Benchmarking Resource Library

Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit: This toolkit from the U.S. EPA supports state and local government decision-makers who are exploring adopting policies focused on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing commercial and multifamily buildings in their communities.

Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards: A Resource Compendium: Tools and resources for benchmarking from the U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Alliance. 

Benchmarking and Disclosing Resilience Performance: This fact sheet from the Better Buildings Solution Center provides an overview of common trends and barriers related to disclosure of climate and resilience performance. It reviews how each of the major reporting frameworks treats resilience, compares these frameworks against one another, and provides insight on where to begin.

Benchmarking and Transparency: Resources for State and Local Leaders: This US DOE and Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) resource guide provides state and local leaders with streamlined access to key existing resources for developing and implementing high-impact building energy benchmarking and transparency programs in their jurisdictions.

Benchmarking to Save Energy: This guide from the EPA details the key steps and benefits of benchmarking, including technical guidance and software tools to achieve energy management goals.

Benchmark Your Building With Portfolio Manager: Homepage for ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

Benefits of Benchmarking Building Performance: This report from the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) highlights the positive effects that can be achieved through benchmarking and transparency policies, and how the real estate market is empowered to consider and recognize the value of energy efficiency.

Beyond Benchmarking: Unlocking Value for Utilities: U.S. DOE paper to help utilities identify new, untapped datasets that are emerging related to the energy performance of buildings and learn how this information can be applied to expand market intelligence and create business value. 

Building Performance Standard Implementation Guide: In this guide, IMT recommends strategies, processes, and rules that local and state jurisdictions can use to implement equitable policies.

Building Energy Tools: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) developed a comprehensive suite of tools for accessing, managing, analyzing, and sharing building energy data. This website describes how they can be used to support BPS policies, one of many possible use cases.

Building Performance Standard Module: Resiliency: This policy brief from the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) outlines how interested jurisdictions can integrate resilience into a BPS and start to build a more holistic, equitable policy.

Building Performance Standards: This resource goes in-depth on BPS and how a city benefits from these policies, and was developed by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT).

Commercial and Multifamily Building Energy Benchmarking, Transparency and Labeling in US Cities: This policy brief from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) features policy goals and benefits, steps for design and adoption, and case studies of local initiatives for commercial and multifamily buildings.

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Resources – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

• An Overview of Portfolio Manager: This guide provides a brief overview of some of Portfolio Manager’s most basic functions, such as how to navigate through the tool, enter building data, and connect and share data with others.
• Benchmarking to Save Energy: This EPA brochure outlines the key steps and benefits of benchmarking a facility’s energy performance over time.
• Benchmark Your Building with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager: Portfolio Manager is a widely used online benchmarking platform from the ENERGY STAR program. 
• Building Emissions Calculator: User Guide: This user guide for the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Building Emissions Calculator shows how to get data into the tool (including by direct import from Portfolio Manager) and how to use its features.
• Checklist of Common Energy-Saving Measures: This 4-page checklist includes common energy-saving measures for commercial buildings that are either low-cost or offer a rapid payback. Opportunities for savings are grouped under “Operations and Maintenance,” “Lighting,” “Plug Load,” “Heating and Cooling,” and “Occupant Behavior and Education.”
• Considerations for Benchmarking Multifamily Properties: While the process of benchmarking is similar for all property types, multifamily owners and managers may encounter some specific challenges. This 3-page guide is intended to highlight those challenges and to provide solutions and a straightforward path towards benchmarking multifamily properties.
• Data Access for Benchmarking in Portfolio Manager: This fact sheet provides information on available ENERGY STAR resources for benchmarking, including a link to an interactive map of utility data searchable by zip code. 
• ENERGY STAR Design Guide: This guide helps commercial building developers set an energy target, evaluate energy strategies, document energy intent, and earn recognition. It also highlights how to benchmark energy use for a building, once it’s built and operating, to ensure that the building is operating as intended.
• ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management: ENERGY STAR’s Guidelines for Energy Management contains a step-by-step road map for continuous improvement based on best practices from the nation’s leaders in energy management. 
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Resources:  Exhaustive source of benchmarking and Portfolio Manager related information with many resources designed for specific building types. 
• ENERGY STAR Score for K-12 Schools: The ENERGY STAR Score for K-12 Schools applies to buildings or campuses used as a school for kindergarten through 12th grade students. To identify the aspects of building activity that are significant drivers of energy use and then normalize for those factors, a statistical analysis of the peer building population is performed. Please note that K-12 schools in New Jersey are not required to benchmark.
• Energy Tracking Tool: ENERGY STAR’s tool to help track energy performance and meet energy management goals. The tool is most helpful for manufacturing facility managers who track and manage energy use. The tool will track energy use, cost, and intensity, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
• How to Benchmark a Campus: This guide walks through the steps of benchmarking multi-building properties, commonly referred to as campuses, in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®.  A list of frequently asked questions about campus and building-level associations, the ENERGY STAR score, metering, reporting, and sharing is also provided.
• How to Generate Standard Reports and Performance Documents in Portfolio Manager: This 4-page document describes the capabilities of standard reporting features in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and includes step-by-step instructions. 
• How to Get Utility Data into Portfolio Manager: This document explains the three ways to get data into Portfolio Manager—whether entering properties for the first time or updating existing properties.
• How to Set Up Your Property in Portfolio Manager: This guide walks the user through the steps of setting up a property record in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®. It summarizes two ways to set up a property, including manual data entry in Portfolio Manager, and the use of spreadsheet upload templates to import property information into Portfolio Manager. 
• How to Track Waste and Materials in Portfolio Manager: This PowerPoint presentation covers the basics on how to track waste and materials in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Please note that building owners and operators in New Jersey are not required to track their waste and materials.
• How to Use Web Services: Connection and Sharing Guidance for Users: This technical reference document provides step-by-step guidance for exchanging data with utilities and third-party service providers. 
• How to Use Web Services: Testing Web Services: This 19-page technical reference document will help you test exchanging data with EPA’s Portfolio Manager via web services. 
• List of Portfolio Manager Property Types, Definitions, and Use Details: This document lists all of the property types available in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® and describes the property type definitions and associated use details. Portfolio Manager has more than 80 property types from which to choose when setting up your property. 
• Overview of ENERGY STAR for the Higher Education Sector: This handy two-pager outlines how EPA’s ENERGY STAR program can help higher education institutions with their energy management goals, and includes helpful links to dozens of tools and resources. Please note that New Jersey higher education institutions are not required to benchmark.
• Portfolio Manager 101: Set Up Properties and Meters, Generate Reports: Use this presentation to learn the basics on EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. By the end of the presentation, you will know how to add a property and enter its use details, enter energy and water consumption data, and generate reports to assess progress. 
• Portfolio Manager 201: Edit and Correct Property Data, Use Data Quality Checker, Share Properties: Use this presentation to build upon the concepts covered in Portfolio Manager 101 and learn about EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool and how to edit property data, correct or update property use details, use the Data Quality Checker, and share property data. 
• Portfolio Manager 301: Update Data, Set Baselines, Goals, and Targets, Create Custom Reports, Use the Sustainable Buildings Checklist: Use this presentation to build upon the concepts learned in Portfolio Manager 101 and 201 and learn more about EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool and how to update data using the spreadsheet upload feature; set baseline, goals, and targets to plan energy improvement; create custom reports; and use the Sustainable Buildings Checklist. 
• Portfolio Manager Data Collection Worksheet: Use this tool to look up the data needed to benchmark your property in Portfolio Manager. This information can be downloaded as a PDF that you can use as a data collection worksheet. 
• Portfolio Manager Data Explorer User Guide: This guide introduces the features of the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Data Explorer, which enables users to explore aggregated, anonymized data from EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. It includes examples (at the end of the guide), demonstrating how to combine specific filters to get the most out of the data.
• Portfolio Manager Quick Start Guide: Three-page guide to get started using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to benchmark properties, assess performance, and view results. 
• Step Away from the Spreadsheet: A Guide to Sustainability Data Management Tools in Higher Education: This guide is intended to help colleges and universities understand the landscape of available software, compare features, and ultimately select the right set of tools. It also summarizes recent trends in sustainability data management and provides a simple framework for creating a data management roadmap at your institution. Please note that higher education institutions are not required to benchmark in New Jersey.

Exploring Building Performance Standards: This resource from the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) defines a BPS building performance standard and why these policies are enacted. It also shares general resources as well as those specifically for local governments and building owners, and tenants.

Green Building Standards: This resource from Harvard details the Green Building Standards that Harvard requires of all capital projects over $100,000, with requirements and suggested tools for higher education construction projects.

Green Lease Leaders: Performance-Based Leasing: Put together by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), this performance-based leasing toolkit helps both landlords and commercial tenants get started.

Helping Clients Obtain Utility Data to Facilitate Benchmarking: This resource from ENERGY STAR provides guidance on navigating utility data privacy policies and requesting whole-building energy consumption data, essential for accurate benchmarking in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, especially for multi-tenant and multi-family properties.

JCP&L’s Benchmark Your Building Tool: Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) benchmarking tool using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.  This tool includes quick links, a Benchmarking Portal, and a user guide. 

Multifamily Utility Benchmarking Toolkit: From HUD, this report highlights benchmarking step-by-step, policies, and programs. 

National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO): NASEO has compiled a list of relevant resources for benchmarking and building performance standards:

• National BPS Coalition – comprises a nationwide group of state and local governments that have committed to inclusively design and implement building performance policies and programs in their jurisdictions.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit
  This Toolkit, maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), offers key resources, policy considerations, and strategies for using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager when implementing state and local benchmarking and building performance standards.
• U.S. Department of Energy Building Performance Standard Resource Library
  A comprehensive list of resources from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on building performance standards, including software tools for program implementation and guidance on target-setting.
• White Paper on Understanding and Choosing Metrics for Building Performance Standards and Zero-Carbon Recognition – A whitepaper that provides a framework and supporting analysis to help policymakers and commercial and multifamily building stakeholders understand the key differences among performance metrics and choose those best suited to building performance standard policies.

New Jersey Clean Energy Program Benchmarking: Home page for New Jersey’s mandatory energy and water benchmarking, which provides policy background, covered building information, instructions on how to complete submission, and links to the helpdesk, NJ Certified Benchmarker List, and FAQs. 

Procedure for Measuring and Reporting Commercial Building Energy Performance: This document from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) establishes a standard method for monitoring and reporting on the energy performance of commercial buildings.

Roadmap for Creating Equitable and Effective Building Performance Standards: This Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) resource outlines how to create successful building performance standards consisting of five main activities, centering on inclusive outreach and engagement throughout the process. The roadmap graphic demonstrates how continuously engaging with community stakeholders can lead to transformative solutions.

Short Building Performance Standard Model Law: The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) created this Short Model BPS Law to establish broad goals and an equitable process by which stakeholders and one or more agencies will work together after passage to craft BPS rules to achieve shared goals. The streamlined law, and its greater reliance on rulemaking, make it particularly well-suited for states passing a BPS.

State and Local Building Policies and Programs for Energy Efficiency and Demand Flexibility: This report from National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) examines ways to include demand flexibility in state and local building policies and programs, such as benchmarking and transparency, ratings and labeling, and building performance standards.

The Business Case for Operating an Energy-Efficient Portfolio of Buildings: This business case from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) details savings, asset value, and investor demand to prove the value of an energy-efficient portfolio.

Working with a Community Accountability Board to Co-Design Equitable Building Performance Standards: Jurisdictions and Community-Based Organizations (CBO) can use this Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) quick-reference guide to help them establish an empowered and well-resourced Community Accountability Board (CAB) to review a BPS’ impact on frontline and fenceline communities. These are communities that experience the most immediate and worst impacts of climate change and are most often communities of color, Indigenous, and low-income communities.