This month the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability held two public workshops discussing a proposed city requirement for energy performance reporting for commercial buildings. The policy, if enacted later this spring (est. April 2015), would require commercial buildings over 20,000 square feet to track energy performance using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, calculate an energy use intensity, ENERGY STAR score, and carbon emissions, and then report this information to the City on an annual basis. Reporting requirements would begin in 2016 for buildings over 50,000 square feet and 2017 for 20,000 square feet and above. The purpose of the policy is to provide information to potential tenants and buyers about building performance and motivate investment in efficiency improvements that reduce energy use and carbon emissions. To learn more, provide feedback, or sign up or policy updates, visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/energyreporting.
NEEC strongly supports this City of Portland initiative and encourages members to get involved by submitting positive comments at the web site above and by sending supportive emails to the Mayor and City Counselors.