City of Rochester Launching Fifth Year of Energy Benchmarking
Media Contact
Megan Moeller, Communications & Engagement Coordinator
Direct: 507-328-2436 | E-mail: mmoeller@rochestermn.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Rochester Launching Fifth Year of Energy Benchmarking
March 7, 2023 – The Rochester Energy Benchmarking Program is inviting local businesses and building owners to track and manage their energy use through benchmarking. The program will teach participants how to benchmark their building and how to identify potential energy efficiency opportunities that may save money on utility bills over time. Project partners include Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) and Minnesota Energy Resources. Both organizations will assist benchmarking participants in collecting their utility data and offer special incentives and individualized assistance towards energy savings goals.
New program participants are invited to the following events:
2023 Benchmarking Program Kick-off: An introduction to the program and the benefits of participation for building owners, managers and operators of commercial buildings of any size.
Date: March 14, 2023
Time: Noon – 1:00 pm
Location: Virtual
Registration: via Eventbrite
Data Jam Technical Assistance Sessions: City teammates will help property owners set up their ENERGY STAR portfolio manager profile, submit data and learn how to use and interpret their results to track and improve the energy efficiency of their buildings.
Dates: March 29 and March 31
Time: 20 minute one-on-one sessions are available each day for morning or afternoon sessions
Location: City Hall, Room 104 (201 4 Street SE)
Registration: via Signup Genius
More information is available on the City’s benchmarking webpage or by contacting the City of Rochester’s Sustainability Coordinator.
Background: The Energy Benchmarking Program kicked off in 2019 with 90 participating properties and grew to 143 properties in 2022. Energy data collected through the program creates an understanding of how energy use from our community contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Each year the program compiles a benchmarking report to highlight how many buildings participated, what the average EUI (energy use intensity) of the buildings is compared to national average, and what percentage of greenhouse emissions program participants are contributing. Benchmarking a building creates a baseline of energy use to track improvements in EUI and greenhouse gas emission reductions over time. The 2021 Benchmarking Report can be found here.
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