Description
Benchmarkingis 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.
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.


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. In cities requiring benchmarking, buildings have realized on 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