In 2014, residential and commercial buildings accounted for 41 percent of the energy used in the U.S. To reduce energy consumption, states, counties, and municipalities are increasingly requiring owners of public facilities, commercial buildings, and even private residences to conduct energy audits. The collected data can then be used to benchmark or monitor performance and compare it to that of similar structures. Some government entities are using the information to set performance guidelines or dish out report cards on new and retrofit construction projects.

Click the locations on the map to find out how places around the country are enacting legislation requiring data collection on building performance.

Jessica Rubenstein

Jessica Rubenstein

Credits: American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy, Institute for Market Transformation, National Resources Defense Council, Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy

Note: We will continue to update this map as jurisdictions pass legislation that benchmarks their buildings. Please visit BuildingRating.org for more 

information on jurisdiction-specific policies. Email [email protected] about new legislation that should be added to the map.