Philadelphia Energy Benchmarking

The City of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania has the following energy and water benchmarking and building performance laws for various large property types.

Fast facts:

  • June 30th annual deadline

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

  • Additional Requirements: The City’s Building Energy Performance Policy (sometimes referred to as “Building Tune-Ups”) requires non-residential buildings 50,000+ sq. ft. to conduct a “tune-up” of existing building systems or certify high performance

    • The next tune-up cycle begins in 2026, with deadlines for larger buildings starting that year

Details

  • The Philadelphia Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance requires annual energy and water usage reports from any commercial and multifamily building larger than 50,000 square feet. Benchmarking energy in buildings allows property owners to compare the efficiency of their buildings with others of similar age and size. This information helps raise awareness about building efficiency and encourages owners of inefficient buildings to take action.

  • The Benchmarking Ordinance has two major purposes: to improve energy efficiency of the built environment and to save money on energy costs. Buildings, especially large ones, make up the majority of energy consumption and carbon emissions in cities. Through benchmarking, building owners in Philadelphia can retrofit and improve the most inefficient buildings, which will lead to huge decreases in carbon emissions. Benchmarking also results in significant savings as building owners begin to discover how much money is being spent unnecessarily on inefficient buildings.

  • If you are a commercial or multifamily building owner or manager in Philadelphia with an indoor floor space larger than 50,000 square feet, then you are required by this ordinance to submit an energy usage report.

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

    • If more than 50% of the indoor floor space is unoccupied for more than 180 days in total.

    • If benchmarking or disclosure would cause exceptional hardship or would not be in the public interest.

    • In buildings primarily used for manufacturing or other industrial purposes for which benchmarking results would not meaningfully reflect building energy use characteristics due to the intensive use of process energy. “Process energy” refers to energy used in the actual manufacturing, production, or processing of a good, commodity, or other material.

    • If building ownership changed during 2022 and is not available for a full calendar year of utility bills.

  • All commercial building owners and managers must measure and submit their previous year’s energy and water consumption reports using Portfolio Manager by June 30 of each year.

  • 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 who fail to comply by the June 30 deadline are subject to a $300 fine for the first month they are late, and subsequent $100 fines for each day they are late afterward.

  • 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.

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