Skip to main content

Building Energy Programs

Building Energy Performance Program

The Building Energy Performance Policy, sometimes called “building tune-ups,” aims to achieve more efficient energy and water use in large non-residential buildings.

Jump to:


 

About

The Building Energy Performance Program (BEPP) was created through the Building Energy Performance Policy. It’s sometimes called “building tune-ups,” and it aims to achieve more efficient energy and water use in the largest non-residential buildings in Philadelphia.

Like cars, buildings need occasional tune-ups to keep them running smoothly and efficiently. A building tune-up requires a review of energy systems and controls followed by minor tweaks to bring them up to a good state of performance. On average, these tweaks result in 10–15% annual energy savings for a building. They also provide a more comfortable space for tenants.

We estimate that this policy will cut carbon pollution in Philadelphia by nearly 200,000 metric tons. This reduction is equivalent to taking 40,000 automobiles off our roads.

Get support

To get notifications when new resources are posted, sign up for our newsletter.

To get help or ask questions, email TuneUps@phila.gov.


Eligibility and process

Eligibility

Non-residential buildings with at least 50,000 square feet of indoor floor space must comply with the policy.

The compliance deadline for your building depends on its exact size. See the timeline for specific compliance deadlines.

Exemptions

Some buildings are exempt from the policy if they meet certain criteria. For example, a building is exempt if it is scheduled to be demolished within one year of its tune-up deadline. Learn more about the criteria and how to file for an exemption.


Process

Building owners have three options for compliance. You can:

  • Conduct a tune-up of existing building systems.
  • Certify high performance.
  • Receive an exemption.

If conducting tune-ups, you must hire an approved tune-up specialist to lead your building system assessment and sign off on tune-up reports. Tune-up specialists must:

  • Have a Professional Engineer (PE) or Certified Energy Manager (CEM) license.
  • Have seven years of related education and experience.
  • Submit an application to the Office of Sustainability.

Building operators and tune-up specialists work together to completely and accurately fill out a Tune-Up Workbook. Then, building operators must submit the workbook to the Office of Sustainability before the compliance deadline. You should plan to repeat this process and submit a Tune-Up Workbook to the City every five years.



Top