HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 5/9/2023 - Memorandum From John Phelan And Katherine Bailey Re: Update On Building Energy And Water Scoring Program (Bews)
Utilities
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222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
970.212.2900
V/TDD: 711
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: May 3, 2023
TO: City Councilmembers
FROM: John Phelan, Energy Services Senior Manager
Katherine Bailey, Energy Services Project Manager
THRU: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Kendall Minor, Utilities Executive Director
Gretchen Stanford, Deputy Director, Utilities Customer Connections
RE: Update on Building Energy and Water Scoring Program
Bottom line
This memo summarizes the results of a third-party evaluation of the Building Energy and Water Scoring (BEWS)
program through 2022 and communications for the upcoming program reporting deadline of June 1, 2023. The
evaluation analysis verified energy savings attributable to the program were higher than the original assumed
value.
Background
The Building Energy and Water Scoring program is managed by Utilities as authorized in Chapter 12, Article XI of
the Municipal Code (adopted December 2018). The program requires building owners to report energy and
water performance information to the City, which is publicly available on a benchmarking transparency map.
The program aims to enhance consumer choice and access to information in the real estate market, providing
information about energy and water use to aid in sales and lease decisions. Such information can be particularly
important for low to moderate income households when comparing the utility costs between multifamily rental
options. Similarly, comparing performance of one building against another in the same sector allows real estate
stakeholders to evaluate income potential, operating costs and to monitor performance in the marketplace. The
alignment with Utilities incentives provides additional benefits to covered building owners who use
benchmarking information when making decisions related to retrofitting existing buildings with energy
conservation investments. The program savings align with Our Climate Future goals relating to GHG reductions
under Big Move 6, Efficient Emissions-free Buildings.
The BEWS program offers support to building owners for compliance including: a Help Center, How to Guide,
YouTube video series, live and recorded trainings, and reminder outreach via physical mailers, email, and phone
calls.
Evaluation Findings
Utilities contracted with a third-party consulting firm, Apex Analytics, to evaluate energy savings impacts
associated with the program and provide research for ongoing planning efforts. The study collected feedback
from participating building owners related to BEWS awareness and estimated the energy savings resulting from
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BEWS implementation. The study involved two primary research components: commercial building owners and
manager online surveys and analysis of reported energy data to estimate BEWS participation savings impacts.
Participant survey findings associated with this research indicate further opportunity to promote the benefits of
BEWS in our community, as well as to direct building owners to Utilities offerings of rebates and technical
assistance related to efficiency upgrades. Program benefits isolated in the survey included increased attention
to energy use due to program participation and the benefits of the transparency map for tracking relative
building efficiency.
Results show that overall building energy savings of 2.4% to 4% are attributable to the BEWS program. This is a
bit higher, though consistent, with program planning assumptions and with the results from other jurisdictions
implementing similar programs. Energy savings are achieved through increased awareness of building energy
use and associated behavioral changes that are compounded when BEWS covered buildings implement
efficiency related upgrades in their facilities.
Reporting Notification:
Program staff are currently engaging with building owners who are covered under the ordinance and have a
June 1 reporting deadline. Covered building owners receive regular communications via physical mailer, email,
and phone calls starting in late March. If building owners do not comply with the ordinance, they are subject to
the program penalties identified in §12-207 of the municipal code, which may result in a citation of $3,000 per
covered building.
Through 2022, the program has achieved a 94% compliance rate, and staff anticipates the continued success of
the BEWS program.
CC: Brian Tholl, Energy Services Supervisor
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