Are you required to comply with LA’s EBEWE Program? Here’s how.
By Wendell Ewing
Division 97 of the Los Angles Municipal Code established the City of Los Angeles Existing Buildings Energy and Water Efficiency Program (EBEWE), which requires certain buildings to undergo energy and water efficiency audits, retro commissioning, and annual benchmarking of energy and water consumption.
Any building subject to this division shall undergo an energy audit and retro-commissioning of the base building systems. Energy audits required by this program must meet or exceed the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Guideline Level II conformance and shall be performed under the direct supervision of a California licensed engineer or architect.
Benchmarking for the EBEWE program is required for buildings in the City of Los Angeles, including existing buildings, that meet one of the following criteria:
- City‐owned buildings with a gross floor area of 7,500 square feet or more; or
- Privately owned building or a building owned by a local agency of the State with a gross floor area of 20,000 square feet or more.
A benchmarking report is to be provided using the Department of Energy platform Energy Star Portfolio Manager. ESPM is an online program developed and managed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Water audit and energy retro-commissioning shall be performed in accordance with industry standard practices, including ASHRAE Guideline 0.2 Commissioning Process for Existing Systems and Assemblies, also under the direct supervision of a California licensed engineer or architect. The retro-commissioning of the base building systems shall include, at minimum, the following:
- Heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) systems and controls
- Indoor lighting system and controls
- Water heating systems and
- Renewable energy systems
- Potable water distribution systems
- Landscape irrigation systems
- Water reuse systems
- Water features
We here at Verdical Group offer full commissioning and energy modeling services to ensure our clients adhere to California energy standards and sustainability goals. Our staff is fully capable of delivering our services to provide commissioning reports and energy benchmarking as it relates to the EBEWE program. To learn more, contact us at hello@verdicalgroup.com.
For more information on the EBEWE program, please visit https://www.ladbs.org/services/green-building-sustainability/existing-buildings-energy-water-efficiency-program
