City of Philadelphia Building Energy Performance Regulation

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The City of Philadelphia recently implemented regulations pertaining to the Building Energy Performance Policy. The goal of the Policy is to increase tenant comfort while decreasing energy costs and carbon emissions. The City anticipates implementation of the Policy will reduce carbon pollution by nearly 200,000 metric tons. The policy does not require specific levels of efficiency or energy usage, but rather focuses on improving building performance by identifying non-capital improvements to the operations and maintenance of existing systems. Industrial processes or specialized equipment are excluded.

Who is impacted?

Owners of any non-residential building with indoor floor space of at least 50,000 square feet of floor space.

  • Mixed-use buildings in any mixed-use zoning classification with non-residential use greater than 50,000 square feet.

  • Industrial and manufacturing facilities.

  • Temporary lodgings, including hotels, motels, and short-term rental.

  • Large portfolios include 20 or more covered buildings or cumulative floor area in covered buildings of 5,000,000 SF or more.

Who is not included?

  • Residence halls, dormitories and other non-transient large lodging places.

  • Parking lots and parking garages, or the portions of otherwise covered buildings used for parking.


What is the Timeline?

Building Size Square Footage - Compliance Date
>200,000 SF - September 30, 2021 (COVID-19 extension application available)
100,000 - 200,000 SF - September 30, 2022
70,000 - 100,000 SF - September 30, 2023
50,000 - 70,000 SF - September 30, 2024
Large Portfolios - January 24, 2021
20 or more covered buildings or cumulative floor area in covered buildings of 5,000,000 SF or more qualify as large portfolios and have options to submit a compliance plan that details when buildings will comply across the cycle.

How do I comply?

Buildings must comply every 5 years from their compliance date.

  • Conduct a tune-up

  • Apply for an exemption

  • Demonstrate your building meets a high-performance option

  • Received initial certificate of occupancy within 3 years of the scheduled tune-up.

  • Building is scheduled to be demolished within one year of the Scheduled tune-up.

What is a building tune-up?

The Building Tune-Up is an assessment of existing base building systems and corrective actions to bring the systems up to a state of good repair.

The assessment includes all systems of the building that use energy or impact energy consumption.

  • HVAC Operations and Controls

  • Lighting System Assessment

  • Building System Maintenance and Repairs

  • Domestic Hot Water and Water Usage

  • Building Envelope

What will the tune-up include?

  • Billing analysis.

  • Assessment of Elements: HVAC Operations and Controls, Lighting System Assessment, Building System Maintenance and Repairs, Domestic Hot Water and Water Usage, and Building Envelope

  • Determination and Implementation of Corrective Actions

  • Post implementation assessment

  • Final Tune-up Report

Who can perform the inspection?

A qualified tune-up specialist is a licensed Professional Engineer or Certified Energy Manager with at least 7 years of experience. This specialist must be a third-party to the building (unless a large portfolio).

In-house or contracted service providers may complete the corrective actions, however, the final tune-up report must be verified and signed by the qualified tune-up specialist.

Large Portfolios have the option to use in-house staff as their tune-up specialists, but are required to hire a third-party

Resources:
Final Legislation
City of Philadelphia Resource Page


Where Here to Help:

Practical Energy Solutions
a Division of Spotts, Stevens and McCoy

Paul Spiegel, PE, LEED AP
paul.spiegel@ssmgroup.com