California Energy Benchmarking (AB 802) for Multifamily Buildings
Who has to report, when it is due, which cities add their own rules, and how to use the score to decide where a retrofit should start.
- California multifamily only
- Owner and manager inquiries
- Incentive check included
- Free, no-obligation assessment
Who must report
California's Building Energy Benchmarking Program comes from Assembly Bill 802 and is run by the California Energy Commission (CEC). For multifamily buildings, it covers properties that have:
- more than 50,000 square feet of gross floor area, and
- 17 or more residential utility accounts.
Buildings with 1 to 16 residential utility accounts are not covered by the statewide program.
Sources: CEC Building Energy Benchmarking Program; Roseville Electric Utility AB 802 summary. Last checked . Program rules can change; confirm them on the CEC page before you rely on them.
The annual deadline
Covered owners report each year by June 1. Some reported data is made public after the first reporting year.
If residents pay their own utility bills, you can still get whole-building data: AB 802 requires utilities to provide aggregated building energy use to owners of covered buildings on request.
Local ordinances
Several California cities have their own benchmarking or building performance ordinances. They can cover smaller buildings than the state program, set different dates or require audits. Check each city that applies to your portfolio.
| City | Ordinance | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Existing Buildings Energy and Water Efficiency (EBEWE) | LADBS EBEWE program |
| Berkeley | Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) | City of Berkeley BESO |
San Francisco, San José and other cities have their own ordinances too. Check the website of each city where you own a covered building.
Reading the score
Benchmarking uses ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Two numbers matter most:
- ENERGY STAR score: a 1 to 100 rating against similar buildings nationwide, for eligible property types. A score of 50 is median performance; 75 or higher marks a top performer. (EPA: how the score is calculated)
- Energy use intensity (EUI): energy use per square foot per year. Comparing EUI across your own buildings shows which ones use the most for their size.
A low score or high EUI tells you where to look, not what to fix. The next step is a site assessment of the heating and cooling equipment, envelope, lighting and controls.
Prioritizing a portfolio
A portfolio needs a decision order, not one equipment specification repeated at every address. Give each building a record of urgency, readiness and open questions.
| Area | Trigger | Question to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Heating and cooling | Failing equipment, comfort complaints, no cooling | Is a heat pump physically and electrically feasible in each unit? |
| Envelope | High EUI, drafts, roof or window replacement due | Should envelope work come before equipment is sized? |
| Lighting and controls | Older common-area lighting, no central controls | Is this a quick first project while larger work is planned? |
| Electrical service | Several planned electric loads | Which projects depend on utility work? |
Keep a working file for each building:
- Benchmarking reports, utility bills and any audit.
- Equipment list with approximate ages and known problems.
- Planned capital work that could share access or scaffolding.
- Approvals needed, budget limits and any regulatory agreements.
For a building that needs several measures, see deep energy retrofits. For heating and cooling, see heat pump HVAC retrofits. For funding, see the program directory.
Have a score you want to improve?
Send the buildings and their reports. We will help pick the first project.
Questions before you begin
Does my apartment building have to benchmark?
Under the statewide program, multifamily buildings over 50,000 square feet of gross floor area with 17 or more residential utility accounts must report. Smaller buildings may still be covered by a city ordinance. Check the California Energy Commission page and your city.
When is the California benchmarking report due?
The statewide report is due each year by June 1. City ordinances can set their own dates, so check each one that applies.
Where do I get whole-building energy data if residents pay their own bills?
AB 802 requires utilities to provide building-level energy use data to owners of covered buildings on request. Ask each utility that serves the building.
Does benchmarking require me to do a retrofit?
The statewide program is a reporting requirement. Some city ordinances add audits or other actions. Either way, the report is useful data for deciding what to fix first.
Do you file benchmarking reports?
No. We help owners turn the data into a retrofit plan and connect them with a qualified contractor. For filing, use the CEC instructions or a reporting service.
Free, no-obligation assessment
Request a free assessment
The assessment is free and comes with no obligation. Tell us about the buildings and the upgrades you are weighing; two short steps, and engineering records can come later.
- 1. Property
- 2. Location and contact