Kansas City Energy Benchmarking

The Kansas City Energy Empowerment Ordinance requires municipal buildings above 10,000 square feet, as well as commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings above 50,000 square feet to annually track whole-building energy and water use and report to the City. The phased implementation started in 2016.

The intentions of the ordinance are threefold: to highlight available energy and water savings that will allow residents and businesses to save money, to drive a Citywide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and to create jobs in the building efficiency sector.

If you own or manage municipal buildings above 10,000 square feet, or commercial, industrial, or residential buildings above 50,000 square feet, you must track and report your energy and water consumption according to the City’s compliance deadlines.

Your building may qualify for an exemption from reporting if:

• The property does not have a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy for all 12 months of the calendar year being benchmarked.

• A demolition permit has been issued during the prior calendar year, provided that demolition work has commenced, energy-related systems have been compromised and legal occupancy is no longer possible prior to May 1 for the applicable year.

• The covered property had average physical occupancy of less than 50 percent throughout the calendar year for which benchmarking is required.

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

• The property is primarily used for manufacturing or other industrial purposes for which benchmarking results would not meaningfully reflect covered property energy use characteristics due to the intensive use of process energy.

• The owner is unable to benchmark due to the failure of either a utility or a tenant (or both) to report the information necessary for the owner to complete any benchmarking submittal requirement.

Every May 1 for commercial and residential buildings greater than 50,000 square feet and municipal buildings 10,000 square feet.

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’s 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 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.

• Kansas City Energy Empowerment Program

• Kansas City’s Energy Benchmarking Ordinance

Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Kansas City’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.