A New Ordinance That’s Easier Than It Sounds
In February 2025, the City of Indianapolis issued compliance notices for its Energy Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance (Marion County Code Title III, Chapter 710). If you own or manage a building 50,000 sq. ft. or larger, you must submit whole‑building energy and water data for calendar year 2025 by June 1, 2026.
For many property owners, receiving a regulatory notice can feel overwhelming — but the reporting process is actually straightforward. Better yet, it can help you take control of your utility data and lay the groundwork for long‑term sustainability improvements.
How to Get Started with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
Indianapolis requires all reporting through the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a free online platform used nationwide for benchmarking energy and water performance.
To complete the report, you’ll need:
- Property Details
- Total square footage
- Primary building type (office, warehouse, industrial, etc.)
- Occupancy levels
- Utility Bills for the Full 2025 Calendar Year
Collect 12 months of data for all energy and water sources:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Steam
- Water
- Meter Usage Data
Enter monthly usage and cost information from each utility bill.
After your data is entered, Portfolio Manager automatically calculates:
- Energy Use Intensity (EUI)
- ENERGY STAR Score (1–100) where applicable
Submitting your benchmarking report to the City of Indianapolis takes just a few clicks within the “Reporting” tab.
Beyond Compliance: Build the Foundation of Your ESG Strategy
Although the ordinance focuses solely on energy and water, the data you collect is the backbone of a comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) program.
Use Your 2025 Utility Data to Calculate Emissions
- Scope 1: Direct onsite combustion (e.g., natural gas for heating)
- Scope 2: Purchased energy emissions (mainly electricity)
- Scope 3: Indirect emissions in your supply chain (commuting, waste, logistics, etc.)
The city doesn’t require Scope 3 data — but organizing your utility information now makes it easier to expand your sustainability reporting later.
Expanding Your Sustainability Picture
A strong ESG program looks beyond just energy:
Water Stewardship
- Track usage trends
- Identify leaks
- Improve treatment or reuse systems
Better water management reduces both operating costs and local environmental impact.
Waste & Circularity
- Monitor landfill vs. recycling volumes
- Identify reclaimable or reusable materials
Redirecting waste streams can reduce disposal costs and create potential revenue.
Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Management
Reducing VOCs improves air quality and helps maintain permit compliance — especially for industrial operations.
Health & Safety Tracking
The “Social” pillar of ESG reflects how well you protect your workforce:
- Incident rates
- Near‑miss tracking
- Training hours
Investors increasingly view safety performance as a major indicator of long‑term operational stability.
How BCA Environmental Can Help
You can complete benchmarking yourself — but for complex buildings, mixed‑use facilities, or multi‑meter sites, outside help can save time and reduce reporting errors.
BCA Environmental can:
- Set up or manage your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
- Collect and verify utility data
- Ensure on‑time City of Indianapolis submission
- Analyze results and identify opportunities to reduce
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
- Water use
- Waste generation
- Safety risks
Start Your Benchmarking Early
Whether you handle the report in‑house or partner with a compliance specialist, begin collecting your 2025 utility data now. Early organization prevents last‑minute issues and sets a strong foundation for your broader ESG goals.
For ordinance details, visit the City of Indianapolis site:
https://www.indy.gov/activity/benchmarking-and-transparency
If you have questions or want support interpreting your energy and sustainability data, our team is ready to help.