Honolulu Energy Benchmarking

Ordinance 22-17 (formerly Bill 22), was signed into law by Mayor Blangiardi on July 20, 2022, to establish a Better Buildings Benchmarking Program. The program will require large buildings on Oʻahu to benchmark and report their energy and water usage annually.

The City’s Climate Action Plan identified the establishment of a community-wide benchmarking program as an important step in reaching net negative emissions by 2045. Currently, the building sector accounts for roughly one-third of Oʻahu’s total greenhouse gas emissions. This benchmarking program is expected to reduce the electricity consumption of large buildings by nearly 7% by 2030 and curb greenhouse emissions on the island.

Regular benchmarking allows building owners and managers to track one of their largest ongoing expenses (i.e., utility bills), understand their building’s performance relative to similar buildings, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and eliminate waste. Benchmarking is the first step to managing and optimizing building performance and lowering costs.

If you own or manage a public city building that is at least 10,000 square feet, or any commercial or multifamily building of at least 50,000 square feet, you are required to comply. For 2025, commercial and multifamily properties 25,000+ square feet are required to comply.

Your building may qualify for an exemption if any of the following apply:

• The property did not have a certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy for the entire year required to be benchmarked;

• A demolition permit for the entire building was issued and demolition work commenced prior to the benchmarking report due date for that year;

• The property did not receive energy or water utility services for more than a total of 30 days during that year; or

• Due to special circumstances unique to the property, compliance with the provisions of this article would not be in the public interest.

• The owner of a covered property that contains more than six tenant met

The city requires building owners to report their energy and water usage annually via the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool by June 30th.

All energy utilities including electricity, natural gas, district energy, and any other purchased fuel type used to operate your building.

Water is another utility required for reporting.

The director of planning and permitting may issue a notice of order requiring the property owner to comply with the order and pay a civil fine not to exceed $1,000 and pay a civil fine in the amount of $100 per day for each day the initial or updated benchmarking information is not reported to the department, with civil fines not to exceed a total of $5,000 per facility per reporting year.

Building owners must report their energy usage data to EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.

However:

• Touchstone IQ for Buildings is a fast, easy-to-use tool that integrates directly with EPA’s Portfolio Manager

• Touchstone IQ also offers expert-led benchmarking to building owners and managers looking for streamlined compliance and cost-saving recommendations

Many benchmarking ordinances require a Building ID as part of the report submission process. If needed, you may be able to find your Building ID number here.

• Honolulu Better Buildings Energy Benchmarking Program

• Honolulu's Better Buildings Benchmarking Ordinance

• Honolulu Benchmarking Transparency Map

Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Honolulu’s large properties. Simplify energy benchmarking compliance while gaining the tools to save money and build your energy intelligence with our exclusive software platform. Gain access to the nation's leading energy experts to ensure significant improvements in your energy usage for your commercial, multifamily, or public building. Our team has partnered with entities of all sizes to reduce their carbon footprint, reach ambitious targets, and comply with new regulations. Whether you're looking for comprehensive, step-by-step guidance to craft your energy management plan or a convenient, intuitive benchmarking solution, we've got you covered. Schedule your free personalized demo today or contact us for pricing or questions.