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SFO Mandates Energy Disclosure for Commercial Buildings

On February 9, 2011, the City of San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the Existing Commercial Building Energy Performance Ordinance, signed into law by Mayor Lee on February 18^th. The ordinance requires that owners of commercial buildings of 10,000 square feet or more determine how much energy their building consumes on an annual basis, and make this information publicly available. In addition, building owners will be required to conduct an energy audit of these commercial properties every five years.

Building owners will be able to use an on-line energy benchmarking tool available through the U.S. Department of Energy. The law requires that building owners file the results of the assessment with the City. 

While the value of benchmarking is hard to dispute, the need for public disclosure is questioned by professional groups in other cities watching the new requirements unfold in San Francisco. According to reporter Bonnie Holkower on TreeHugger, “other stakeholder groups, such as Portland Oregon's BOMA, are attempting to thwart that city's proposal to mandate ENERGY STAR Score disclosure. The issue of disclosure will be an interesting one to keep track of.” 

Earth Advantage Institute’s Commercial team has also been tracking the developments in San Francisco. Glen Phillips, LC, LEED AP, is the Commercial Outreach Manager for EAI.  Phillips appreciates the efforts being made. "Efforts in San Francisco and around the country continue to address the need for owners to contextually understand the drivers of commercial building operating costs, thereby enabling smart investments.  Programs such as this help support the necessary transition to a sustainable energy future." 

Other local governments will certainly keep their eye on San Francisco and consider similar ordinances, as recognition of the important role played by energy efficiency in the built environment continues grow. Compare existing commercial building energy disclosure policies at www.buildingratings.org. 

About the Author

Ann Griffin

Ann Griffin is the former Earth Advantage Community program manager, and a planning professional with sustainable public policy and community development expertise.