On July 24, 2012, Seattle City Council’s Environment and Energy Committeeheard a proposal to extend the reporting deadline to April 1, 2013 for non-residential and multifamily buildings 20,000 to 49,999 square feet. The proposal also recommends that energy benchmarking reports be voluntary for buildings less than 20,000 square feet. Multifamily buildings 50,000 square feet larger still need to report their 2011 energy use by October 1, 2012. The proposal also simplifies the ordinance enforcement and penalties.
This proposal responds to public input, analysis of other national approaches, and lessons learned from the program’s first two years of implementation. For details, visit www.seattle.gov/environment/compliance.htm.
For questions about the proposal, contact Rebecca Baker at rebecca.baker@seattle.gov or (206) 615-1171.
Large Multifamily Buildings: Benchmark and Report Before October 1
With the reporting deadline just 60 days away, owners and managers of multifamily properties 50,000 square feet or greater or should take advantage of upcoming free workshops. Pre-registration is required. All workshops will be held at Mary Gates Hall on the University of Washington campus.
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August 22: 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. (Click to pre-register.)
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September 6: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Click to pre-register.)
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September 20: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Click to pre-register.)
Drop-in help is available each Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Avenue, 18th floor.
For more information you can contact our Helpline at EnergyBenchmarking@seattle.gov or (206) 727-8484 (Mon – Fri, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).
Visit the Energy Benchmarking website, www.seattle.gov/energybenchmarking, for the How To Guide and a compliance checklist. For those that would rather hire a professional, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Council (NEEC), a non-profit energy efficiency trade association, maintains a directory of businesses that can benchmark buildings.
Large Non-Residential Buildings: Overdue Notices Sent
Owners and managers of non-residential buildings 50,000 square feet or greater that missed the building energy use reporting deadline of April 1, 2012 will receive overdue notices this week.
To be in compliance, a full year of 2011 building energy use must be tracked through the Environmental Protection Agencies Portfolio Manager and reported to the City of Seattle. Failure to report may result in fines. Visit www.seattle.gov/environment/overdue.htm for instructions on how to comply and what do if a building may qualify for a manufacturing or other exemption.
Learn more at www.seattle.gov/energybenchmarking.