The City of Columbus’ Energy & Water Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance (Ordinance 0452-2020) requires commercial and multi-family building owners and managers of buildings 50,000 square feet and larger to track (or “benchmark”) their electricity, gas, and water use. June 1, 2021 buildings 100,000 square feet and larger will be required to benchmark their energy and water use. Buildings buildings under 100,000 will start benchmarking their energy and water use June 1, 2022. This data is reported annually to the city through the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR(R) Portfolio Manager(R) tool.

Steps to compliance:

1. Obtain a building ID and set up building profile in Portfolio Manager with building characteristics and last calendar year energy and water use data (all sources).
2. Report electricity, gas, and water data to the city through the Portfolio Manager tool.

https://www.columbus.gov/sustainable/benchmarking/