Buildings in Washington, DC between 10,000 and 25,000 square feet are now required to benchmark and report energy and water use on an annual basis to the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE).
This expansion of the District’s Building Energy Benchmarking program brings hundreds of additional properties into compliance obligations—and creates a new, recurring reporting requirement for many owners and property managers who were previously exempt.
At Honeydew Energy Advisors, we currently benchmark over 1,000 building accounts across the region and maintain a strong, collaborative working relationship with DOEE. We are widely regarded as the region’s foremost provider of professional benchmarking services.
Who Is Now Required to Benchmark?
If your building is located in Washington, DC and is:
- 10,000 – 25,000 gross square feet, and
- Not otherwise exempt under DOEE rules. Typically only buildings experiencing significant financial distress, vacancy, or major construction are exempt. Restaurants and most industrial plants are also exempt..
Reporting Deadline
Buildings must report the prior calendar year’s data by:
May 1 of each year
For example:
2025 calendar year data must be submitted by May 1, 2026.
What Must Be Submitted to DOEE
To comply, building owners (or their authorized agents) must submit a complete benchmarking report using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager that includes:
- Whole-building electricity, gas, and other fuel use
- Water consumption data
- Tenant energy data If you do not have access to tenant utility data, Honeydew Energy Advisors is able to collect aggregated usage data on your behalf.
- Accurate building characteristics and occupancy information
All data must be reviewed for completeness and accuracy prior to submission. Incomplete or partially populated reports are treated as non-compliant.
Penalties for Noncompliance
DOEE actively enforces benchmarking requirements.
Failure to submit a compliant benchmarking report by the May 1 deadline may result in a monetary penalty of $100/day of being out of compliance.
For many owners, the most common compliance failures occur due to missing tenant data, incorrect utility aggregation, or last-minute access issues with Portfolio Manager.
Why Work with Honeydew Energy Advisors
Honeydew Energy Advisors is the trusted benchmarking partner for owners, operators, and property managers throughout the DC-Maryland-Virginia region.
Today, we manage and maintain more than 1,000 active benchmarking accounts, spanning:
- Multifamily and condominium portfolios
- Office and mixed-use properties
- Institutional and nonprofit facilities
Our team offers:
- Full-service benchmarking and submission
- Utility and tenant data coordination
- Data quality control and error resolution
- Direct coordination with DOEE on compliance questions
- Ongoing account management inside Portfolio Manager
Because of our long-standing and highly collaborative relationship with DOEE, we are able to resolve issues quickly and ensure submissions meet regulatory expectations—reducing risk and administrative burden for building owners.
The Bottom Line
If your building is between 10,000 and 25,000 square feet in Washington, DC, annual benchmarking is now mandatory. Your first required submission will be:
2025 data, due May 1, 2026.
With enforcement and penalties in place, early preparation and proper data management are essential.
Ready to Comply?
If you are unsure whether your building is covered, or would like Honeydew to manage your benchmarking and reporting going forward, contact our team today.