California Energy Benchmarking
What It Is and Why It Matters
California Energy Commission (CEC) Building Benchmarking Program requires certain commercial and multifamily buildings to report annual energy use to the CEC through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager. In general, buildings over 50,000 square feet must comply, though requirements can vary by building type.
To comply, you must:
- Report 12 months of energy usage data annually
- Submit building characteristics (size, occupancy, use type)
- Ensure all data is accurate and complete
- Submit the required benchmarking reports by June 1 each year
Missing deadlines or submitting inaccurate data can lead to compliance issues and penalties.
GreenEdge simplifies the process and turns compliance into actionable insights that reduce energy use and costs. Beyond compliance, benchmarking gives you a clear view of how your building performs compared to similar facilities. It helps you identify inefficiencies, uncover cost savings, and make more informed decisions over time.
Why Benchmarking Is Harder Than It Looks
While the tools are free, the benchmarking process is far from simple. And because reporting is required every year, inefficiencies compound over time. Most organizations run into challenges like:
- Collecting data across multiple meters, buildings, or tenants
- Navigating utility access and authorization requirements
- Validating incomplete or inconsistent data
- Structuring buildings correctly in Portfolio Manager
GreenEdge's Full-Service Solution
Turn compliance into a strategic advantage. We provide full-service energy benchmarking through ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager, handling the entire process while turning your data into actionable insights. Instead of treating benchmarking as a once-a-year task, we use the data to help you identify underperforming buildings, prioritize upgrades, and plan improvements based on real performance.
Benchmarking and annual submission handled for you
Accurate, on-time submission ahead of the June 1 deadline
Identification of efficiency opportunities and cost savings
Data collection, utility coordination, and validation
Performance insights showing how you compare to similar facilities
Ongoing support to keep you compliant year after year
Process and Timeline
Our process is designed to minimize your involvement while ensuring accurate, on-time submission. We can complete everything remotely or coordinate on-site support based on your needs.
Typical timeline: 2 to 4 weeks
1. Onboarding
We confirm your property details and gather the information needed to begin the benchmarking process.
4. Benchmarking & Submission
We complete benchmarking, review all data, and submit the report on your behalf.
2. Account Setup
We secure approvals, gain utility access, and set up your ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager account.
5. Results & Insights
You receive a clear summary showing how you compare to similar facilities and where to improve.
3. Data Collection
We collect and verify all required utility data to ensure accuracy and completeness for benchmarking.
6. Ongoing Support
We provide ongoing support to keep your building compliant and your data updated year after year.
Get Started
If you received a benchmarking notice or are not sure if your building qualifies, we can help you confirm and take it from there.
Start early. Data collection and validation take time, especially for larger or multi-tenant buildings.
Let GreenEdge handle your benchmarking from start to finish so you can stay compliant, avoid penalties, and understand how your building truly performs.