Energy Benchmarking

What is energy benchmarking?

Benchmarking is the process of tracking, measuring, and comparing a building’s energy, water, and/or waste to buildings similar in use type. Benchmarking provides building owners and managers with a performance score against which they can assess their performance relative to other similar buildings.

What are the benefits of energy benchmarking?

Information has the power to motivate change. Benchmarking allows you to:  

• Track changes in energy, water, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs over time.  
• Identify underperforming buildings to direct energy efficiency improvements and secure longer-term financial savings.  
• Use performance-based data to set investment priorities.  
• Identify best practices and learn from more efficient and less efficient buildings.  
• Share and report performance.  
• Earn ENERGY STAR recognition for your building.  

History of energy benchmarking in Arlington County

Arlington County’s energy benchmarking efforts are part of our broader efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, a goal established in the Community Energy Plan. The County began encouraging buildings to measure and report their energy use as part of the Green Building Incentive Policy (GBIP), which has led to 44 buildings tracking their energy consumption. Another 21 buildings have agreed to participate in energy benchmarking as part of their Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF) agreements.

How energy benchmarking can influence County climate/energy goals

Benchmarking allows buildings in Arlington to assess their energy use compared to other similar buildings and identify areas for improvement, which leads to both energy and cost savings through operational efficiency. These improvements are crucial for the County to achieve its CEP goal to reduce building energy consumption by 38% below 2016 levels by 2050.