EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool is used for a variety of benchmarking reports, so the first step is to identify the requirements of your state/local ordinance.
1. Review your benchmarking requirements. Go to this FAQ: Contacts for state/local compliance ordinances, find the ordinance you are working to comply with, and visit their website to review the benchmarking requirements. Each city sets their own requirements and in some cases the requirements differ by building category.
- If you’re unclear if you have to comply, check to see if your city has a Covered Buildings List that identifies which buildings are required to report and in what capacity.
- Tip: Open and review your local program's "How to Comply" PDF guide if there is one as these usually contain step-by-step instructions and helpful screenshots.
2. Create a Portfolio Manager user account if you don't have one.
3. Create a new property (or get access to an existing one):
- If your Portfolio Manager property doesn't exist yet, create your property in your Portfolio Manager account and enter property characteristics like Gross Floor Area and other use details. Tip: To prepare for this step, you can download the Data Collection Worksheet and gather your info in advance.
- If you've benchmarked before, review your existing property data on the Details tab and update as needed.
- View this guidance if you need to request access to an existing property.
4. Add your Standard ID. Most local programs have created their own "Standard IDs" to identify your building. You can add it when creating a new property. If you don't know your Standard ID, ask your local benchmarking program. You can always add or edit and a Standard ID on the Details tab of your Portfolio Manager property.
5. Enter 12 full months of energy usage data for all fuel types on the Energy tab of your property, covering Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 of the year for which you are reporting. Tip: Your local benchmarking website may include details of how you can register with your utility to have this data (and water usage) uploaded to Portfolio Manager for you. It can take a few weeks for your utility to upload the data, so allow enough time for this process.
- See What are the 5 options for entering meter data (bills)? for how to add usage data.
- If this is your first time benchmarking, you may need to first create a meter.
6. Determine if water usage is required. Check your local benchmarking website to see if water usage is also required for your property, and if so, enter a full calendar year of water usage data. For water you will add a virtual meter on the Water tab and then add entries to the meter similar to how data is added for Energy.
7. Check your data for errors using the blue "Check for Possible Errors" button on the Summary tab of your Portfolio Manager property and correct any issues that have red "stop sign" alerts.
8. Submit your data to your local benchmarking program by
AND/OR
b) sharing your property with your local benchmarking program's user account in Portfolio Manager.
***Which method is used to submit your data (a or b) depends on the requirements of your program.***
A few municipalities also require you to register on their local benchmarking website outside of Portfolio Manager, pay a local registration fee, or have your benchmarking data verified by a Licensed Professional in order to be in compliance, so review all the requirements as they are laid out on your program's website.
You may also be interested in the recorded overview of "Part 1: A Beginner’s Guide to Using Portfolio Manager for Benchmarking Law Compliance" . You can find more help resources here: https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/training