Honolulu (HI)

Initiative monitors a building’s energy consumption over time, enabling owners and occupants to evaluate operational performance against similar structures locally and nationwide. Specific building attributes are utilized alongside monthly consumption data to facilitate this analysis.

The Better Buildings Benchmarking (BBB) Program, initiated by the City and County of Honolulu, serves to advance the city’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Ordinance 22-17, which established the BBB Program, was enacted into law by Mayor Blangiardi on July 20, 2022.

Benchmarking, as outlined in Ordinance 22-17, tracks a building’s energy and water usage over time. Regular benchmarking empowers building owners and managers to monitor utility expenses closely, identify inefficiencies, and implement strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce waste, thereby controlling costs.

Who Must Comply

The BBB Program, established through Ordinance 22-17, mandates annual water and energy benchmarking for major commercial and multifamily buildings. Initially, buildings with a size exceeding 100,000 square feet were required to submit reports by June 30, 2023. Subsequently, buildings over 50,000 square feet and those measuring 25,000 square feet or more are obligated to file reports between June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025, respectively.

Municipal Benchmarking

Under Ordinance 20-47, municipal buildings exceeding 10,000 square feet must undergo energy and water benchmarking by the City and County of Honolulu. The City has already completed benchmarking for seventy covered facilities, totaling over 3.8 million square feet by 2022. This data informs plans for energy-saving renovations in municipal buildings, as tracked in the Sustainable City Operations section of the City’s Annual Sustainability Report.

Non-Compliance Fines

In cases of non-compliance, the director of planning and permitting may issue a notice of order, imposing civil penalties not exceeding $1,000. Additionally, a civil fine of $100 per day may be levied for each day the department is not notified of the benchmarking information. The total civil fines per facility per reporting year are capped at $5,000.