Benchmarking

Energy and water use benchmarking is a process that compares the energy and water use of a building with other similar structures or looks at how energy use varies from a baseline.

An effective energy management practice involves assessing energy performance, setting energy savings goals, and finally evaluating and verifying the progress. Energy performance benchmarking is the first step of this effort.

Building owners may use established benchmarks, such as the EPA’s energy performance ratings, depending on their internal energy goals or Federal, State & Local government compliance mandates and requirements.

Many cities in the United State require commercial businesses with buildings larger that 50,000 SF, or some cases 25,000 SF, to report their energy costs and usage through EPA Portfolio Manager.