and the Minimum Improvement requirement every 10 years.

MULTIFAMILY

PRESCRIPTIVE MEASURES

Buildings built prior to 2006 must perform prescribed measures. Properties with Significant Common Load are subject to Commercial Conservation Requirements.

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.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES: CONSERVATION REQUIREMENT DETAIL

High Performing Buildings are exempt from all requirements. All other covered commercial buildings must demonstrate energy reductions that meet or exceed Performance Targets, and submit an ASHRAE Level I or higher energy audit and retro-commissioning report (A/RCx).

EXEMPTIONS

Buildings must meet one of the following requirements to be exempt from both the 5-year Performance Targets and the 10-year Minimum Improvement Requirement:

  1. HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING:
    • Submit a benchmarking report for the most recent compliance deadline AND meet any of the following:
    • ENERGY STAR score of 80 or greater
    • Achieved ENERGY STAR certification
    • Achieved LEED Existing Building Certification for three (3) of five (5) preceding years
  2. The Property has been occupied for less than five (5) years
  3. The Property is in Financial Distress
  4. A demolition permit for the entire Property has been issued and demolition work has commenced
  5. The Property is not subject to the Benchmarking Requirement
CONSERVATION REQUIREMENT DETAIL

Non-residential buildings, and multifamily buildings with Significant Common Load which do not meet any of the above exemptions must:

EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS

  • Meet or exceed the Improvement Target % (see chart below) by reducing energy use compared to the baseline ENERGY STAR score or EUI equivalent, within the 5-year compliance window. OR;
  • If the building does not meet or exceed the Improvement Target %, An ASHRAE Level I or higher energy Audit and Retro-commissioning (A/RCx) report must be conducted and submitted to the City.

EVERY TEN (10) YEARS

  • Meet or exceed the Mandatory Minimum Improvement (see chart below) by reducing energy use compared to the previous (5-year) baseline ENERGY STAR score or EUI equivalent.

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BASELINE ENERGY STAR SCORE / EQUIVALENT SITE EUI-WN 5-YEAR IMPROVEMENT TARGET 10-YEAR MANDATORY IMPROVEMENT
1-45 / 80+ 30% 15%
46-65 / 51-79 20% 10%
66-79 / 19-50 10% Exempt
80+ / 0-18 Exempt Exempt

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MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES: CONSERVATION REQUIREMENT DETAIL

High Performing Buildings are exempt from all requirements. All other covered multifamily buildings must meet the prescriptive measures requirement by their first 5-year deadline. Additionally, buildings with Significant Common Load (10,000+ Sq. Ft. master metered, or shared common meter/load) are subject to the Conservation Requirements outlined above for commercial properties.

EXEMPTIONS

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

  1. HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING:
    • Submit a benchmarking report for the most recent compliance deadline AND meet any of the following:
    • ENERGY STAR score of 80 or greater
    • Achieved ENERGY STAR certification
    • Achieved LEED Existing Building Certification for three (3) of five (5) preceding years
  2. The Property has been occupied for less than five (5) years
  3. The Property is in Financial Distress
  4. A demolition permit for the entire Property has been issued and demolition work has commenced
  5. The Property is not subject to the Benchmarking Requirement
PRESCRIPTIVE MEASURES DETAIL

Multifamily Residential Properties constructed prior to 2006 must perform the minimum number of energy efficiency upgrades, or ‘measures’ required in the table below, within all tenant spaces where utility costs are borne by tenants. Owners may choose from a prescribed list of applicable measures. Efficiency measures already in place, or not included on the list count toward satisfying the minimum number of measures.

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YEAR BUILT        CLIMATE ZONE 7*  CLIMATE ZONE 10* 
Pre-1978 Choose four (4) Measures Chose five (5) Measures
1978 – 1991 Choose three (3) Measures Chose five (5) Measures
1992 – 2005 Choose two (2) Measures Chose five (5) Measures

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* Chula Vista Climate Zone Map

PRESCRIPTIVE MEASURE LIST SAMPLE
  • Attic Insulation
  • Air Sealing
  • Cool Roof
  • Duct Sealing
  • LED Lighting
  • Water Heating Package
  • Heat Pump Water Heater Replacement
  • HVAC Replacement
  • Windows

GREEN ECONOME PHASE II (A/RCx) PROCESS

    1. 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).
    2. Provide Phase II proposals for applicable services.
    3. Upon signed agreement, fulfill Phase II services, submit compliance requirements to the City, and provide reports to the building owner/representative.

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.