Energy: Reduce Your Building’s Use!
TRACKING ENERGY USE
Benchmark Your Building with Portfolio Manager
Finding out how your buildings are currently performing is the first step in improving energy management. Portfolio Manager is an online tool developed by the US EPA that allows you to track and compare the energy performance of the buildings you manage. You can also use Portfolio Manager to measure savings from the energy efficiency measures you take. Property managers participating in the Green Office Challenge must use Portfolio Manager to demonstrate their energy use reduction achievements.
- To begin using Portfolio Manager, you will need to register for an account. After you have registered, the first step in benchmarking your building's energy use is to "Add a Property", through which you can import your utility data. In order to qualify for recognition in the Green Office Challenge, you will need to grant access to the City of Chicago in Portfolio Manager for the relevant property or properties. Do this through the "Share Facilities" page. Go to the "Select a Portfolio Manager Master Account" drop-down menu and select "City of Chicago - Green Office Challenge." Your data will remain entirely confidential and will be used strictly for verification purposes, and to help the City ensure its achievement of its overall energy use and greenhouse gas reduction goals.
- The ENERGY STAR program offers an online training, Rating Energy Performance of Commercial Office Buildings with EPA’s Portfolio Manager, approximately once a month. This training covers obtaining and estimating energy use data, entering it into Portfolio Manager, and how to apply for an ENERGY STAR rating if your building qualifies. See the online calendar to register. You can access a pre-recorded training at any time by clicking the Recorded Sessions link at the upper left of that page.
- The Portfolio Manager Tour provides additional information about some topics like importing spreadsheet data.
- For help with Portfolio Manager try the Frequently Asked Questions, Help, and Contact buttons at the upper right while in Portfolio Manager, or contact the Green Office Challenge team.
Set a Reduction Goal
Now that you know how much and where energy is lost in your building, commit to reducing your energy use by 10% (base goal) or 30% (stretch goal). Please visit the "Making Improvements" section to learn about ways in which you can reduce your energy consumption. Please note that properties that have earned an ENERGY STAR rating of 75 or higher automatically achieve the energy use reduction stretch goal.