Consumers can now easily consider energy efficiency when making real estate decisions
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – MAY 26 – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (US DOE) and CoStar Group, Inc. announced a new partnership to display the energy data collected by cities like the District of Columbia in the CoStar Group’s real estate databases and online marketplaces. The CoStar Group, which is based in DC and employs more than 2,500 people, manages a suite of well-known online platforms for commercial and multifamily real estate.
District of Columbia law requires owners of private buildings over 50,000 gross square feet (approximately the size of the White House) to report their energy and water performance annually to DOEE. Until now, this data has only been available on DOEE’s Energy benchmarking page and on the District Open Data Portal. Beginning this summer, the data will be available on CoStar Group’s online marketplaces. Listings will include a property’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® score, whole-building source energy usage intensity, and annual greenhouse gas emissions (subject to the availability of the information for each building).
“This initiative will maximize the ability of DC’s innovative benchmarking laws to drive market-based demand for buildings that use less energy and produce fewer carbon emissions,” said Tommy Wells, Director of DC’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). “As the first jurisdiction in the nation to pass a benchmarking law, we recognize the importance of performance data as the foundation for all energy efficiency. Incorporating energy data into real estate listings will empower District citizens to make informed decisions around energy efficiency, as we work to reach our Sustainable DC goal of cutting citywide carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.”
“Now people can identify buildings that support a healthier environment and save them money on their utility bills,” Wells added.
DC and Chicago are the first two cities to have their building energy data displayed, with other applicable cities and counties to follow in Fall 2016. CoStar will also be exploring options to enable building owners and managers not covered by benchmarking laws to voluntarily make their energy-related information available for incorporation into these online marketplaces.
For more information about CoStar, visit http://www.costargroup.com/. For more information visit the District’s benchmarking program.
CONTACT: Julia Robey Christian, PIO, (202) 741-0842 desk, (202) 450-7878 cell, [email protected]