San Jose BPO

BEYOND BENCHMARKING REQUIREMENTS are now in effect*

*You may access a helpful four-color flowchart of the process by clicking here.

Building owners are now required to demonstrate either building efficiency or improvement in annual performance as specified by the ordinance.

If an owner can demonstrate that a covered building meets key performance standards through yearly benchmarking, the owner can then submit a Performance Verification Report (aka an EXEMPTION)

If a building is not able to meet these standards, the owner can perform (1) an energy and water audit (2) a retro-commissioning (retuning) or (3) targeted efficiency upgrades to improve performance.

For more information about how to become EXEMPT from the Beyond Benchmarking requirement

Call Chuck at 408-539-0075 or visit our BLOG page: HOW TO BECOME EXEMPT FROM THE AUDIT AND RETRO-COMMISSIONING IN SAN JOSE

San Jose Energy and Water Building Performance Ordinance (BPO)

The City of San Jose has adopted its Building Performance Ordinance (BPO), an ordinance that requires you to report a building's Energy and Water Performance to the City, in lieu of reporting to the California Energy Commission (CEC). The City will forward your Energy and Water Benchmark Report to the CEC. However, the City's reporting requirements exceed those of the CEC. The differences are:

1. BPO requires both energy AND water benchmarking

2. BPO includes commercial and multifamily buildings 20,000 square feet and over

3. The BPO reporting deadline is May 1st annually:

4. Every five years, BPO requires buildings to meet performance standards or complete one of three potential improvement pathway actions to help improve energy/water efficiency performance

The City will publish a subset of summary data to support market transparency and recognize high-performing buildings across San Jose.

Exceptions to the Ordinance

The ordinance does not apply to single-family, two-family, and four-plex Residential Buildings, nor to residential hotels, utility pumping stations, and treatment facilities. The ordinance DOES apply to condominiums.

A property with a land use zoning designation that is industrial (Zones HI & LI) is excluded.

l (Zones HI & LI) is excluded. Properties in Zone IP (Industrial Park) must have over 50% of the gross floor area used exclusively for industrial, manufacturing, or research and design to be exempt.

Exemptions to the Ordinance

1. The property did not have a certificate of occupancy during the reporting period

2. The entire property was not occupied, due to renovation, during the entire calendar reporting period

3. The demolition permit for the entire property has been issued and demolition work has commenced on or before the date the report is due for that calendar year

4. The Property did not receive energy or water services for the entire calendar year required to be benchmarked

5. The Property is in financial distress

6. The disclosure of the Property's energy and water use data would result in the release of proprietary data that would violate a customer's right to privacy

For more information about the ordinance and whether your property may be exempt, contact us at 408-539-0075 or Chuck@PegasusBMS.com.