October 15: Energy benchmarking report, challenge | Mt. Airy school diversity | Washington Avenue growing up? | Inside Bok | Elected school board? |

Good day, Philly. Here’s your Wednesday morning news fix:

The city released its second year of energy benchmarking data, measuring how Philly’s largest commercial and public buildings are faring in terms of energy usage. Overall Philly beats national averages but the report finds significant opportunities to improve in terms of lowered usage and savings.

So, how low can you go? That’s the challenge Mayor Nutter put to Philly’s commercial building owners, in an effort to see who can drop energy usage by 5% or more in the next year. The three top-performers come September next year will get $5,000 awards.

Next City explores how Mt. Airy is working to supoprt its public schools in the name of diversity. While the neighborhood is notably diverse in terms of its residents, its schools are more monolithic. That’s something neighborhood groups are working to change.

Will Washington Avenue get a seven-story mixed-use building at the corner of 6th Street? Passyunk Post reports Queen Villagers will hear about the project, which needs a zoning variance, next month.

Conrad Benner poked around inside South Philly’s shuttered Bok Technical High School, which could be reborn as a hive for creative types and their businesses. Take a peek.

Should Philly’s school board be elected, as gubernatorial hopeful Tom Wolf suggests? Dave Davies says no thanks. Here, that’s not an empowering act. Our politics are too transactional, driven by old skooler ward leaders.