New Partnership Makes Data on DC Building Energy Usage More Accessible

• May 27, 2016

by Nena Perry-Brown

A rendering of the net-zero renovation of the American Geophysical Union headquarters in DC

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy and the DC-based CoStar Group announced that they have partnered so that consumers can see city-collected energy data for buildings displayed on CoStar’s online real estate databases. Also, wherever available, listings will include the property’s EPA ENERGY STAR score, annual greenhouse gas emissions, and the intensity of source energy usage.

DC and Chicago are the first two cities where building energy data will be made available on CoStar’s website this summer; data from other cities will start rolling out this fall. CoStar also plans to explore allowing buildings which are exempt from disclosure mandates to voluntarily self-report their energy usage.

Current DC law requires private owners of buildings that are 50,000 square feet or larger to furnish annual reports of their energy and water performance to the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). Prior to this agreement, this data has only been available on the DOEE benchmarking page and on the District Open Data Portal.

“This initiative will maximize the ability of DC’s innovative benchmarking laws to drive market-based demand for buildings that use less energy and produce fewer carbon emissions,” said Tommy Wells, former DC councilmember and current director of DOEE. “Now people can identify buildings that support a healthier environment and save them money on their utility bills.”

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/new_partnership_will_make_cities_energy_usage_data_more_accessible/11285