On June 4th 2015, Mayor Sly James and Kansas City’s City Council adopted an Energy Empowerment Ordinance to raise awareness of energy and water performance by benchmarking and reporting of energy and water use in large buildings. The goal of this ordinance is threefold: (1) to unlock energy and water savings that in turn will allow businesses and residents to save money on their utility bills, (2) to help drive citywide reduction in energy and water use and greenhouse gas emissions, and (3) create local jobs making energy efficiency improvements to our buildings.
“I want Kansas City to be known as an energy efficient town,” said Mayor Sly James. “Energy efficiency not only saves money; it helps improve the air we breathe, making Kansas City a better place to live. Thanks to Councilmember Taylor, who has been a great champion of energy and other issues.”
Kansas City’s Energy Empowerment Ordinance calls on existing large municipal, institutional, commercial, and multifamily residential buildings to track whole-building energy and water use and report to the City annually. The law covers about 3% of Kansas City’s non-single family buildings, which account for nearly 47% of total energy used by all buildings in Kansas City.
Building energy consumption represents more than 70% of the total energy use in our region. For more information, click here.
Who is Covered by the Ordinance?
Municipal buildings of at least 10,000 square feet and institutional, commercial and multifamily residential buildings of at least 50,000 square feet must track and report their energy and water usage annually in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager, a free online tool.
Who is Responsible for Complying?
The building owner or condominium association is responsible for reporting whole building data. Tenants may, if asked, supply necessary information to the owner or association.
Exemptions for Manufacturing and Industrial Purposes
There are several exemptions to what is covered property outlined in the Energy Empowerment Ordinance including property that is primarily used for manufacturing or other industrial purposes for which benchmarking results would not meaningfully reflect covered property energy use characteristics due to the intensive use of process energy. For information on applying for an exemption click here.
What are the Deadlines?
All municipal buildings of at least 10,000 square feet must comply no later than May 1, 2016, and each May 1 thereafter.
All non-municipal buildings (institutional, commercial, and multifamily residential) of at least 100,000 square feet must comply no later than May 1, 2017, and each May 1 thereafter.
All non-municipal buildings (institutional, commercial, and multifamily residential) of at least 50,000 square feet must comply no later than May 1, 2018, and each May 1 thereafter.
Support
Resources, guidance and further information on Kansas City’s Energy Empowerment Ordinance are available at www.KCEnergyProject.org. Porfolio Manager “help”, including You Tube videos is available at www.energystar.gov/buildings. For questions about the Energy Empowerment Ordinance, including compliance, contact Jennifer Gunby and Dennis Murphey.