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Turnkey energy benchmarking services to meet California compliance
Blymyer Engineers has specialized expertise and extensive experience in energy benchmarking and performs these services for a wide range of companies throughout California. This process is required for owners of large commercial and multifamily buildings, who must report their facilities’ total energy usage by June 1 of every calendar year, as mandated by The California Energy Commission.
Blymyer offers a one-stop solution in accordance with state guidelines
Our benchmarking experts handle the entire process on a client’s behalf, including data compilation, completion of all paperwork, and submission of the final report to the state on the client’s behalf.
Reporting can be done in two ways:
- Clients give all energy bills to Blymyer for tabulation and analysis.
- Clients link Blymyer to their utility account on the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager for automated data collection and streamlined reporting.
“Given our extensive experience in all types of energy resources, our varied engineering expertise and thorough knowledge of compliance guidelines, energy benchmarking is a natural fit for us,” explains Nina Schittli, a certified trainer with the Blymyer Compliance Group. “It’s become an integral part of our environmental services portfolio.”
The process follows a series of steps, including:
- Data collection – Gathering energy consumption data from utility bills, building management systems, and other relevant sources. This data is entered into a free online tool—the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.
- Calculation of metrics – Calculating energy use intensity (EUI) by dividing total energy consumption by building square footage.
- Comparison to benchmarks – Comparing a building’s EUI to similar buildings in the same climate zone or building category, using standardized benchmarking tools.
- Identifying inefficiencies – Analyzing the data to identify areas where a building is performing poorly compared to its peers, indicating steps that can be taken for better energy savings.
- Tracking progress – Regularly benchmarking to monitor improvements in a building’s energy efficiency over time.
Who has to report energy benchmarking
The California Energy Commission requires owners of large commercial and multifamily residential buildings with approximately 50,000 square feet of floor area to report their total energy usage (from electric and gas) by June 1 annually. But actual square footage requirements vary by location in California. and Blymyer knows these requirements.
Since different local jurisdictions across the state have different reporting requirements, it benefits a client to have Blymyer do the benchmarking. “We know how to navigate the different reporting requirements,” continues Schittli, “so clients can be assured that everything will be done correctly and in full compliance.”
“Environmental regulatory initiatives like this are key to the state’s efforts to improve overall energy efficiency, and they are critical to meeting its long-term clean energy goals,” says Hazel Roberts, another certified trainer with the Blymyer Compliance Group. “The metrics collected are invaluable in helping companies improve their building’s energy management.”
To learn more about energy benchmarking and our other environmental services, visit that section of our website.