New Jersey joins an increasing number of states and municipalities across the United States in establishing benchmarking programs to measure the energy and water performance of buildings. New Jersey’s Clean Energy Act of 2018 states the following:

No later than five years after the date of enactment of P.L. 2018, c.17 (C.48:3-87.8 et al.), the board shall require the owner or operator of each commercial building over 25,000 square feet in the State to benchmark energy and water use for the prior calendar year using the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Portfolio Manager tool.

Following stakeholder input, intensive research and design based on best practices, and expert guidance, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“Board” or “BPU”) approved a benchmarking program for large commercial buildings on September 7, 2022. Commercial buildings over 25,000 square feet will be required to benchmark their energy and water usage annually, beginning in 2023. This website will be updated regularly to reflect program developments ahead of the first benchmarking deadline of October 1, 2023.

BPU held a public stakeholder meeting on January 5, 2023 on the “Procedures for Building Owners to Meet Their Benchmarking Obligations”:  webinar and slides.