New Jersey Benchmarking Initiatives, Policies and Practices

Course Description

Laurie Wiegand-Jackson, President of Utility Advantage, presents an overview of the NJ Energy and Water Benchmarking program, which requires owners of commercial buildings larger than 25,000 square feet to benchmark using EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager. To support the program, the NJ Board of Public Utilities and the Clean Energy Learning Center established the NJ Certified Benchmarker program. Weigand-Jackson reviews this program and discusses how building owners can engage an NJ Certified Benchmarker to meet their benchmarking obligations. 

To learn more about the NJ Benchmarking Program visit CEA Benchmarking | NJ OCE Web Site. For specific Certified Benchmarker training related questions, please reach out to cbk@njit.edu.

Recorded March 11, 2024.

Learning Objectives:

• Define what building benchmarking is and how to use it.
• Discuss four key characteristics of building benchmarking.
• Describe the potential impacts of benchmarking on the safety, security, and sustainability of buildings and their occupants.
• Describe how tracking and measuring a building’s energy use can make an impact.

About the Instructor:

Laurie Wiegand-Jackson is a successful entrepreneur with over twenty five  years of experience in the energy industry. She is the President, CEO, and founding member of Utility Advantage. Laurie brings a broad range of national experience in 

wholesale and retail energy markets, utility rates and regulation, demand side management, CHP and renewable energy project development. She regularly speaks at industry and private and public sector programs on the importance of sound energy policy, energy management strategies, and the benefits of energy programs. She has been recognized for her contributions to the energy industry, where she served as the President of the International Association of Energy Engineers in 2007. Laurie received the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from AEE and she was also honored in 2008 by the Executive Women of New Jersey as a leading Policy Maker. Laurie was inducted into the AEE Energy Manager Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Course Outline

• About Utility Advantage

• Introduction to Benchmarking

• Benchmarking Program Benefits

• Impact of Campus Energy Management

• Benchmarking

• Benchmarking Reports

• Internal Benchmarking Programs

• External
  Benchmarking Programs

• Benchmarking with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

• NJ Mandated Benchmarking Program

• Covered Buildings

• NJ Certified Benchmarking Professionals

• Benchmarking for Campuses

• Benchmarking Program Effectiveness

• Implementing a Benchmarking Program

• Implementing an Energy Management Program

• Exam
• Certificate: 0.25 American Institute of Architects credits awarded on completion
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