Energy Benchmarking Overview and Goals
Energy Benchmarking involves comparing energy use data (electricity and gas usage) to identify opportunities for savings and efficiency improvements. The City of New Orleans aims to become net zero by 2050, with intermediate goals like 100% clean electricity by 2035 and implementing a Building Energy Benchmarking ordinance by 2024.
City’s Commitment to Climate Action
New Orleans joined the White House National Building Performance Standards Coalition in 2023 to collaborate with other cities, gain grant support, and share best practices. About 20% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions are from large commercial buildings, making benchmarking crucial for managing and reducing these emissions.
Benefits of Energy Benchmarking
Benchmarking helps building owners identify issues such as equipment failures, realize energy savings (up to 7% reduction in bills over three years), and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn lowers tenant costs and improves public health. It also supports job creation in fields like insulation, HVAC, and electrical work, with a potential to create nearly 10,000 jobs.
Compliance and Implementation
Benchmarking will phase in with municipal buildings first in 2024, followed by commercial buildings over 20,000 sq ft by 2026. Properties will be required to report energy data, with exemptions for new constructions, financial hardships, and federal or state properties. Non-compliance will result in fines starting at $1,000, but technical assistance will be provided.
Impact and Value of Benchmarking
Benchmarking provides a transparent system for evaluating energy use, generating reports, and creating a public-facing map with energy metrics. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 41,223 metric tons of CO2 by 2050 through community-driven climate initiatives funded by grants, positioning New Orleans as a leader in sustainability.
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