How to Interpret Your Rating
Portfolio Manager Reporting Option
The Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager gives you a Site Energy Use Intensity and/or Energy Performance Rating score.
- Energy Use Intensity (EUI) indicates the building’s energy use per square foot (kBtu/sf) per year. A lower score indicates a more efficient building.
- The Energy Performance Rating score is a number from 1 to 100 where 100 is the best score that compares to similar buildings. A higher score indicates a more efficient building.
The Austin City Council has set the following voluntary goals to help you interpret your energy rating:
| If Your ENERGY STAR Rating Is... | You Should... |
| 75 or higher | Apply for an ENERGY STAR label |
| 63-74 | Raise the score to at least 75 |
| 42-62 | Raise the score by 20% |
| Below 42 | Raise the score to 50 |
Austin on EPA’s Top Cities List of ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings
Commercial buildings that earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification must perform in the top 25% of similar buildings
nationwide. These buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% fewer carbon dioxide
emissions than typical buildings. They also cost less to operate and use nearly two times less energy per square foot
than average office buildings.
Read more about the ENERGY STAR Top Cities List
Alternate Reporting Option
The Key Code Reporting option is now available. Through this option, Austin Energy
calculates the energy use data for buildings, and asks owners to confirm this information using a key code.
Learn more about using the
Key Code Reporting option to comply with the ECAD ordinance
Austin Energy Can Help You Offset Cost of Improvements
While the ECAD ordinance does not require you to make energy efficiency improvements, Austin Energy provides commercial rebates and other incentives to help building owners make smart energy choices.
Contact Us
If you have not received information regarding the ECAD ordinance reporting process for commercial building owners, please call 512-482-5346 or email us for assistance.
Date last reviewed or modified: 01/12/2022