Salt Lake City energy benchmarking, explained simply.
By Tyler Wayne, FMP · Working B2B HVAC Rep on the Wasatch Front · Updated October 2026
Salt Lake City's Elevate Buildings ordinance asks larger commercial buildings in the city to report their energy use every year through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. HVAC is usually the biggest piece of that energy use, so schedules, economizers and maintenance show up directly in your numbers. Always confirm the current rules and deadline on the city's page.
Who has to report
The ordinance applies to commercial buildings in Salt Lake City above a size threshold, generally 25,000 square feet and larger. Size thresholds and deadlines can change, so check Salt Lake City Sustainability for the current requirements before you rely on this page.
Buildings outside Salt Lake City limits, including most of Utah County, aren't covered by this city ordinance, though many owners benchmark anyway.
What you report
You enter the building's energy use, usually from utility bills, into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a free tool from the EPA. Portfolio Manager compares your building to similar buildings and can give many building types a 1 to 100 ENERGY STAR score.
Where HVAC fits in
- Schedules. Equipment running nights and weekends for an empty building is one of the most common sources of wasted energy.
- Economizers. A broken economizer can stop a unit from using free cooling on cool days, or let in too much cold air in winter.
- Maintenance. Dirty coils, loaded filters and worn belts all raise energy use.
- Boilers and chillers. Big central equipment running at the wrong setpoints adds up fast.
How to get ready
- Gather 12 months of utility data for the building.
- Set up or update the building in Portfolio Manager.
- Look at the score and the trend. If it's weak, start with schedules and maintenance before big projects.
Common questions
Which Salt Lake City buildings have to benchmark?
Generally commercial buildings of 25,000 square feet and larger within Salt Lake City limits, under the Elevate Buildings ordinance. Confirm the current threshold and deadline with the city.
What tool is used for benchmarking?
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a free online tool from the EPA.
Does this apply in Utah County?
The Salt Lake City ordinance only covers buildings within Salt Lake City limits.