[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6389447,"mediaKeyId","2113323-d9120f107280870a1f5f191dd666949e","parentId",2113323,"title","Ann Arbor releases first annual energy and water benchmarking report; compliance climbs but remains incomplete","audioSeconds",4819,"startMs",930000,"endMs",5749000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113323-d9120f107280870a1f5f191dd666949e&start=930&end=5749","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113323-d9120f107280870a1f5f191dd666949e/thumbnail_930000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6389447/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Ann-Arbor-releases-first-annual-energy-and-water-benchmarking-report-compliance-climbs-but-remains-incomplete","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389447-ca8e0fa9963b55c62dc97518a9d3dcb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191572&Signature=O6Q5nZ1cN~bs8qZLq98RNIW~7cKZ5KBO0rHTXoMl0m~2w0Tc6n5vcCWlj2STnXxBuDfyafYIkSn4JyOQSuE9QYXmOJcONXf-SiG13QzY9zChV28HCqA6pAk0ULVH-heaGvJkeHjDSf-XfF29vupVzvisdWeUxOtZWfKUg3X-nIlkt0WDG6dSu-SfX4JqC~clapqqHawa0VjYUI62Ku-W9rb~~YgttHjF883kqxvBOPIpc~8kXMoIHnqaCiwAfZH0-7QLI8naDyVTcZlVFjk45MRUtEVdMLt2ec6oW77ITOYXOLyQA49MKnRQiaWuCONRR8Iwo28Z61S7F09M84S0eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CTN Ann Arbor","date","2025-01-14T00:00:00Z","article","Connor Daley, energy coordinator for the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations, presented the City of Ann Arbor Energy and Water Benchmarking Annual Report at the Energy Commission meeting on Jan. 14, 2025. The report summarizes benchmarking participation, data accuracy, utility access and early performance trends for properties covered by the ordinance enacted in October 2021.

Daley told the commission that benchmarking targets are intended to support future programs and property-level decisions and that the program’s objective is outreach and data collection rather than punitive enforcement. \"When we're looking at building performance, we can't improve what we can't measure,\" Daley said.

The nut graf: benchmarking targets large commercial and multifamily buildings because buildings produce roughly two-thirds of local greenhouse gas emissions; a functioning, accurate data set is the first step to targeted policies or incentives.

Key findings in the presentation and report

- Compliance and participation: Daley reported compliance rose about tenfold through 2024, from roughly 3% compliance for 2023 reporting early in the year to an approximately 32% compliance rate for the most recent reporting year, with participation (properties that have started benchmarking) higher. For the 2021 compliance year Daley cited roughly 78% participation for that year’s cohort. Daley cautioned that the differing coverage thresholds between years (2021 required much larger buildings) make cross-year comparisons imperfect.

- Data accuracy and automation: Daley summarized utility-specific differences. Constellation Energy’s meter data were generally accurate and relatively easy to obtain by direct request or account download, but Constellation does not yet provide an automated data feed. DTE Energy offers an automated Data Hub that can push aggregated building-level data to EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager, but enrollment can be tricky for property representatives who do not have account authorization; the Data Hub has remained a pilot and requires properties to join the Ann Arbor–Washtenaw 2030 District to enroll. The city’s AquaHawk system and a city-managed API provide automated water meter uploads for properties where meters are linked to the city account.

- Property-type trends: Multifamily properties account for the largest share of gross floor area currently benchmarking (57% of gross floor area among participating properties). Daley said property types with the highest energy-use intensity include laboratories, restaurants and ambulatory service centers; lowest EUI types include parking garages and non‑refrigerated warehouses. Water-intensity leaders were fitness centers, hotels and residence halls (noting University of Michigan properties are not covered by the ordinance and are excluded from the city’s metrics).

- City-owned properties: The city benchmarks its own buildings and said seven city properties meet the reporting threshold (city-owned properties of 10,000 square feet or more where the city regularly pays all or part of utility bills). Daley said city benchmarking is proceeding even for properties not required by the ordinance to help identify operational issues.

Enforcement and penalties

Daley emphasized that while the ordinance contains fines, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations’ stated preference is to obtain compliance through outreach, automation and technical support instead of immediate ticketing. During public comment, resident Ken Gerber asked directly when the city would begin levying the ordinance fines. Gerber asked: \"When will the city start to levy the fines for non compliance that are specified in the benchmarking ordinance? I think that's $500 for first offense and $1,000 for every additional offense.\" Daley and commissioners said enforcement exists in the ordinance but that staff are prioritizing outreach and troubleshooting data gaps before pursuing civil penalties.

Next steps

Daley said the office will continue outreach to increase participation and compliance, expand automated data connections where feasible, and use the benchmarking dataset to design future commercial and multifamily efficiency initiatives. Commissioners and district partners recommended producing building-level scorecards that show owners year-to-year trends and peer comparisons inside Energy Star Portfolio Manager; Daley said Energy Star already produces comparative scores (relative-to-peer Energy Star scores) and the city will work on accessible scorecards for property owners and managers.

The presentation and the full 66-page report are posted on the Energy Commission agenda materials for Jan. 14, 2025. Daley invited follow-up questions and additional requests for breakdowns by property type and comparison with national medians or other jurisdictions.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to pursue increased automation, targeted outreach to hard-to-reach properties, and clearer communications about enforcement timelines while preserving the city's stated preference for technical support and voluntary compliance first.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ann Arbor Energy Commission Meeting 1/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","Connor Daley, the city’s energy coordinator, presented the City of Ann Arbor Energy and Water Benchmarking Annual Report at the Jan. 14 Energy Commission meeting, saying benchmarking participation and automated data access rose sharply during 2024 but that full compliance and data completeness remain partial.","taxTitle","Ann Arbor City, Washtenaw County, Michigan","taxId",5773,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389443,"Energy commissioners press city on vacancies and on staff coordination for municipal energy study",162,6165000,6327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113323-d9120f107280870a1f5f191dd666949e&start=6165&end=6327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113323-d9120f107280870a1f5f191dd666949e/thumbnail_6165000.jpg","/articles/6389443/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Energy-commissioners-press-city-on-vacancies-and-on-staff-coordination-for-municipal-energy-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389443-3ec53e4f7a172c1f2f46eb0f1764d1f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191572&Signature=f7YX5jXdpZh9-S8rVXlszlKvlTpPaG1Ak-kL0ZfLUcGFU4w0rG~GMaSx8rheV0i3b4A2OOAF7n1UWeK7tM~2zKZo4tJafMim3c5Mp~hcD3gyhj79a~p4v7d9tbfIRDx82r05ot3gUVSKQSgP2djPgtVQB93w~0HyHX6efDUmNdhS7HQtYpX0i~dl~wLh7VYhAxuTGMVUJAYEpjWxiwiuVUQlajkGh-PqhlBg~TaVf4dnT8khuanGkn~VMCKvKvSNYPOApseW3bzTtwncs5e6adQY~gX0ld12UENHZidQQKmt3ZDrjrF7K510qu5xd1MoXKHSIfAn8fk8QpxkOFzqNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners used the Jan. 14 Energy Commission meeting to press city staff and council liaisons on two governance matters: unfilled commission seats and recent council-level action on a potential Phase 2 municipal energy utility (MEU) study.

Chair Gabriel Harp noted the Energy Commission currently has nine members though the bylaws allow up to 15. Multiple commissioners said seats have been vacant for 18–24 months and that the commission has no youth member at present. One commissioner warned that the smaller membership reduces the commission’s capacity to deliver policy recommendations and community oversight on energy topics.

On the MEU study, staff and council updates at the meeting included a council action to postpone a Phase 2 study to allow better alignment among community interests. Several commissioners said they were disappointed that staff proceeded to present a Phase 2 recommendation directly to City Council without prior, extended engagement with the Energy Commission, which had previously debated municipalization across multiple meetings in 2021–2022 and produced a resolution describing the Phase 1 content they expected.

Council Member Briggs and other council liaisons pushed back with recognition of commissioners’ service. Briggs said that council values the commission’s expertise and that council and staff are sorting through how commissions and an expanded internal staff capacity should interact going forward. Briggs said in the meeting: \"we greatly appreciate everybody who takes their time to volunteer and serve the city on every commission across the city.\"

Actions and next steps discussed

Commissioners asked staff to prioritize following up on appointment processes and to report back on outreach to fill vacant seats. Council liaisons said they would follow up with staff to clarify timelines for appointments and to consider how the commission should be incorporated into future MEU study work or similar council decisions.

Ending: Commissioners asked that the city prioritize filling vacancies and increasing commission participation so the Energy Commission can provide broader technical review and policy recommendations; council liaisons said they would pursue clearer coordination between staff, council and commissions going forward.","Energy commissioners urged the city on Jan. 14 to fill long-standing vacancies and raised objections that staff advanced a Phase 2 municipal energy utility study recommendation directly to City Council without first resolving commission input.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389445,"Ann Arbor awarded $10 million DOE grant for Bryant neighborhood community geothermal system",201,3540000,3741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2113323-d9120f107280870a1f5f191dd666949e&start=3540&end=3741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2113323-d9120f107280870a1f5f191dd666949e/thumbnail_3540000.jpg","/articles/6389445/Ann-Arbor-City/Washtenaw-County/Michigan/Ann-Arbor-awarded-10-million-DOE-grant-for-Bryant-neighborhood-community-geothermal-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389445-596bdf27c6ac534c9414a91bbae90904/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191572&Signature=OpvyvL2tOt86EVtzaEGH1gDj1bCAEM1z3qi-9LCaDCfVAR75lbIF8-s8wMyyCo1hJUz0jKCR25Sk~C19VubqlDdpZEWxkTtAC2f9p6WiQoV5yceyHov5D5Dt-tZCZllIujbPrtnvW-y3LIcZeQKGzD1JhntP2JwiM9A85JUeWJycTE1-QMejAXJpZnTKqvXsO-Fkkhk2FKGTW8mKA29pi-9VHKyHdgrD-gB98TUVG6U6oJKot9QXNSMkF1hqEpn2DnmQOxlimvGGxpfltmT3FUczXNCBLRfKqS8tqb~YoGOy4QosufFLy0yjyj1WDCGSrDEaE8siHulmUmhqI4PFuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff announced at the Jan. 14, 2025 Energy Commission meeting that the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the City of Ann Arbor a $10,000,000 grant to proceed with a community geothermal heating and cooling system in the Bryant neighborhood.

According to the staff presentation, the award funds a second phase of technical and design work building on earlier community engagement. The staff briefing said the project is planned under the city’s newly forming Sustainable Energy Utility and will aim to \"provide nearly all of the heating and cooling needs for all 262 homes in the Bryant neighborhood,\" with planned expansions to the neighborhood elementary school and the community center as funding permits.

Why it matters: staff said a community geothermal system would reduce on-site fossil fuel use for space heating and cooling at neighborhood scale and that the award moves the project toward construction planning and contracting. Staff said the city expects to finalize design details and initiate contracting in the coming months with a target to have a fully operational geothermal system in Bryant by 2028.

Other staff announcements during the same report:

- The city is hiring a grant-funded electric vehicle coordinator for a four-year period to support planning and deployment of charging infrastructure and incentives; the job posting was listed on the City of Ann Arbor jobs site.

- Peace Neighborhood, a community-based nonprofit, was selected for up to $100,000 in U.S. Department of Energy funding for building upgrades to lower energy consumption and support resilience hub work.

Staff framed the DOE award as a multi-year, staged effort: phase‑one community engagement and planning informed the current design work, and phase‑two DOE funding will allow the city and partners to complete design and start procurement. The city’s consultant and staff will return with more specific contracting and schedule details as they are finalized.

Ending: City staff said the geothermal project is part of a cluster of resilience and decarbonization activities and invited commission members and the public to monitor procurement and design updates as they are posted to OSI materials.","City staff told the Energy Commission on Jan. 14 that the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Ann Arbor a $10 million grant to design and build a community geothermal system for the Bryant neighborhood, with a targeted operational date of 2028.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ann Arbor releases first annual energy and water benchmarking report; compliance climbs but remains incomplete

Energy commissioners press city on vacancies and on staff coordination for municipal energy study

Ann Arbor awarded $10 million DOE grant for Bryant neighborhood community geothermal system