Tools and Initiatives for Benchmarking and BPS

The tool provides visibility for nonresidential and apartment buildings, with filters for focusing on specific building types such as offices, warehouses, restaurants, hotels, schools and more.

Policymakers in the early stages of considering benchmarking or building performance standards often face challenges when setting the minimum building size and covered building types. Which approaches will reduce the implementation challenges of the policy while still covering a sizable share of the square footage? This feature in the Explorer enables jurisdiction staff to study the existing building stock by building type, size and floor space so they can quickly pinpoint where the greatest impact can occur. Users can choose from an interactive graph or a drop-down selector tool to refine their views. Tables below the interactive tools offer more detailed data about specific building types. Users can share different outcomes with colleagues or Council members via screenshot.

The building data is directly derived from City and County Commercial Building Inventories estimated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory[1] whose estimates were produced using CoStar and Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey data.[2]

Analysis is available for any local jurisdiction across the state. Energy and emissions data is expected to become available in subsequent versions of the tool.

Technical support is readily available through the messaging icon in the lower right corner of the tool, with individual walk-throughs available by appointment.

Try out the Cost Effectiveness Explorer today! For more information, email contact@policystudio.co.

[1] U.S. Department of Energy's Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI)

[2] CoStar and Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey

SB 48, the Building Energy Savings Act, was signed into law on October 7, 2023.[1] This legislation directs the Energy Commission to develop a strategy to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in commercial buildings of over 50,000 square feet, and multifamily residential buildings with more than 50,000 square feet and 17 or more utility accounts, utilizing data collected under California’s existing building energy benchmarking law.[2] While existing commercial buildings with more than 50,000 square feet only make up 6% of all commercial buildings, they account for 53% of total commercial building energy use.[3]

During the development process, the Commission must consider input from affected stakeholders, including:

• Members of under-resourced communities and community-based organizations representing tenant advocacy, equity, and environmental justice concerns of under-resourced communities
• Representatives of local city or county government
• Owners or operators of affordable housing
• Groups representing low-income residential and small commercial tenants, including organizations that provide legal services to those tenants
• Providers of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and building decarbonization equipment and services
• Labor unions that represent workers who implement building upgrades related to, or who manage or service, the energy infrastructure of covered buildings
• Technical building design professionals
• Facility operations professionals
• Multiunit residential and nonresidential building owners
• Energy utilities

Interested stakeholders are invited to participate through public workshops, the public comment process, continued comments on the published RFI and more. To receive email updates, please subscribe to the Commission's Building Performance Standards subscription list. Through this list, stakeholders will receive updates, information, and event announcements related to the Building Performance Strategy Report and Recommendations proceeding. For process or administrative questions, or if your organization would like to explore additional ways to engage, please email the team at BPS@energy.ca.gov.

For more information about this proceeding, visit the Commission’s dedicated webpage.

[1] Public Resources Code section 25402.16

[2] Public Resources Code section 25402.10

[3] Release: State Legislature passes Building Energy Savings Act

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