Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance for Owners of Commercial Buildings

The Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) ordinance requires City of Austin commercial buildings that receive electricity from Austin Energy to submit an energy benchmark rating to the City of Austin annually by June 1, with a start date scheduled as follows:

Note: The rating tool requires 12 months of utilities to calulate a benchmark rating. If your property does not have 12 months of utilities, reporting is still required.

Exemptions
The building does not need an energy rating if it is a manufacturing facility that receives a Texas Sales Tax Exemption from Texas Tax Code 151.317.

Definition of a Commercial Building
The ECAD ordinance defines a commercial building as one used for civic, commercial or industrial purposes that is not used for manufacturing.

Condominiums
Condominiums are not categorized as commercial buildings under this ordinance. Please consider them according to these guidelines:

• Individual owners of a single condominium must follow the ordinance requirements for single-family properties, unless an exemption exists.
• Owners of five or more units at a single property must follow the
  ordinance requirements for multi-family, unless an exemption exists.

Commercial Building Energy Rating Systems
If the building is not exempt, it will need a benchmark rating according to an Austin Energy-approved energy rating system.

The approved rating system:

• The Portfolio Manager rating tool from ENERGY STAR: Banks, Financial Institutions, Courthouses, Data Centera, Dormitories/Residence Halls, Hospitals (General Medical and Surgical), Hotels, Houses of Worship, K-12 schools, Medical Offices, Offices, Retail Stores, Parking Garages, Supermarkets, Swimming Pools and Warehouses.

Your Energy Rating
The energy evaluation online tool will give you a rating number, a single number between 1 and 100 which indicates the overall energy use of your building compared to similar buildings. Factors such as weather and operating hours are part of the calculation.

The Austin City Council has set the following voluntary goals to help you interpret your rating.

Rating your building and submitting the rating to Austin Energy is required by law. Improving your rating and making your building more efficient is voluntary. Rebates and tax credits can help you pay for improvements and lower your energy bills.

How to Report Your Building Rating
Starting in mid-January, 2012, a reporting system will be available for benchmarking 2011 energy use.  The Portfolio Manager software will allow you to send your rating (release your rating data) to Austin Energy.  Submissions prior to this date are not available.

Energy-Efficiency Improvements
The ECAD ordinance seeks to improve Austin’s energy efficiency. Although commercial building owners need only report the building’s energy use rating, improving energy efficiency can benefit the bottom line by lowering monthly energy bills. Austin Energy provides rebates and excellent commercial energy-efficiency offerings and special progams for small businessess to help building owners make energy-efficiency improvements.

Enforcement and Penalties
Non-compliance with the ECAD ordinance, Austin City Code, Chapter 6-7, is a Class C misdemeanor. Customers may report violations to the City of Austin Municipal Courts for review and action.

Get the latest Commercial ECAD news with email updates. Sign up now