 
The Building Energy and Water Efficiency Strategy (BEWES) is a policy created by the City of Orlando to reduce energy and water waste in large buildings. The program focuses on measuring how much energy and water buildings use, sharing this information publicly, and helping owners improve performance over time.
BEWES supports Orlando’s long-term climate goals. It also helps property owners cut operating costs, improve building value, and create healthier spaces for occupants.
Who needs to comply?
The law applies to large buildings in Orlando. Owners must benchmark and report their energy and water use each year if their properties are:
- City-owned buildings that are 10,000 square feet or larger
- Commercial or multifamily buildings that are 50,000 square feet or larger
These buildings must track whole-building energy and water use and submit results to the City every year.
Key deadlines
Building owners must:
- Report annual benchmarking data by May 1 each year
- Upload 12 months of energy and water data
- Use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for reporting
- Share information through the City’s compliance platform
Reports are published to improve transparency and encourage better performance across the real estate market.
Energy audits and retro-commissioning
BEWES is not only about reporting data. It also encourages buildings to improve efficiency.
If a building scores below 50 on the ENERGY STAR score:
- An energy audit or
- Retro-commissioning
must be completed once every five years.
Energy audits identify where energy is being wasted.
Retro-commissioning focuses on tuning existing systems like HVAC, controls, and lighting so they work better without major equipment replacement.
Both help owners save money and improve building comfort.
Benefits of energy benchmarking
Benchmarking offers strong advantages for owners, tenants, and the community:
- Lower energy and water bills
- Better building performance
- Increased property value
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- More informed tenant and buyer decisions
- Enhanced transparency in the marketplace
Many buildings see significant cost savings after identifying inefficiencies and taking corrective action.
How to comply step-by-step
Follow these steps to meet BEWES requirements:
- Confirm your building is covered under the law
- Assign a Benchmarking Leader (internal staff or consultant)
- Create an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account
- Enter building characteristics and occupancy details
- Upload 12 months of energy and water usage
- Share the report with the City’s compliance platform
- Schedule an audit or retro-commissioning if your score is below 50
Keeping records organized each month makes annual reporting easier.
Common challenges building owners face
Many owners experience:
- Difficulty gathering utility data from multiple tenants
- Errors when entering data in Portfolio Manager
- Uncertainty about whether their building is covered
- Lack of time or expertise to manage reporting
- Confusion between energy audit and retro-commissioning requirements
Working with specialists helps avoid violations and missed deadlines.
Get expert help with BEWES compliance
The Cotocon Group helps building owners across Orlando meet BEWES requirements accurately and on time.
We assist with:
- Energy and water benchmarking
- Portfolio Manager setup and management
- Data collection and verification
- Energy audits and retro-commissioning coordination
- Report submission to the City
Our goal is to help you cut operating costs, stay compliant, and improve building performance.
