The first step to making a building more efficient is to understand how much energy it uses and how its usage compares with that of similar buildings. Therefore, the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan (GGBP) requires owners of large buildings to annually measure their energy consumption in a process called benchmarking. Local Law 84 (LL84), the first law in GGBP, standardizes this process and captures information with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) free online benchmarking tool called Portfolio Manager. LL84 will give building owners and potential buyers a better understanding of a building's energy and water consumption, eventually shifting the market towards increasingly efficient, high-performing buildings.

In summary, LL84's annual benchmarking process requires the following:

1. Determine if a building needs to comply by checking the Covered Building List.

2. Measure the building's energy and water use with an online benchmarking tool.

3. Submit usage data online annually to the City by May 1.

LL84 has quarterly deadlines if the May 1 deadline is missed; May 1, August 1, November 1 and February 1. If you have not submitted your 2012 benchmarking report by the last quarterly deadline of February 1, 2014, be sure to submit as soon as possible to clear the violation, and be sure to pay the $500 fine.