ENERGY STAR scores built on complete monthly meter data
Portfolio Manager is the US EPA's free tool for benchmarking building energy and water, and the basis of ENERGY STAR certification and many city benchmarking laws. Aqueduct supplies complete monthly consumption for every fuel and meter, so the score reflects the whole property.
Who uses it
Any building owner can benchmark for free. Certification is open to more than a dozen property types in the US and Canada, including offices, K-12 schools, hospitals, hotels, retail, data centers, warehouses and multifamily buildings.
For many owners it is not optional. City benchmarking laws such as New York's Local Law 84 require annual submission through Portfolio Manager, due 1 May in New York.
What a score and certification need
Requirements from EPA's certification guidance. A licensed professional verifies and EPA decides.
| Requirement | What it asks for | Data Aqueduct supplies |
|---|---|---|
| The score | Source energy for all fuels, adjusted for weather and use details such as hours and workers. | Monthly totals per meter and fuel, from interval data. |
| Whole property | All energy used on the property accounted for. | Every main and sub-meter mapped to the property, so no load is missed. |
| Performance period | 12 months of energy data; certification is valid for one year. | Rolling 12 month totals, ready whenever you apply. |
| Site visit | A professional engineer or registered architect confirms energy use, floor area, occupancy and indoor conditions. | Air quality, temperature and lighting records per zone to support the visit. |
| EPA audit | Copies of utility bills and fuel invoices for the period on request. | Metered totals reconciled against bills, with gaps flagged. |
Numbers that matter
Minimum score to certify, on a 1 to 100 scale where 50 is the median.
Source: EPA: how the score is calculatedNYC penalty for missing the 1 May benchmarking deadline, repeating each quarter up to $2,000 a year.
Source: NYC Department of BuildingsA newer EPA certification adds at least 30% renewable energy and a direct GHG intensity target to the score of 75.
Source: ENERGY STAR NextGenRelated standards
sites in 21 countries run on Aqueduct.
and 9 clinics in one of India’s top hospital chains.
US airport running water intelligence on Aqueduct.
of commercial real estate under Aqueduct.
FMCG manufacturing campus.
operations run on Aqueduct.
Related
Common questions
Often because loads that were never reported, such as a second gas meter or a tenant feed, start being counted. The score was flattering before; complete data makes it accurate.
Your team or benchmarking provider submits. Aqueduct exports monthly totals per meter and fuel, which they enter or upload to Portfolio Manager, and keeps the interval data behind each total in case EPA or the city asks how a figure was reached.
Yes. Portfolio Manager tracks water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions as well as energy, though the score and certification are based on energy. Aqueduct supplies monthly water use per meter from aQ WaterGuard alongside the energy totals. See water intelligence.
Aqueduct keeps 12 months of totals for every fuel current, so the inputs Portfolio Manager needs are always ready. Entering them gives a score at any point in the year, which shows whether a building is on track before a licensed professional verifies it.
See Aqueduct on your own facility.
Bring a site, a utility bill or a question. We will show you where the loss is.