Brisbane Energy Benchmarking

The City of Brisbane in California has the following energy and water benchmarking laws for specific large building types.

Fast facts:

  • May 15th annual deadline

  • 2,000+ sq. ft. for public buildings and 100,000+ sq. ft. for commercial, multifamily, and industrial buildings

  • Additional Benchmarking Reporting Schedule:

    • Covered Commercial and Multifamily Properties ≥50,000 sq. ft. — June 30, 2024

    • Covered Commercial and Multifamily Properties ≥25,000 sq. ft. — June 30, 2025

  • Additional Requirements: Building Performance Standard or Energy Audit Requirement due every 5 years

Details

  • The city ordinance, adopted in December 2019, requires annual energy and water benchmarking and reporting. Later, in the "Beyond" stage, buildings will need to show that they are high-performing or take steps to improve.

  • 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 our building stock, and reducing emissions that are driving climate change.

  • You are required to comply if your building is (1) Privately owned and is 10,000 square feet or more OR (2) Owned by a local agency of the State that is required to comply with the City's building ordinances pursuant to California State Government Code Section 53090, et seq., or successor legislation, and is 10,000 square feet or more OR (3) Owned by the City of Brisbane and is 2,000 square feet or more.

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

    • 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

    • The building was vacant for more than half of the calendar year required to be benchmarked

    • The building did not receive energy or water services for more than half of the calendar year required to be benchmarked

    • A demolition permit for the entire building has been issued, or a schedule for demolition can be reasonably documented to the satisfaction of the Department

  • The city requires building owners to report their energy and water usage annually via the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool by May 15th.

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

    Water is another utility 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 for Buildings is a fast, easy-to-use tool that integrates directly with EPA’s Portfolio Manager

    • Touchstone IQ also offers an expert-led benchmarking solution 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.

  • Brisbane large properties are exempt from California’s benchmarking laws and will only need to report to the City. Learn more about California’s exempted local benchmarking ordinances here.

  • Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Brisbane’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.

  • $100 after 30 day notice. $200 after another 30 days. $500 after another 30 days and every 30 days after.

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