{"id":1738,"date":"2025-12-19T10:00:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecotocongroup.com\/?p=1738"},"modified":"2026-05-06T10:00:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T10:00:27","slug":"introduction-to-benchmarking-metrics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecotocongroup.com\/blog\/introduction-to-benchmarking-metrics\/","title":{"rendered":"Introduction To Benchmarking Metrics"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Building energy benchmarking is a systemic and continuous process of reviewing a building\u2019s energy consumption. It facilitates building owners’ identification of poorly performing buildings, establishes a baseline for measuring improvement, and encourages a competitive spirit. Moreover, it is the first step that building owners can take to strategically reduce energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas emissions from their buildings and ultimately comply with the more stringent <\/span>Local Law 97.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Many tools have been developed for energy benchmarking. For example, Local Law 84\/133 requires building owners to use <\/span>ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager<\/span><\/a> for data submission. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager analyzes energy and water consumption and carbon emissions for a whole building. If building owners are interested in their building\u2019s energy performance in depth, they need to conduct energy auditing and commissioning, and this type of study requires certified professionals to manage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>Overview of NYC Local Law 84\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Enacted in 2009, Local Law 84 stipulates that all structures spanning 50,000 square feet or more\u2014and collections of buildings consolidated on a single lot exceeding ten thousand square feet\u2014must participate in yearly energy benchmarking. This legislative provision constitutes a crucial component of the broader <\/span>Greener, Greater Buildings Plan<\/span><\/a>, an initiative conceived to significantly boost energy efficiency across New York City’s vast building stock. Approximately <\/span>sixteen thousand<\/span><\/a> structures fall under the auspices of this pivotal law.<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>Expansion with NYC Local Law 133<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

In 2016, Local Law 133 revised LL84 to incorporate mid-sized structures between <\/span>25,000 and 50,000 square feet<\/span><\/a>. This expansion included roughly eleven thousand additional buildings to the benchmarking mandate, reinforcing New York City’s dedication to sustainability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like LL84, property owners subject to LL133 are required to submit their energy and water usage information each year through the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Their reports also include their ENERGY STAR score along with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A score of 75 or above makes buildings eligible for ENERGY STAR certification\u2014a valuable feature in the leasing market as it shows lower operating expenses and decreased GHG emissions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>What is Benchmarking?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Benchmarking entails evaluating an organization’s processes and performance indicators in comparison to those of top industry players or best practices. It functions as a means for pinpointing areas needing enhancement, establishing achievable objectives, and maximizing overall efficiency. Essential aspects usually evaluated consist of quality, time, and expenses, enabling companies to comprehend their position in the competitive environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In terms of energy usage, benchmarking is essential for assessing the performance of buildings compared to similar ones. This comparison not only emphasizes shortcomings but also promotes a culture of ongoing enhancement among property owners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>The Importance of Benchmarking Metrics in Energy Efficiency\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Benchmarking metrics<\/b> fulfill various essential roles in enhancing energy efficiency:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n