New Energy Star Standards mean many D.C. buildings will need upgrading

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New Energy Star Standards mean many D.C. buildings will need upgrading

By District Energy posted 06-20-2019 00:00

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JLL, Washington Business Journal

Summary

On Jan. 19, 2019, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, sweeping legislation that demonstrates the District’s commitment to addressing the effects of climate change. This legislation sets ambitious mandates to reduce D.C.’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2032 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

With nearly 75% of these emissions driven by commercial, multi-unit residential and industrial buildings, the burden will fall significantly on property owners to improve their building’s energy performance. By 2021, the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment will establish new Energy Star standards by building type to determine compliance with the new law.

Many local property owners are likely familiar with the Energy Star score concept. Since the passage of the Clean and Affordable Energy Act in 2008, buildings 50,000 square feet and larger have been required to publicly disclose water and energy usage data and benchmark this data using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager, the EPA’s industry-standard tool.