Orlando Energy Benchmarking

The City of Orlando in Florida has the following energy and water benchmarking laws for certain large buildings.

Fast facts:

  • May 1st annual deadline

  • 10,000+ sq. ft. for public buildings and 50,000+ sq. ft for commercial and multifamily buildings

  • Additional requirements: Energy Audit or Retro-Commissioning study every 5 years if you’re building is low-performing

Details

  • Orlando Ordinance 2016-64 requires owners of large buildings to benchmark their building’s energy and water usage and report it to the City of Orlando. The City will then publish this data so that owners can see how each building compares to its peers.

  • Also known as the City of Orlando’s Building Energy and Water Efficiency Strategy (BEWES), this law aims to track energy and water use efficiency in the City’s largest buildings to address waste issues from outdated and inefficient technology.

  • BEWES covers privately-owned buildings over 50,000 square feet and City-owned buildings over 10,000 square feet.

    Your building may qualify for an exemption if you meet any of the following:

    • It meets any of the exemptions defined for covered City property.

    • The director determines that, due to special circumstances unique to the facility and not based on a condition caused by the actions of the applicant, strict compliance with provisions of this ordinance would cause undue hardship.

    • The property qualifies as having financial hardship.

    • The property is considered "industry," "manufacturing" or is part of a theme park.

    • Substantially all of such non-City property is used for telecommunications infrastructure.

    • More than three meters are associated with the property and the electric utility does not provide whole-building data aggregation services.

    • The owner doesn't have access to master meters or any other means.

  • BEWES requires building owners to report their energy usage annually via the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool by May 1st.

  • All energy utilities including electricity, natural gas, district energy, and any other purchased fuel type used to operate your building.

    Water is another utility that is required for reporting.

  • Building owners must report their energy usage data to EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.

    However:

    • Touchstone IQ also offers expert-led benchmarking to building owners and managers looking for streamlined compliance and cost-saving recommendations

    Many benchmarking ordinances require a Building ID as part of the report submission process. If needed, you may be able to find your Building ID number here.

  • Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Orlando’s large properties. Simplify energy benchmarking compliance while gaining the tools to save money and build your energy intelligence with our exclusive software platform. Gain access to the nation's leading energy experts to ensure significant improvements in your energy usage for your commercial, multifamily, or public building. Our team has partnered with entities of all sizes to reduce their carbon footprint, reach ambitious targets, and comply with new regulations. Whether you're looking for comprehensive, step-by-step guidance to craft your energy management plan or a convenient, intuitive benchmarking solution, we've got you covered. Schedule your free personalized demo today or contact us for pricing or questions.

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