New Jersey's mandatory building benchmarking law requires commercial property owners with buildings over 25,000 sq ft to report annual energy and water usage.
In an effort to increase transparency and drive energy efficiency across the state, New Jersey has implemented a mandatory building benchmarking law. For commercial building owners with properties over 25,000 square feet, this is not just about compliance—it is about understanding your asset performance and identifying hidden operational costs.
What is Benchmarking?
Benchmarking is the process of measuring a building energy and water use and comparing it to similar buildings or to its own past performance. By using tools like the EPA Portfolio Manager, owners receive an ENERGY STAR score from 1 to 100. This score acts as a miles per gallon rating for your building.
Key Requirements for 2026
- Property Scope: Commercial buildings over 25,000 square feet are required to report annual energy and water usage.
- Reporting Deadline: Data must be submitted through the NJDEP portal annually to avoid non-compliance penalties.
- Data Verification: Ensuring your utility data is accurate is critical, as these scores may be made public, influencing property values and tenant attraction.
The NJCELC Advantage
Navigating the data collection process can be daunting. The NJ Clean Energy Learning Center provides specific modules on how to use Portfolio Manager and how to interpret your results to make informed upgrade decisions. By mastering benchmarking, owners can identify low-cost improvements that yield immediate ROI.
Ready to start your reporting? Visit the NJ Clean Energy Learning Center Nonresidential portal to access our step-by-step guides and learning modules.