Description
Benchmarking is the practice of tracking energy and water use over time to determine how a building performs compared to buildings of the same type. With this information, owners can identify opportunities to reduce energy and water use, save money, and cut emissions. In January 2020, the City of Saint Paul joined 24 other cities nationwide to require owners of large commercial and multifamily buildings to benchmark their energy and water use. Benchmarking energy use is the first step toward eliminating waste and optimizing energy use and savings.
This past year, in 2023, 627 buildings were benchmarked following the Benchmarking Buildings Ordinance. The 2023 Benchmarking Report highlights 627 commercial, multifamily, and public buildings in Saint Paul, which, by benchmarking their 2022 energy and water use, helped the City achieve a notable 91% compliance rate with the City's energy benchmarking ordinance!
Because commercial and residential buildings are responsible for 62% of Saint Paul’s greenhouse gas emissions, and because the average commercial building wastes an estimated 30% of its energy due to inefficiencies, the City must prioritize this sector.
For more individualized details such as building size, location, energy usage, certifications (such as ENERGY STAR certification), energy performance metrics, and other relevant information, check out the Efficient Building Collaborative (EBC) map.
In cities requiring benchmarking, buildings have realized an average annual energy savings of 2-3% from just the benchmarking process. Learn more here: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/mayors-office/energize-saint-paul