Get Support Free Workshops • May 1st, 9am - 12pm * RESCHEDULED* • May 16th, 12pm - 2pm (learn how to benchmark) Drop-In Help • Each Wed., 11am-1pm at Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., 18th floor Helpline • energybenchmarking@   seattle.gov • 206-727-8484   (8:00-5:00 Mon-Fri)

Get Email Updates Enter E-Mail address to receive Benchmarking Program updates

How to Guide

Reporting energy benchmarks is an ANNUAL requirement. Building owners must report the previous year's energy use to the City on April 1st of each year to avoid fines. For example, 2013 energy use will be due on April 1, 2014. If your building’s 2011 energy performance (benchmark) was reported to the City of Seattle last year, the majority of the work has been done.

It is now time to review the building’s Portfolio Manager account to ensure and accurate score and check for 2012 energy data and update as needed by April 1st — even if “automated benchmarking” is already set up with the local utilities.

To be in compliance, a full year of 2012 building energy use must be tracked through U.S. EPA's Portfolio Manager and reported to the City of Seattle. Please follow these steps:

• Annual Update Steps
  
  
• Archiving PSE Gas Meters
  

Understanding Your Building's Energy Score

After updating your account as needed, we recommend reviewing the building’s energy scores. Find them on the Facility Summary page. Under Facility Performance "Select View" and choose "Summary: Energy Usage" from the drop-down menu.

If your building is eligible, a 1-100 "Current Rating" of energy performance will be listed. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR, a building must earn a 75 or higher on this scale, indicating that the facility performs better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide. If the score is above 75, learn how to apply for the ENERGY STAR at www.energystar.gov. If your building scored below 75, we highly recommend contacting the programs offered by local utilities. Learn more >

If your building shows N/A, it is not yet an eligible type. To learn about your building, compare the “Site Energy Intensity Score” which shows the energy used (in kBTUs) per square foot of the building with the CBECS “Site EUIs.”

Understanding your building’s energy use through benchmarking is a first step toward making informed decisions about energy-saving improvements that can reduce costs and increase the desirability of your buildings to tenants and buyers. After benchmarking, your utilities can provide resources to help you make your building more energy efficient, some of which may be low or no cost. Learn more >