Detroit’s Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance
The City of Detroit’s Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance was passed in November 2023 with the goal of improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and lowering utility bills for building owners and tenants. This ordinance requires certain buildings to report their energy and water usage annually. Benchmarking is considered a critical first step in identifying opportunities for energy reduction.
Key Requirements and Deadlines
The ordinance applies to all buildings 25,000 square feet and greater. The data must be reported using the EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool.
- Submission Deadline: June 1, 2025
- Data Required for Calendar Year: 2024
How to Comply
To comply with the ordinance, follow these four steps using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager:
- Create a building profile.
- Connect the profile to the City of Detroit.
- Access your utility usage data.
- Input the data using your Detroit Building ID.
Why Benchmarking Matters
Buildings over 25,000 square feet are responsible for more than 62% of Detroit’s greenhouse gas emissions. Benchmarking has been proven to be an effective strategy, with buildings that participate showing an average 7% reduction in energy use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the purpose of the ordinance?
A: The ordinance is designed to help improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower utility bills in the City of Detroit.
Q: Which buildings need to comply?
A: The ordinance applies to all buildings that are 25,000 square feet or larger.
Q: What is the submission deadline for the required data?
A: The deadline to submit your data is June 1, 2025.
Q: What data needs to be reported?
A: You must report your building’s ELECTRIC, GAS, and WATER data for calendar year 2024. Buildings over 100,000 square feet must also report data for 2023.
Q: Where can I get help with the process?
A: You can access free technical assistance and other resources by visiting detroitmi.gov/benchmarking or by emailing benchmarking@detroitmi.gov.
Here is a quick article summary:
Detroit Energy Benchmarking offers valuable tools and resources to help you understand your building’s energy consumption and identify areas for improvement. Learn how to optimize your building’s energy performance and save money in the Motor City.
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