IFMA Austin is working with Austin Energy to identify potential Portfolio Manager training dates. We will provide this information once it becomes available. In order to populate the Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool, you will need basic building information such as square footage, hours of operation, quantity of people/computer equipment, and 12 months of utility bill information. Please see http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=evaluate_performance.bus_portfoliomanager for detailed information.

The following commercial properties will be excluded when calculating participation in the commercial section voluntary targets:

· Historic structures or structures contributing to local or national historic districts shall be exempt from any requirement to perform upgrades or alterations to character defining features but shall not be exempt from the audit requirement.

· Buildings with an Energy Star score of 75 or the equivalent rating for another approved rating system or that have received a specified level of Austin Energy rebates within the prior ten years.

· Data centers or other high energy use buildings that can not be adequately evaluated using currently available audit tools.

· Properties that, due to circumstances beyond the control of the owner, should not be required to have further upgrades performed, based on a finding of the Department Director. This appeal process would only apply if mandatory upgrades were required.

I hope this power point  provides you with the information you need in order to become prepared.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.

Thanks

Mark Wendland, CFM, RPA, FMA

President, Austin Chapter of IFMA

Frequently Asked Questions

Commercial Properties

Q: What rating systems(s) will be used to rate the energy efficiency of commercial buildings?

A: The preferred rating system would be the EPA's Portfolio Manager if applicable (currently only 12 building types can be rated). Those properties that cannot be rated via Portfolio Manager can use Austin Energy's online Nexxus tool or other approved rating systems yet to be determined.

Q: What specifically do the rating systems look at or measure in order to come up with a rating?

A: Portfolio Manager uses building sector specific inputs along with utility usage along with square footage compared against Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) data.

Q: How does a commercial property go about determining their rating?

A: Portfolio Manager is user friendly and Austin Energy along with EPA has been and will continue to train users to rate their properties.

Q: What is required of a commercial property that cannot be rated under some standardized approach such as Portfolio Manager?

A: One alternative rating system is Austin Energy's Nexus online tool, or other approved rating method yet to be determined (any rating system that uses CBECS data)

Q: What is the time frame within which all commercial buildings must determine their rating?

A: Any building that is over ten years old by June 1, 2009 must calculate an energy use rating by June 1, 2011; all other buildings must be rated before their 10 year anniversary.

Q: Will commercial buildings be required to provide Austin Energy with a copy of their rating paperwork (audit)?

A: Commercial buildings will be required to report their score and rating method, however details of the inputs will not be required. Austin Energy reserves the right to ask for details to verify the inputs.

Q: Is there a minimum rating level that will be required of all commercial buildings?

A: No, currently the ordinance is voluntary. There are goals associated with the ordinance. They are that any building below a 75 must improve their score by the greater of: increasing their score to a 50 or 20% of their initial score up to 75.

Q: Will buildings that do not meet a minimum rating level be required to make energy efficiency improvements?

A: Compliance to this ordinance is currently voluntary, thus there are no energy efficiency improvements that will be required.

Q: Will Austin Energy make the rating of commercial properties available to the public and if so how?

A: No, Austin Energy will not disclose a score or rating.

Q: If energy efficiency improvements will not be mandatory, what are the goals for the EEUO regarding commercial properties?

A: The goal of the EEUO is to improve Austin's overall portfolio score above the average of all commercial buildings in the United States. The specific goals are that any building below a 75 must improve their score by the greater of: increasing their score to a 50 or 20% of their initial score up to 75. Though at this time the ordinance is voluntary, reports to council on compliance are required and upgrades could be made mandatory with lack of compliance.

Q: Does this ordinance and related energy audits only apply to sale of a facility?

A: Under the commercial section of the city ordinance all buildings that are 10 years or older must be rated and is irrelevant to the point of sale issue. The only thing that is required at the point of sale is to supply prospective buyer with the building Statement of Energy Performance.

Q. If I own a building but the tenant pays the utility bills and is responsible for all system maintenance and upkeep, am I required to report?

A: Yes, it is the building owners' responsibility to rate their building.

Q. If I pay the utility bills and maintain the facility but do not own the facility, am I required to report?

A: No, this is the responsibility of the building owner; however it is important that tenants cooperate with building owners in the rating of the building.

Q. My building is served on a master meter with other facilities, how can I rate my building because there is no sub-metering to determine my bldg's actual usage.

A: Building owners should rate the building(s) as a whole (i.e. campus, multiple tenant building).

Q. What are the minimum qualifications to collect and enter the information to rate the building?

A: Basic knowledge of your building is the only requirement to rate your building using Portfolio Manager.

Q. Will anyone review my rating inputs for accuracy or compliance?

A: Austin Energy reserves the right to randomly audit building ratings.

Q. If EPA updates their CBECS data and this causes my score to drop below 50, am I now out of voluntary compliance.

A: No, if you report your score you are in compliance. The goals are voluntary at this point.

Q. My building has gone through a major renovation in the past year. Will I need to report by 2011 or 10 years after the major renovation was completed?

A: According to the ordinance, all buildings that are 10 years must be rated including those that have gone through a renovation. If Portfolio Manager does not produce a score, it is required that you inform Austin Energy about this and to why this is the case.

Q. I own several buildings; can I rate them and report them as a portfolio?

A: Both through Portfolio Manager and Austin Energy's reporting site will have the capability for multiple building owners to create and manage portfolios. However all buildings must be reported individually and not as a portfolio.

Q. Is my base year static, if so, is it Fiscal Year or Calendar Year or does it matter?

A: The base year is static, it will be the year that you input your rating into Austin Energy's reporting site. This will also be your annual reporting date.

Q. Under what conditions can I adjust my base year?

A: This will be determined on a case by case basis.

Q. If I don't have access to my natural gas bills will this invalidate my rating or is electric only acceptable?

A: Yes, all utilities are required to get an accurate rating.

Q. Will I be required to report my building score annually or just once at the building's 10th anniversary?

A: You will be required to report on the 10 year anniversary and annually from then forward.

Q. If my building is only partly occupied, will this impact the rating?

A: Yes, occupancy is incorporated in the rating using Portfolio Manager

Q. In order to receive a rating; the building must be relatively static in occupancy of 1 year, what happens when occupancy changes making it impossible to obtain a score or rating?

A: Portfolio Manager allows you to adjust your occupancy as it changes allowing for rating when occupancy is not static.

Q. Will I receive notification I am not in compliance?

A: Yes, Austin Energy will send out notices of non-compliance.

Q. How long once I receive a notification letter will I have to comply?

A: 90 days

Q. Will Austin Energy provides automatic Electric Utility uploads to my Portfolio Manager account?

A: Austin Energy is currently working with EPA to allow for automatic uploading of electric utility bills.

Q. Will Texas Gas Service provide automatic updates for my Portfolio Manager Account?

A: At this point there are no plans for this service. All gas inputs will need to be done manually.

Q: After the sale of my property what should be done with the building in Austin Energy's reporting site?

A: Austin Energy's reporting site will allow for the transfer of the building to the new owner.

Q: Will Portfolio Manager let me transfer my building to the new owner?

A: Yes.

Q: Is there a cost associated with the rating of my building?

A: No, both Portfolio Manager and Nexxus are free to use. There are no costs associated with an individual rating their building.

Q: What assistance will Austin Energy provide?

A: Austin Energy has and will continue to provide training on Portfolio Manager. Austin Energy will also provide step by step instructions to help building owners comply with the ordinance.