“Benchmarking” is the practice of comparing the measured performance of a device, process, facility, or organization to itself, its peers, or established norms, with the goal of informing and motivating performance improvement. When applied to building energy use, benchmarking serves as a mechanism to measure energy performance of a single building over time, relative to other similar buildings, or to modeled simulations of a reference building built to a specific standard.”[1]  In the interest of promoting energy efficiency benchmarking, the Council for the City of New Orleans (“Council”) recently passed a series of resolutions (see the link below for “Pertinent Council Resolutions”) that will allow owners of multitenant buildings with four or more meters and at least four unique customers to obtain aggregated, anonymized energy usage data for such buildings from Entergy New Orleans, LLC (“ENO”) without first obtaining the written permission of each individual account holder or tenant.  Pursuant to these resolutions, ENO created an automated solution that will aggregate and transmit usage data to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s free benchmarking software, Energy Star Portfolio Manager. 

Portfolio Manager is an interactive resource management tool that enables you to track and assess energy and water use across your entire portfolio of buildings … all in and online environment designed with security in mind. Based on the aggregated usage data and the characteristics of the building, Portfolio Manager will calculate your buildings Energy Star score. In addition, Portfolio Manager will also allow you to generate Energy Star performance documents for your building that will help you to analyze and monitor your building’s energy consumption. To learn more about Portfolio Manager, and Energy Star scores and performance documents, please click the following link:

https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/use-portfolio-manager

To begin your energy-efficiency benchmarking journey, please click on the “Application For Energy Usage Benchmarking” link below and fill out the form.  You will need the following information:

  • The owner’s name and email (along with that of a designee to receive the data if the owner so chooses);
  • The Tax Bill Number; and
  • The meter numbers of gas and electric meters attached to the building.

This data will need to be verified.   After submitting your application, please follow the steps listed at the “How to Share Your Portfolio Manager Account” link below to set up your Portfolio Manager account and prepare it for transmission of the data.   

APPLICATION FOR ENERGY USAGE BENCHMARKING

HOW TO SHARE YOUR PORTFOLIO MANAGER ACCOUNT

  1. Aggregated usage data supplied through this program can only be used for the purposes listed below. Improper use of the data may result in your termination from the program.  If you suspect that improper use of data is occurring, you should contact Erin Spears at the New Orleans City Council’s Utility Regulatory Office at espears@nola.gov.
  1. Benchmarking;
  2. Energy efficiency and energy management;
  3. Obtaining financing for energy efficiency improvements to the building in question; or
  4. Obtaining energy efficiency certifications or ratings including, but not limited to, an Energy Star rating for the building in question. 
  1. Entergy New Orleans, LLC does not warrant the validity of the data. Such data is provided “AS IS” with no warranty whatsoever. 
  1. Building tenants may challenge the appropriateness of the release of their usage data if they believe that
  • the Council’s rules would not sufficiently protect their privacy; or 
  • the building owner or building owner’s designated agent is using the data for improper purposes.[2]

Building owner agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold Entergy New Orleans, LLC, its affiliates, and its parent company, Entergy Corporation, and the employees, officers, and directors of the foregoing against any claims related to the use of the data supplied hereunder.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/eere/slsc/building-energy-use-benchmarking

[2] Council for the City of New Orleans Resolution R-19-206

Pertinent City Council Resolutions