How to complete an Annual Energy Benchmark Summary
Step 1: Create a building profile in Portfolio Manager
Step 2: Obtain and input energy data
Step 3: Identify your parcel(s)
Step 4: Open the Energy Benchmark Summary template
Step 5: Send data to SF Environment
Step 6: If the data is complete and accurate, the Cannabis Business and Office of Cannabis will receive a confirmation from SF Department of Environment. If data is incomplete, you will receive a notice identifying what follow-up is required.
An Annual Energy Benchmark Summary is required annually for any Cannabis Business that was in operation for the entire previous calendar year (for example, from January 2020 through December 2020). Cannabis Businesses that were not in operation for the entire previous calendar year, such as any new applications for Cannabis Business permit, are not required to submit an Annual Energy Benchmark Summary until March 1 following one full calendar year of operation.
You will need to access the information from your monthly energy bill in order to generate the report. To add an Annual Energy Benchmark Summary to your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Account reporting link, please use:
- 2023: https://bit.ly/cannabis_annual_benchmark_2023
- 2022: https://bit.ly/cannabis_annual_benchmark_2022
- 2021: https://bit.ly/cannabis_annual_benchmark_2021
This link will add a reporting template to an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account of a Cannabis Business owner or authorized agent, to disclose energy consumption or “benchmark energy use” as required by Cannabis Business permit regulations. The Annual Energy Benchmark Summary always collects information about energy consumption in the previous calendar year.
If you have already set up an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account please use the following link to comply with the 2022 Energy Benchmark:
Register an account in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (Energy Star), then log in and create a profile for your building. You must describe the entire building – all spaces.
All energy use from all energy meters must be reported, including electric and gas if applicable as well as any energy generated on-site which is supplied to the cannabis business. After your Portfolio Manager account is set up, please input the monthly energy use data from your utility bills.
PG&E customers (including CleanPowerSF customers): To avoid confusion or disruption to benchmarking the entire building, it is recommended that Cannabis Businesses avoid the use of PG&E Benchmarking Portal. Please enter utility data by hand. Though PG&E has a service which uploads utility data to Portfolio Manager, a meter can only be associated with a single Portfolio Manager account, and separate laws require the building owner to benchmark the entire building. Please leave the PG&E data upload service to the building owner or owner’s representative
Exception: If the Cannabis Business occupies the entire building, and is responsible for all energy use (common area and tenant), SF Environment Code Chapter 20 requires the entire building to be benchmarked and to report energy use to the Environment Department; in this case, the Cannabis Business may provide the same report to the Office of Cannabis (and PG&E’s ‘automated service’ may be used).
Back to topStep 3: Identify your parcel(s)
Add the Assessor Parcel Number (APN – also known as the block/lot number) to Portfolio Manager’s "San Francisco Building ID" field for each of your buildings:
- To look up Assessor Parcel Number(s), use the City’s Property Information Map (SF Planning)
- To add APN(s) to the San Francisco Building ID field in Portfolio Manager (Energy Star):
- Go to the My Portfolio tab and click on the property name.
- In the secondary gray set of tabs, select Details.
- In the second box on the left, Unique Identifiers (IDs), click Edit.
- In the Standard IDs dropdown, select San Francisco Building ID.
- Enter the Assessor Parcel Number(s) in the ID field. For example, the San Francisco Building ID for 1 South Van Ness Ave is: 3506/001.
- Click Save.
An Annual Energy Benchmark Summary is required every year provided the Cannabis Business was in business for the entire previous calendar year.
Option 1: Load a report template for the first time
- Click the link:
- Login to Portfolio Manager.
Option 2: Return to a template you've previously loaded
- Login to Portfolio Manager (Energy Star).
- From “My Portfolio” click on the "Reporting" tab at the top.
- Find the report that you want to generate, and in the "Action" dropdown, select "Respond to Data Request."
Step 5: Send data to SF Environment
- From the "Reporting" tab in Portfolio Manager, click the dropdown menu for the report whose data you have just verified, and select "Send Response."
- Enter the necessary information on the following page and click "E-Sign Response."
- Once you see the green check mark, click "Send Data," then "Continue" in the pop-up.
- You will receive follow-up from SF Environment once we have reviewed your submittal. SF Environment will either indicate your report is complete or identify what is needed.
Step 6: Confirmation or Follow Up Required
If the data is complete and accurate, the Cannabis Business and Office of Cannabis will receive a confirmation by email from SF Department of Environment. If data is incomplete, you will receive an email notice identifying what follow-up is required.
Back to topLinks
San Francisco’s Other Benchmarking Requirements
- Overview of the Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance
- Environment Code Chapter 20
- Options for training and professional help
EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
Back to topWaiver Request
If you believe that your business is eligible for a waiver to the Renewable Energy Requirements, please review sections (f)-(i) under this OOC regulations on Renewable Energy Requirements.
Updated: 12/12/2023
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