FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(PHILADELPHIA) Thursday June 21, 2012 –Philadelphia City Council today passed Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown’s Energy Benchmarking Bill. The legislation, co-sponsored by Councilman James F. Kenney, establishes a system of benchmarking and reporting of energy and water usage data for non-residential buildings with 50,000 square feet or more. The bill will implement an online Citywide program where property owners, tenants, prospective purchasers, lessees and the public at large can compare energy and water usage among comparable buildings. Property owners will find out how their buildings stack up to comparable buildings providing the tools necessary to formulate best practices and discover savings. “Step by step, we are taking action to makePhiladelphiatheGreenestCityinAmerica,” said Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, Chair of City Council’s Committee on the Environment. “Passage of this bill checks off yet another significant item of the Mayor’s Greenworks Philadelphia Agenda and moves us that much closer toward our collective goal—a more sustainable city and planet for our kids.” Councilwoman Reynolds Brown has worked in concert with a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Building Owners and Managers Association of Philadelphia and PECO to ensure and gather input from all sides. Philadelphia now joins Austin,TX, New York,NY,San Francisco,CA,Seattle,WA and the District of Columbia, who have already passed energy benchmarking laws.
For additional information please contact the Chief of Staff, David Forde at (215) 686-3438
