Steps to Comply with Honolulu's Better Buildings Benchmarking Program

Compliance with Ordinance 22-17 involves several key steps to ensure accurate reporting of your building's energy and water usage. Here's a guide to help you navigate the process:​

1. Determine Applicability
First, verify if your building meets the criteria for a covered property. The ordinance applies to commercial and multi-family buildings over 25,000 square feet. You can check the Covered Buildings List provided by the City and County of Honolulu to confirm.​

2. Gather Building Information
Collect detailed information about your property, including gross floor area, usage types, and occupancy details. Accurate data is essential for meaningful benchmarking.​

3. Set Up an ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager Account
Create a free account on the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager platform. This tool will be used to input and manage your building's energy and water consumption data.​

4. Collect Utility Data
Obtain aggregated energy consumption data from Hawaiian Electric and Hawaii Gas. Obtain water usage data from the Board of Water Supply. These utilities provide resources to assist with data collection for benchmarking purposes.​

5. Input Data and Benchmark
Enter all collected information into your Portfolio Manager account. The platform will generate performance metrics, allowing you to assess your building's efficiency compared to similar properties.​

6. Submit Your Report
Submit the benchmarking report to the City and County of Honolulu by the specified deadline for your building size category. Timely submission ensures compliance and avoids potential penalties.​

By following these steps, building owners can effectively comply with Ordinance 22-17, contributing to Honolulu's sustainability efforts and potentially realizing significant cost savings. For assistance with the benchmarking process, contact Hong Consulting, LLC at adrianhong@hongconsultingllc.com.