Commercial Building Energy Benchmarking.

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Welcome to NW Natural's Energy Benchmarking page for commercial building owners and managers. Below, you will find instructions on how to request your natural gas use.

City of Portland

City of Portland Energy Performance Reporting

To reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, the City of Portland requires commercial buildings over 20,000 square feet to track their energy performance with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and report it to the city on an annual basis.

For more information, please visit Bureau of Planning and Sustainability's website on Energy Performance Reporting.

Requesting natural gas usage data

STEP 1
Prepare to complete the Natural Gas Usage Request Form.
You will have to input the meter number for each natural gas meter servicing your property. In most cases, this information can be found on your monthly bill, or on the meter itself. Click here for images of meters (4 images). If tenants within your property are billed separately for natural gas service, meter numbers will have to be supplied for those meters, as well.
Property owners with 1-4 tenants must submit a signed Tenant Data Release Form from each tenant in order for NW Natural to release their natural gas usage information.
If five or more tenants occupy the property, or if the property is owner-operated, release forms are not necessary but all the tenants meter numbers are still required.
Within the Natural Gas Usage Request Form, you will be asked to review and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
STEP 2
Complete and submit the Natural Gas Usage Request Form and Tenant Release Form.
CLICK HERE to download your Natural Gas Usage Request Form.
CLICK HERE to download the Tenant Release Form.
Once you complete these forms, save them to your desktop and email them to BenchmarkingBuildings@nwnatural.com. 
STEP 3
Wait for your data request to be processed.
NW Natural will process and provide monthly whole-building historic natural gas use for the meter numbers submitted in your Natural Gas Usage Request Form for the year requested.
Once your Natural Gas Usage Request Form has been completed and submitted, it may take up to 45 days before the data is ready, depending on the number of requests in the queue.
STEP 4
Receive your natural gas usage.
When your NW Natural data is ready, you will receive an email from BenchmarkingBuildings@nwnatural.com with a spreadsheet containing monthly whole-building usage data.
If we need additional information from you, we will let you know as soon as possible. 

Obtain Your Portfolio Manager Score

To obtain a Portfolio Manager score, additional data for the building is required (electricity, water usage and other building information). Please login to your Portfolio Manager account for complete benchmarking data requirements. Questions regarding Portfolio Manager should be directed to the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

Improve your Portfolio Manager Score by reducing energy usage

Upgrading the energy efficiency of your building could help to improve your Portfolio Manager Score. NW Natural offers technical expertise and cash incentives for energy efficiency upgrades. For more information, email your request to BenchmarkingBuildings@nwnatural.com.
All questions related to the City of Portland's Energy Performance Reporting for Commercial Buildings should be directed via email to energyreporting@portlandoregon.gov.
Washington State

Washington Clean Buildings Program

The Clean Building’s bill was signed into law to lower costs and pollution from fossil fuel consumption. Commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet will be required to benchmark their building using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and meet an Energy Use Intensity Target. For information regarding the reporting requirements and the early adopter incentive program please visit Washington State Department of Commerce and Clean Buildings.

Requesting natural gas usage data

STEP 1
Prepare to complete the Natural Gas Usage Request Form.
You will have to input the meter number for each natural gas meter servicing your property. In most cases, this information can be found on your monthly bill, or on the meter itself. Click here for images of meters (4 images). If tenants within your property are billed separately for natural gas service, meter numbers will have to be supplied for those meters, as well.
Property owners with 1-4 tenants must submit a signed Tenant Data Release Form from each tenant in order for NW Natural to release their natural gas usage information.
If five or more tenants occupy the property, or if the property is owner-operated, release forms are not necessary but all the tenants meter numbers are still required.
Within the Natural Gas Usage Request Form, you will be asked to review and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
STEP 2
Complete and submit the Natural Gas Usage Request Form and Tenant Release Form .
CLICK HERE to download your Natural Gas Usage Request Form.
CLICK HERE to download the Tenant Release Form.
Once you complete these forms, save them to your desktop and email them to BenchmarkingBuildings@nwnatural.com. 
STEP 3
Wait for your data request to be processed.
NW Natural will process and provide monthly whole-building historic natural gas use for the meter numbers submitted in your Natural Gas Usage Request Form for the year requested.
Once your Natural Gas Usage Request Form has been completed and submitted, it may take up to 45 days before the data is ready, depending on the number of requests in the queue.
STEP 4
Receive your natural gas usage.
When your NW Natural data is ready, you will receive an email from BenchmarkingBuildings@nwnatural.com with a spreadsheet containing monthly whole-building usage data.
If we need additional information from you, we will let you know as soon as possible. 

FAQ City of Portland Energy Benchmarking Process

FAQ Washington Clean Buildings Program