Milwaukee, Wisconsin recently passed an energy benchmarking ordinance, a proven method for reducing building energy use in as little as one year after reporting. This is a significant achievement for Milwaukee, as it is an important step positioned by their recently adopted Climate and Equity Plan.
When most people think about nature, the first place their minds wander is not often ‘buildings.’ As made clear throughout ACEEE’s Summer Study conference, this is different for people working in the building energy efficiency space.
For these buildings professionals, balancing nature and the built environment is a constant challenge. They must weigh power and fuel generation mix while prioritizing energy efficiency, consider multi-dimensional feedback in design and responsibly manage the planet's limited natural resources amidst climate change and the increasing global demand for covered spaces.
Detroit joins the forefront of sustainable urban development with the recent adoption of an energy and water benchmarking policy for existing commercial & multifamily buildings. A formal public hearing on the proposed ordinance was held on November 20, and it unanimously passed City Council the next day.
The City of Madison recently became Wisconsin’s first municipality to adopt an energy benchmarking ordinance. Passed in March 2023, the ordinance ensures that large commercial building owners monitor their energy use and take steps to make their buildings perform at optimal levels.
This blog post is part of a series on Midwest communities using energy efficiency to progress their climate goals. Cities covered previously in the series included Cleveland and Minneapolis.
On February 6, 2023, the Village Board of Oak Park (Village) unanimously passed an energy and water benchmarking ordinance for commercial and multifamily buildings. This benchmarking ordinance is one of the steps identified as necessary to achieve community-wide net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as set forth by the Village in Climate Ready Oak Park.
MEEA is continuing its blog series to highlight Midwest communities using energy efficiency to progress their climate goals. The next city in the series is Minneapolis, Minnesota.
MEEA is producing a blog series to highlight Midwest communities using energy efficiency to progress their climate goals. The first city in the series is Cleveland, Ohio.
Summer is just getting into full swing, and across the country some communities are already roasting. Perhaps uncoincidentally, the process to adopt energy benchmarking policies is also heating up. Because buildings contribute to a large portion of greenhouse gas emissions, benchmarking policies are often part of city and state energy and climate plans. By tracking reliable and consistent energy consumption data, these policies can enable better decision-making around building energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
On April 20, 2020, the City of St. Louis became the first city in the Midwest to pass a Building Energy Performance Standard. In doing so, St. Louis is taking steps toward significant carbon reductions and providing leadership to other cities throughout the Midwest.