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City to pilot voluntary building-energy benchmarking program; staff seeks input on $200,000 per-year funding
Summary
City staff outlined a proposed voluntary building-energy benchmarking and audit pilot for commercial and multifamily buildings, seeking council confirmation of program scope and a $200,000 annual funding allocation to cost-share ASHRAE Level 2 audits.
City staff told the council May 8 they will pilot a voluntary building-energy benchmarking program aimed at helping commercial and multifamily building owners measure and reduce energy use.
Staff said the pilot would target buildings larger than 10,000 square feet and provide a cost share for ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits. The proposed funding level discussed at the workshop was $200,000 per year from economic development funds; staff described using that money to provide a 50% cost share for qualifying audits, with the potential range of audit costs varying by building size.
The staff presentation described pilot goals as (1) helping property owners identify energy‑saving measures, (2) supporting the city’s climate objectives, and (3) making a future case for energy-efficient investment. "We're going to look at piloting it this year," a council member said, adding the city will report back to council toward the end of the year on pilot results.
Council members asked for additional metrics and expected outcomes, including whether the effort could encourage private investment, job creation, or other quantifiable economic benefits beyond utility savings. Staff said they would return with case studies and anticipated benefits, and will compare outcomes to Miami‑Dade County’s mandatory program as part of the pilot evaluation.
Next steps: staff will begin the pilot this year, report interim results to council later in 2025, and propose a final funding and scale recommendation after the pilot.
