Specialists in Atlanta Commercial Building
Energy Efficiency Compliance
Is your building over 25,000 sq ft? You likely need to benchmark. Check your ABID and audit year here:
Atlanta ABID Database
If you have an ABID, you are required to report your property's energy consumption to the City of Atlanta, but did you know you must complete an
energy assessment every 10 years?
The expert team at Verdius can help your building comply with mandated energy benchmarking and assessments to avoid the $1,000 non-compliance fee while receiving valuable, technology-agnostic, evidence-based recommendations to reduce utility spend.
With 24M+ square feet of multifamily, industrial, and office space audited, and $7.2M in cost savings identified, we are the team to help you tackle this problem.
Still need help understanding more before committing? Read on!
City-Mandated Benchmarking
Benchmarking will help you understand how your building performs over time and compares to similar buildings.
For turnkey benchmarking, our analysts can:
- Track all metrics required for city-mandated annual benchmarking
- Check all property use details to ensure accurate reporting
- Prepare and submit ENERGY STAR® benchmarking on Portfolio Manager
- Apply for benchmarking exemptions or investigate alternate compliance options
How do you know if your property needs to benchmark? If your building is over 25,000 gross square feet, benchmarking is required every year. The City of Atlanta will notify you before April 30th of each year to submit benchmarking for the previous year no later than July 1st.
Did you know? Over a three-year period, EPA found that buildings benchmarked on a consistent basis achieved an average annual energy savings of 2.4%!
City-Mandated Energy Audits
A compliant energy audit (or energy assessment) will find operational improvements and retrofit opportunities that can improve occupant comfort, and reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions, and operating costs.
For a turnkey compliance energy assessment, our Certified Energy Managers can:
- Conduct an ASHRAE Level II energy assessment to identify deficiencies and low-cost energy efficiency measures
- File energy assessment documentation with the City using the Asset Score Online Tool
- Review and plan for any energy efficiency measures that you may want to pursue
How do you know if your property needs an energy assessment? The last digit of your Property's Atlanta Building ID (ABID) number indicates what year of the decade the energy assessment will need to be completed. Additionally, the City of Atlanta will mail you a notice in advance. All energy assessments must be submitted by December 31st. You can find your property and ABID number here:
City of Atlanta Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance Database
If your building requires an energy assessment this year, or just need to get started on benchmarking, our Atlanta-Based Certified Energy Managers and energy analysts are standing by.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my multifamily building fall under CBEEO?
Yes. The ordinance applies to any covered building over 25,000 gross square feet, regardless of whether it's used as commercial office space, a hotel, or residential apartments — the size threshold is what matters, not the use. Owners and managers often assume the ordinance only applies to office buildings since it's titled the "Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance," but multifamily properties are one of the most common building types we work with.
Does my condominium building fall under CBEEO?
Yes — condominiums are treated the same as other multifamily buildings under the ordinance, so the same 25,000 sq ft threshold applies. This is one area we specialize in: condominium associations make up the majority of our client base, largely through our partnership with FirstService Residential, so we're well versed in the specific challenges of getting a board or association through the compliance process.
How long does the whole process take?
After contract signing, we can schedule the site visit for as soon as 3 weeks. We generally spend 1-2 days on site and turn over the report within 6-8 weeks after extensive modeling and analysis in the office.
What's included in a CBEEO assessment?
An ASHRAE Level II-equivalent audit covering your building envelope, HVAC, lighting and controls, domestic water and hot water systems, building automation, and conveying systems — plus a full report with equipment inventories, utility consumption analysis, a list of recommended energy and water conservation measures, and an economic analysis including available utility incentives and tax credits.
How much does the audit cost?
Pricing primarily depends on building size, the type of building, and the complexity of systems on site, so we provide a specific quote for every property rather than a flat rate. Contact us for a proposal tailored to your building.
Also, see our blog post on pricing.
What does the building need to provide for an audit?
Recent utility bills (electric, gas, water), as-built plans if available, and basic building operation details like occupancy hours. We help walk you through gathering what's needed.
What happens after the report is finished?
We walk through the findings with you and other stakeholders in a virtual or in-person review. Once approved, we submit the completed assessment to the City on your behalf through the required online reporting tool.
Can the audit be expedited?
Yes — standard delivery is about 8 weeks after the site visit, with an expedited 4-week option available for an additional fee if you're working against a tighter deadline.
Is there a way to reduce the cost?
We offer a discount (currently 15%) for contracts signed in the first half of the year (January–June), since that helps us plan capacity ahead of the fall compliance rush. Signing early is generally the easiest way to reduce cost and guarantee availability.
When should I start the process to meet my audit compliance deadline?
We recommend starting well before your your December 31st deadline — ideally summer at the latest — since site visits, data collection, and report preparation all take time, and availability tightens as more buildings rush to comply toward year-end.
Will the audit site visit disrupt building operations?
No. Site visits are hands-off — nothing is modified, removed, or installed. The survey is a visual and data-gathering assessment of existing systems.
Do you guarantee energy savings?
Since so many factors are out of our hands, no energy efficiency consultant can honestly guarantee savings, and we don't either. The report identifies and quantifies realistic opportunities so you can make an informed decision, but actual savings depend on which measures you choose to implement.