Building Energy Efficiency Program Approved in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has renewed its efforts to improve energy efficiency in non-residential building to contribute to its Paris Climate Agreement commitment.

1 minute read

December 13, 2019, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Philadelphia City Hall

4kclips / Shutterstock

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed two pieces of environmental legislation this week, in support of the city's Paris Climate Agreement goals to reduce carbon emissions by 25 percent by 2025.

"The first piece of legislation creates a Building Energy Performance Program requiring non-residential buildings 50,000 square feet or larger — about 2,000 buildings — to undergo a high-energy performance inspection, submit a certification to the Office of Sustainability and conduct recommended "tune ups," or retrocommissioning," reports Katie Pyzyk.

The legislation was approved the same week as the release of the city's latest energy benchmarking report [pdf]. "The benchmarking report shows that Philadelphia's buildings experienced a 12% drop in greenhouse gas emissions and 5% decrease in energy use since 2013," according to Pyzyk.

Thursday, December 12, 2019 in Smart Cities Dive

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