How to Comply and Report to SF Environment
Benchmarking is the process of tracking a building’s energy use, so you know how its performance compares to similar properties, and understand how it’s performing over time. The report that you must send to SF Environment each year to prove you’ve benchmarked your building is an “Annual Energy Benchmark Summary.”
How to complete an Annual Energy Benchmark Summary
Step 1: Create a building profile in Portfolio Manager
Step 2: Get energy data automatically (Recommended)
Step 3: Identify your parcel(s)
Step 4: Open the Annual Energy Benchmark Summary template
Step 5: Confirm your data is complete and accurate
Step 6: Release data to SF Environment
Step 1: Create a Building Profile in Portfolio Manager
Register an account in Portfolio Manager, then log in and create a record for your building. You must describe the entire building – all spaces and all energy meters. To comply, you must include all energy meters (common and tenant) and any energy generated on-site.
This Data Collection Worksheet can be helpful when you’re assembling the required information.
Resources from PG&E:
- PG&E's step by step guide: How to Benchmark Your Building
- PG&E Data Release Authorization form(s) (Applicable to any account, including tenants)
- PG&E home page for Benchmarking with Portfolio Manager
- Free hands-on benchmarking classes sponsored by PG&E
- On-demand benchmarking webinar
Step 2: Get Energy Data Automatically (Recommended)
With your permission, PG&E will electronically sync energy data with your Portfolio Manager account for free. This “Automated Benchmarking Service,” (ABS) saves the trouble of entering your data by hand, and it is the most convenient way for a tenant to share energy use data. To set up this service for any electricity or gas meter served by PG&E:
- Send PG&E Data Release Authorization form(s) for all meters.
- Set up “Automated Benchmarking Service” in Portfolio Manager, using PG&E’s How to Benchmark Your Building guide (page 11.)
Step 3: Identify Your Parcel(s)
Add the Assessor Parcel Number (APN – also known as the block/lot number) to Portfolio Manager’s “Unique Building ID" field for each of your buildings:
- To look up Assessor Parcel Number(s), use the city’s Property Information Map
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To add APN(s) to the Unique Building ID field in Portfolio Manager:
- Go to “My Portfolio” and select the facility.
- Click the “Edit” button nedxt to “General Information.”
- Enter the Assessor Parcel Number(s) in the Unique Building ID field. For example, the parcel for 1 South Van Ness Avenue is: 3506/001
- Wait one day before submitting a report. It takes a day for Portfolio Manager’s reporting tool to be able to use your updated information in reports.
Step 4: Open the Annual Energy Benchmark Summary template
An annual benchmark report is required every year. To load the template into your Portfolio Manager account, click the link below for the year the report is due:
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Each annual report must be released individually:
- Reports due in 2013: www.tinyurl.com/2013aebs
- Reports due in 2012: www.tinyurl.com/2012aebs
- Reports due in 2011: www.tinyurl.com/2011aebs
- Login to Portfolio Manager.
- The instructions that pop up are just a text version of this guide. Click “OK.”
- When you enter new information in Portfolio Manager, it takes a day for the updates to appear be available for use in your AEBS report. (This problem is expected to be eliminated when EPA launches an update to Portfolio Manager in June 2013.)
To return to the report template at any time:
- Login to Portfolio Manager.
- From “My Portfolio” click on “Generate Reports and Graphs.”
- In the Report Templates drop-down menu, select “San Francisco Annual Energy Benchmark Summary [YEAR]”
Step 5: Confirm Your Data is Complete and Accurate
- Before you send in a report, review your data. Make sure that your buildings and energy use are described accurately.
- Confirm that the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN or block/lot number) shows up correctly in the Unique Building ID field for each of your buildings. For more info, go back to Step 2.
- Remember: After you enter new information in Portfolio Manager, it takes a day for the updates to be available for use in your report.
Step 6: Release Data to SF Environment
- Open the San Francisco Annual Energy Benchmark Summary for the appropriate year.
- Click the “Release Data” button in the top right corner. Enter your contact information and approve each request for confirmation. Clicking “DONE” sends your report to SF Environment.
- You should get a confirmation from SF Environment within 5 business days, but due to a high number of submittals around the April 1 deadline, follow up may be delayed. SF Environment will either indicate your report is complete, or identify what is needed.
Links
San Francisco
- Overview explaining the Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance
- Benchmark due in 2013: www.tinyurl.com/2013aebs
- Benchmark due in 2012: www.tinyurl.com/2012aebs
- Benchmark due in 2011: www.tinyurl.com/2011aebs
- Environment Code Chapter 20 (The ordinance)
- Property Information Map
- Printable version of these instructions
EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
PG&E
- How to Benchmark Your Building guide
- Data Release Authorization form(s) (Applicable to any account, including tenants)
- PG&E’s Home Page for Benchmarking with Portfolio Manager
- Free hands-on benchmarking classes sponsored by PG&E
- On-demand benchmarking webinar
