Utility benchmarking now law in Philadelphia

A new push for energy efficiency is now law in Philadelphia.

The bill amends the Energy Conservation portion of the Philadelphia Code to require big city buildings to benchmark and report energy and water usage data.

Reporting the data, Mayor Michael Nutter believes, will help Philadelphia become a greener city.

“Building owners and tenants can save money by reducing their energy use right now and also reduce the climate impact of their greenhouse gas emissions,” Nutter said.

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Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who sponsored the bill, says it gives people a chance to compare a building and see what savings are available.

“It would be available for property owners, tenants, prospective purchasers, the public at large to see how energy and water usage can be compared,” she said.

The city is beginning its own benchmarking effort on public buildings to see where energy savings are available.

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