What is ECAD compliance?

ECAD stands for Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure. It refers to municipal ordinances requiring commercial building owners to benchmark and report their energy consumption. Many major cities including New York, Chicago, Boston, and Austin have enacted these requirements as part of climate action plans. Non-compliance typically results in escalating fines.

Which cities require energy benchmarking?

Over 40 U.S. cities and several states have energy benchmarking requirements, including New York City (Local Law 84/133), Chicago (Energy Benchmarking Ordinance), Boston (BERDO), Washington DC (Clean Energy DC Act), San Francisco (Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance), and Austin (ECAD Ordinance). Requirements vary by jurisdiction but generally apply to commercial buildings over a certain square footage threshold.

What is ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager?

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is a free online tool from the EPA used to benchmark building energy and water consumption. Most municipal benchmarking ordinances require data to be entered and filed through Portfolio Manager. It generates an energy performance score from 1–100 that compares your building to similar buildings nationwide.

What utility data do you need from me?

We need your utility account numbers for electric, gas, water, steam, and any other energy sources serving the building. In many cases, we can obtain the consumption data directly from utilities with your authorization. If utility auto-upload is available in your area, we can set that up for ongoing compliance.

How much does ECAD compliance filing cost?

Pricing depends on the complexity of your property—the number of utility accounts, data availability, and whether rush service is needed. Simple single-utility buildings cost less than complex multi-utility, multi-meter properties. We provide a fixed quote before starting any work.

What happens if I miss the filing deadline?

Penalties vary by jurisdiction but typically start at $500–$2,000 and increase for each quarter of non-compliance. In some cities like New York, annual fines can reach $5,000 or more. Beyond fines, non-compliance may affect property transactions and can be a red flag during due diligence.

Can you handle multiple properties at once?

Yes. We regularly manage portfolio filings for property management companies and REITs with 10–100+ properties. Volume pricing is available and we provide a centralized tracking dashboard showing filing status across your entire portfolio.

Do I need to provide building access?

For the initial filing, we typically don't need physical building access. We work primarily with utility data and building characteristics that can be provided remotely. However, if an energy audit is required by your jurisdiction (some require this on a periodic basis), we can coordinate that separately.

How long does the filing process take?

Standard turnaround is 5–10 business days from when we receive your utility account information. The primary variable is how quickly utilities provide consumption data—some respond within days, others take 2–3 weeks. We offer rush service for approaching deadlines.

Will you handle the filing annually going forward?

Yes. Most clients engage us for annual refiling since it's an ongoing requirement. We set up utility auto-upload where available, track your filing deadlines, and handle the annual submission. Renewal pricing is typically lower than the initial filing since the account is already configured.

Is this service available nationwide?

Yes. We file in every jurisdiction that has energy benchmarking requirements. Since the work is primarily data collection and online filing, we can serve clients in any U.S. city from our office. We stay current on ordinance changes across all jurisdictions.

What if my building scores poorly?

A low score doesn't trigger additional penalties in most jurisdictions—the requirement is to benchmark and report, not to achieve a specific score. However, we can provide recommendations for improving your score and connect you with energy efficiency consultants if you want to improve performance.

All services

ECAD Compliance & Energy Benchmarking

We File It. You Don't Touch Portfolio Manager.

We handle the entire ECAD compliance process — utility data collection, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager setup, data entry, and municipal filing. You provide account numbers. We do the rest.

Request this service (737) 510-6116

Timeline

5–10 business days standard, rush available for approaching deadlines

Service Type

ecad compliance

Coverage

Nationwide (All 50 States)

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The Problem

Your city's energy benchmarking deadline is approaching and you haven't started. You need to collect utility data from multiple providers, set up ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, enter 12 months of consumption data, and file with the municipality — all while managing your actual properties. Miss the deadline and fines start stacking every month.

What We Do About It

We take it off your plate completely. Utility data collected, Portfolio Manager configured, data entered, filing submitted, confirmation in your inbox. You never log into ENERGY STAR. You never call a utility company. You never think about it again until we send you the confirmation.

Who this is for

Commercial property owners with buildings over 25,000 square feet
Property management companies handling multiple building portfolios
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) with municipal filing obligations
Building owners in cities with energy benchmarking ordinances
Facility managers responsible for sustainability compliance

How it works

Property Assessment

We review your property details, identify all utility accounts, and determine which municipal filing requirements apply to your building.

Data Collection & Entry

We contact utility providers, collect 12+ months of consumption data, set up your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account, and enter all data accurately.

Filing & Verification

We complete the municipal filing, verify acceptance, and provide you with confirmation documentation and your energy performance score.

What you get

End-to-end filing management—no utility calls for you

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager setup and management

Multi-property portfolio support with volume discounts

Deadline tracking and proactive filing reminders

Penalty avoidance through timely compliance

Energy performance scoring and reporting

The full picture

Energy benchmarking requirements are expanding across the United States as municipalities adopt climate action plans. What started in a handful of major cities now affects commercial property owners in over 40 jurisdictions, with more being added each year.

The compliance process involves collecting 12 or more months of utility consumption data, entering it into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and filing with the appropriate municipal authority before the annual deadline. While conceptually straightforward, the practical challenges are significant.

Utility data collection alone can take weeks. Each utility provider has its own process for releasing consumption data, and buildings with multiple meters, shared utilities, or tenant-paid accounts add layers of complexity. Many property owners underestimate the time required and find themselves scrambling as deadlines approach.

Risk & Compliance Bureau streamlines this entire process. Our team has filed hundreds of benchmarking reports across multiple jurisdictions and understands the nuances of each municipality's requirements. We know which utilities offer auto-upload, which require manual data requests, and how to navigate the common obstacles that delay filings.

Beyond simple compliance, energy benchmarking data provides valuable insights into building performance. Properties with high energy scores command premium rents and sale prices. Understanding your building's energy profile is increasingly important in a market where tenants and investors are paying attention to sustainability metrics.

Questions

Ready to get this handled?

Tell us what you are dealing with. We will scope it, quote it, and get it done.

Start a conversation (737) 510-6116