Energy audits and energy retrofits are not required.
Do I Need to Add my Benchmarking ID to the Property?
We do not enforce the ID to be put in as we can look the building up by address, but we do appreciate it when the ID is put into the system.
You can do this by creating a custom ID in the details tab.
Do I Need to Add Waste & Materials Meters
No, waste & materials is not part of the Energy Empowerment Ordinance.
Ignore any warning that may come up in the system as a result of not including these meters.
Do I Need to Enter Storm Water or Wastewater?
No, you will only need to enter in the water usage which is measured either in Gallons or CCF.
Does the City Create an Energy Star Portfolio Manager Account for Me?
No, someone within your organization will need to create the account.
If you are taking over for someone, please make sure to have them either give you the account details or share the building information from their account to an account you created.
How Do I Delete Meters or Change Meter Information Once It's Been Created
Follow these steps:
If you have troubles finding this, follow step 4c on the Compliance Page
Go to the page where you enter in you utility statement information.
Click on the basic meter information box.
Adjust any of the fields or delete any of the meters as needed.
I Have a Building Complex Where the Total SQFT Exceeds 50,000 but the Individual Buildings Do Not. Am I Required to Comply with the Energy Empowerment Ordinance?
You are not required to comply. We have determined that these are considered separate buildings and therefore they will need to be above 50,000 SQFT individually to need to comply.
This may not be the case when benchmarking energy usage for requirements in other cities.
I Need to Add in Another Property Type After Initially Creating My Building.
From the home page:
Click on your building name in the dashboard.
Click on the details tab.
Click on add another property type.
I Need to ask a Portfolio Manager Representative for Help, How do I do This?
While the Benchmarking Helpcenter is a good resource, we cannot answer every question that comes up. Usually, when it comes to account-level information such as username/password we cannot assist.
I Need to Change Property Use Metrics Such as Number of Computers, How do I do That?
From the home page:
Click on you building name in the dashboard.
Click on the details tab.
Click the action drop-down box that says "I want to".
If the information was wrong and you are correcting it, click "correct mistakes".
If the information was correct but there has been a change click "Update with new information".
My Water Bill does not state the units of measure. How do I know what units to enter.
Water is reported in either Gallons or CCF. Some of the bills do not state which unit is being used. to determine which unit to put:
1 CCF= ~748 Gallons
A residential unit might use between 5-10 CCF or 3740-7480 Gallons
A high number indicates that it is likely Gallons. for buildings over 50,000 SQFT usually if you see number in the hundreds or low thousands, it's probably CCF.
Ownership changed mid-year, how do we go about submitting.
Portfolio Manager needs a full 12 months of data for the year specified. If ownership changed mid year and the utility information was not transferred over too, then it will be nearly impossible to comply with the ordinance.
With evidence of the change in ownership, the ability to request a one-year exemption based off inability to obtain utility information is very likely. Please read over requests for changes/exemptions for more details.
Should I Enter my Building as Single or Campus
The vast majority of buildings should be entered as a single building. If you have multiple buildings that share a utility meter, then you will probably want to set these buildings up as a campus. Please reach out to benchmarking@kcmo.org if you have questions. More campus details can be found on: Information on Campus buildings
What Fields do I Need to Put in From My Utility Statement?
For all utilities, you will need to enter in three things: Start Date, End Date, Usage.Other metrics are optional but not required, this includes cost.
What Happens if my property is generating an error?
There are two types of errors: the yellow warning and the red stop sign.
The yellow warning indicates that something might be wrong. This information should be double checked but if correct, feel free to proceed. The waste/materials warning will usually come up and that should always be ignored as that is not part of the ordinance.
The red stop sign means that there is something critically wrong that needs to be addressed before submitting. Otherwise, it will just generate an error when sent.
What if I do not Know a Specific Metric Such as Number of Computers or Year Built?
While it is best to have information as accurate as possible, a guestimate is fine for the information that you otherwise may not be able to find. However, if you are wanting to apply for energy star certification (which is separate from the ordinance) you will need exact numbers.
What is Considered Evidence for Changes or One-Year Exemption?
Evidence varies but generally some official documentation such as permit, floor plan, appraisal, or blue print counts if it verifies the information.
In some cases news articles that support the claim or pictures of the stated situation (such as renovations) will suffice.
What is Energy Star Certification and Do I Need to Apply?
Energy Star Certification is separate from the Benchmarking Ordidinance and is not required.
The Certification recognizes top-performing buildings which have an Energy Star Score of 75 or above. Eligible Buildings are encouraged to apply.
What Reasons May I be Exempt From Reporting and, if applicable, How can I apply for the Exemption?
Please refer to Requests For Changes/Exemption to look for the six exemption criteria. You will also be able to open a form to complete your request. Alternatively, you can email benchmarking@kcmo.org for instructions.
What Trainings are Available?
The City offers live demonstrations and walk-ins on various dates most frequently available between February and May. These can be found on our Training Page.
By emailing benchmarking@kcmo.org, you can also set up a phone call or an in-person meeting to address any questions or to receive assistance on entering your information.
