Request a proposal In the field. In the documents. On the record.NYC energy benchmarking
Annual energy and water data collection, validation, Portfolio Manager coordination, and submission support for applicable New York City buildings.
Request a proposalIn plain terms
Local Law 84, as amended, requires covered NYC properties to report annual energy and water consumption through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. It creates a repeatable performance record; it is not an energy audit or a certification that the building meets its emissions limit.
Scope, requirements & reporting
Use DOB’s current Covered Buildings List and the property’s identifiers to check applicability, then reconcile the building record with actual uses and meters. For the 2026 filing cycle, DOB identifies reporting of 2025 consumption by May 1, 2026. Check the current year’s instructions for corrections, exceptions, and any specific submission relief.
A whole-building record can involve owner accounts, tenant accounts, shared systems, and water data. Missing months, duplicate meters, incorrect units, or a meter assigned to the wrong property can distort reported performance. KOW can review these issues and coordinate corrections as part of the benchmarking scope.
Track the submitted record and acceptance status, then investigate unusual consumption against occupancy and system changes. Keep the underlying records available for emissions work and future audits. An ENERGY STAR score, where available, is a comparison metric; it does not replace a separate review of LL97 requirements.
The reporting package should preserve the property identifiers, floor areas and uses, account and meter inventory, reporting-year consumption, corrections made, and submission evidence. DOB’s current guidance covers individual buildings over 25,000 gross square feet and certain groups over 100,000 square feet. Check the covered-building list and actual property configuration rather than borrowing LL97’s different group threshold.
Decisions supported
Is the property record complete and accurately configured?
Are all required energy and water accounts represented for the reporting year?
Do gaps, estimates, or anomalies need to be resolved before submission?
What does the resulting performance record suggest for deeper analysis or capital planning?
Typical scope
The final scope follows the property, transaction, program, client requirements, and information available. Typical elements include:
Process
Confirm the property or project, intended use, reliance parties, schedule, available information, and required deliverable.
Review the documents, identify gaps, and coordinate the people and access needed to complete the scope.
Perform the observations, analysis, interviews, and specialist coordination called for by the assignment.
Separate material findings from background information and state the basis, limitations, open items, and follow-up clearly.
Common assignments
Data collection, validation, Portfolio Manager coordination, and filing support for one applicable building.
A consistent process and reporting record across multiple New York City properties.
Review of meters, property-use details, missing periods, and prior records before current reporting.
Frequently asked
No. Benchmarking generally reports the preceding calendar year by May 1. For example, the 2026 cycle reports 2025 consumption. Check current DOB instructions and any published relief for the relevant cycle.
Not necessarily. Reconcile whole-building utility data with tenant meters and shared systems. Missing tenant use can materially distort the reported result.
No. Follow DOB’s connection, sharing, and submission instructions and resolve reported errors. Retain evidence of the transmitted record rather than assuming data entry alone completes the obligation.
No. It supplies important consumption data, but LL97 has separate coverage, calculation, certification, and reporting requirements.
The work generally requires complete energy and water data for the reporting year together with accurate property-use, area, occupancy, meter, and account information in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
KOW can review the configured property, meters, use details, gaps, duplicate entries, estimates, and prior reporting context as part of the agreed annual or data-cleanup scope.
No. Benchmarking organizes and compares reported performance. An energy audit examines building systems, operations, and potential measures in greater technical detail.
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