Revolutionizing Energy Star Management for Building Owners and Property Teams

Introduction

In the landscape of property and portfolio management, efficiency and data accuracy are essential components that drive effective operations. However, one such operational area that presents challenges is Energy Star score management. To date, this challenge has been lower on the priority list of real-estate operators, but with a rapid acceleration of energy compliance laws and benchmarking requests from tenants and investors, this problem can no longer be ignored. 

At Backpack, we have developed an innovative solution transforming the way building owners and property teams navigate this realm. In this article, we'll explore three ways Backpack has been instrumental in enhancing Energy Star management for buildings that utilize the Backpack solution.

1. Identifying and rectifying data inaccuracies

Data inaccuracies can cause compliance issues, misrepresentations, and inefficiencies. Backpack has come to the forefront in aiding buildings to identify these inaccuracies and correct them.

One of our client’s buildings experienced the potential negative consequences of data inaccuracies firsthand. The building had achieved and sustained Energy Star certification through 2019, until they encountered a drop in their score that cost them this designation. During their engagement with Backpack, we gathered and curated a refreshed data set that comprehensively captured their building’s energy consumption and usage metrics. By comparing their legacy data submissions to Energy Star against the refreshed data in Backpack, we quickly observed data inaccuracies concerning office space occupancy and number of workers, which had been negatively influencing their Energy Star score. 

Backpack updated their spaces to accurately represent their stacking plan, which reduced their occupied office space, and increased their number of workers using information collected during our site visit. These corrective measures enabled the building to once again attain its eligibility for Energy Star certification. 

A streamlined system of record like Backpack instills continuous confidence in building data integrity so that all buildings can sustain energy compliance.

2. Reducing consulting costs through data automation and compliance reporting

Historically, many building owners relied heavily on consultants for Energy Star management, which can incur substantial costs. Backpack mitigates these costs by introducing streamlined data collection, automations, and compliance reporting tools.

One Backpack client who owns a large portfolio of buildings observed that their property management teams had been paying Energy Star management consulting fees up to $3,500 annually per building. Despite the consulting assistance, property teams still needed to contribute an average of 6 hours of time per year per building.

Engaging with Backpack reduced consulting costs by roughly 50% per building and reduced property team administrative time  from 6 hours to 2 hours per year.

 

"The new platform has revolutionized our energy star management practices. We no longer rely on third-party consultants for data entry and verification in Energy Star Portfolio Manager. It has saved us significant time and costs, while providing us with accurate and reliable data. We now have full control and confidence in managing our energy efficiency initiatives."

- As paraphrased by a CRE Office Asset Manager for a Regional Ownership Group

 

3. Keeping buildings updated on local, state, and federal regulations

The energy regulatory landscape is ever-evolving and expanding. Keeping pace with regulations, especially on multiple jurisdictional levels, can be daunting. Backpack's solution continuously updates its system with the latest local, state, and federal regulations to help building operators keep track of these diverse requirements.

For example, a Backpack client whose buildings are subject to local and state-level regulatory changes through the Energize Denver and Colorado Building Performance initiatives needed assistance navigating these new compliance requirements. Backpack helped the client's three property management groups who oversee 24 buildings in Colorado, 17 of them in the Denver jurisdiction. 

When new compliance requirements came out, Backpack provided clarity on requirements and timeframes to meet them. For Energize Denver in particular, Backpack identified future targets and potential fines for all property types. As an added benefit of the engagement, Backpack’s software solution also provided automated data submissions on behalf of the property team to meet reporting obligations that would otherwise demand hours of property team resources for each building per year. 

Information and speed, along with the ability to reduce property management's time spent on compliance reporting compelled these property teams to leverage Backpack across all of their Colorado properties. This enables them to stay informed, prepared, and compliant, negating potential pitfalls or penalties due to outdated information.

Conclusion

Building energy management, with its complexities and ever-changing regulations, demands innovative solutions that not only simplify processes but also ensure accuracy and compliance. Backpack, with its suite of advanced tools, has proven to be an invaluable asset for building owners and property teams. From ensuring data integrity to slashing consulting costs, its impact is profound, positioning properties for a sustainable and compliant future.  

Get in touch with us today if you'd like to learn more about how Backpack can improve Energy Star management for your building while reducing costs.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHT

Automated, audit-ready Energy Star and compliance reporting

• Visibility of compliance requirements mapped to your portfolio
• All required compliance data stored, managed, and submitted
• Automated Energy Star portfolio account management and compliance submissions