In 2016 as part of the Los Angeles City plan to reduce citywide energy use by 30% by 2035, the city passed the Existing Buildings Energy and Water Efficiency Ordinance (EBEWE) to encourage buildings to reduce energy and water use. EBEWE requires buildings over 20,000sf in the City of Los Angeles to submit ENERGY STAR Benchmarking annually and beginning in 2020 buildings will be required to meet specific energy and water performance targets or perform audits to identify savings measures. Below is an outline of what is required to comply. Contact CodeGreen to create a successful compliance plan for this new ordinance that will improve the energy, water and financial performance of your property.
What buildings are impacted by EBEWE:
All privately owned buildings in the City of Los Angeles over 20,000sf
Includes residential, commercial, and industrial buildings (including structured parking and condominiums)
What is required:
Energy and Water Benchmarking (annually)
Applies to: All buildings over 20,000sf
Deadline: June 1 every year
How to Comply:
Submit the building’s ENERGY STAR Benchmark Score to LADBS annually.
The ENERGY STAR Benchmark uses the EPA’s online Portfolio Manager Tool to calculate a building’s relative energy performance compared to buildings of similar size and function across the country.
Energy and Water Performance (every 5 years)
Applies to: All buildings over 20,000sf (occupied for at least 5 years)
Deadline: First Compliance Deadlines as follows based on last digit of AIN and every 5 years thereafter: 0, 1 = 2020 | 2, 3 = 2021 |4, 5 = 2022 | 6, 7 = 2023 | 8, 9 = 2024
How to Comply:
Energy Performance Compliance
Achieve one of the following:
– Achieve ENERGY STAR Labels (2 out of 3 years preceding deadline year)
– Energy performance is 25% better than median performance of similar buildings
– Weather-normalized energy use intensity reduced by 15% compared to 5 years prior
– If no central cooling system, meet prescriptive requirements
OR
Perform an ASHRAE Level II Energy Efficiency Audit and Retro-commissioning Study of base building energy-consuming systems
Water Performance Compliance
Achieve one of the following:
– Water use intensity reduced by 20% compared to 5 years prior
– If no central cooling system, meet prescriptive water fixtures requirements
– Meet Los Angeles Municipal Code in effect during 5-year compliance cycle
OR
Perform Water Audit and Retro-commissioning of base building systems per ASHRAE Guidelines
