San Francisco's Existing Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance (EBEPO) requires annual energy benchmarking and periodic audits for buildings over 10,000 square feet to cut energy use and emissions. This guide explains requirements and how to cut costs while improving performance.
San Francisco continues to lead in urban climate policy with its Existing Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance (EBEPO), a citywide mandate designed to improve energy efficiency and transparency across the commercial building sector. Originally adopted in 2011 and updated in 2021, the ordinance supports San Francisco’s broader climate goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development.
For commercial building owners, understanding the details of this ordinance is essential. The EBEPO requires annual benchmarking of energy usage, periodic energy audits, and targeted improvements to boost building efficiency and performance.
A Building Performance Standard (BPS) is a set of legal requirements that mandates energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings over time. These standards are not optional—they’re enforceable by law and require action from building owners.
In San Francisco, BPS policies are implemented through benchmarking, performance assessments, and audit requirements that ensure buildings are operating efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.
The EBEPO outlines specific requirements that commercial building owners must follow to remain compliant:
The EBEPO applies to non-residential buildings over 10,000 square feet, which includes:
Owners of these properties are required to benchmark energy use and submit their reports yearly. Buildings larger than 50,000 square feet must also complete energy audits and retro-commissioning every five years.
The cornerstone of the EBEPO is annual energy benchmarking, which provides transparency and enables data-driven decisions.
This process not only ensures compliance but also helps identify areas for cost-saving improvements.
For buildings 50,000 square feet and larger, the ordinance requires an Energy Efficiency Audit and Retro-Commissioning every five years.
These efforts reveal inefficiencies and provide actionable recommendations for improvements.
San Francisco mandates that buildings not only benchmark energy use but also disclose their performance. This promotes accountability and aligns with the city’s sustainability goals.
Audit and benchmarking results may highlight the need for system upgrades, such as:
Making these improvements can reduce energy costs and boost performance scores, aiding in compliance and long-term savings.
Energy-efficient buildings are less expensive to operate. Through audits and upgrades, owners can uncover and resolve inefficiencies that drive up utility bills.
Compliant buildings may be eligible for:
Failure to comply with San Francisco’s energy ordinance can result in:
Timely compliance helps businesses avoid these risks.
Energy-efficient buildings attract tenants, investors, and buyers. Public benchmarking disclosure means better-performing buildings enjoy increased market value and stronger brand reputation.
Audits and retro-commissioning can be costly, especially for large buildings. However, businesses can:
The benchmarking and audit reporting process can be complex. To simplify it, building owners can:
Audits may reveal outdated equipment or systems in need of overhaul. It’s important to:
San Francisco’s Existing Buildings Ordinance is reshaping how businesses manage energy use. To remain compliant, commercial property owners should:
By taking a proactive approach, businesses can improve building performance, reduce costs, and contribute to a greener San Francisco.
We deliver innovative energy management, demand response, and building automation solutions to enterprise, manufacturing, industrial, healthcare, hospitality, K-12, and higher education sectors across the United States and globally.
©2026 InTech Energy, Inc. DBA Sanalife. All rights reserved. Various trademarks held by their respective owners.
