Katie Jones Schmitt
Benchmarking Outreach Coordinator, Center for Energy and Environment
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- United States
Topics
1 Comment
-
Re: Energy Grades for Buildings
2015-06-23 10:35:54 UTC
In Minneapolis, there is a mandate to benchmark large commercial buildings using Energy Star Portfolio manager, and with that buildings receive a 1-100 (100=efficient) performance score.
Part of our strategy was to phase in the public display of this information. In year one of reporting, only the data owners (building managers/owners) see the building's performance. This gives them some time to improve their building if they can/want as well as mentally prepare themselves for the information to become public. It also helps that the data owners supply the data, which we think helps give them ownership of the information. Because they put the data in, they don't have to question the validity of it.
Perhaps one of your barriers is that the building tenants feel the scores are arbitrary or they just don't feel the scores are valid. Then maybe on top of that they aren't ready for the information to be public.
Lastly, I'm sure it's already part of your program, but in case it is not, I would be sure to pair the grades with proactive help/resources to improve those grades. Perhaps for those worst performing buildings, you hold internal energy reduction competitions between departments or a targeted campaign having occupants pledge to do specific energy reduction behaviors. Something like this may help occupants feel like they can do something to change their poor grade in a fun way. It would also then be very important to provide performance feedback in some way in order to keep them engaged.
Best of luck.
Katie Jones Schmitt
Benchmarking Outreach Coordinator
Center for Energy and Environment
United States
0 Recommends
You haven't saved any recommendations.
Messaging 0 colleagues