Attention Building Owners: The City of Chicago has relaunched the Chicago Energy Benchmarking program this month and extended the 2025 reporting deadline to Jan 15, 2026.

Chicago Energy Benchmarking Compliance Services

Secure Your Chicago Energy Benchmarking & Data Verification Compliance.

As of late 2025, Chicago’s energy reporting process has shifted. A new compliance platform and knowledgebase (BEAM) has replaced the legacy workflow, and the deadline for 2024 data has been extended to January 15, 2026.

Sheehan Engineering simplifies this transition. We provide turnkey energy benchmarking services that handle data migration, portal setup, and mandatory 3-year data verification in a single, unified and affordable process.

Standard Compliance

Annual Reporting

All Buildings 50,000+ SF

Applies to all covered buildings annually. Data is reported via EnergyStar Portfolio Manager.

We handle the complex data request process, ensuring your Portfolio Manager account is correctly linked to the utility providers and the City's database for the 2025 reporting cycle.

Deadline Extended: Jan 15
Risk: Medium (Linkage Errors)
Every 3 Years

Data Verification

Mandatory Audit Cycle

If 2025 is your scheduled year, simple data entry is not sufficient.

The City requires a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) to audit your data and sign off. We provide the mandatory stamp and signature required to clear this violation risk.

Who can sign off? ↻
Deadline: Jan 15
Risk: High (Requires License)
The Verification Trap

Professional Required

Self-Reporting Can Be Illegal: You cannot verify your own building.

The Solution: We maintain multiple licenses and credentials to fulfill this requirement. We review your utility data, correct meter accounting errors, review the EnergyStar Portfolio Manager configuration, and provide the stamped verification checklist.

Action: Secure a licensed sign-off.
Tap to flip back ↻
Past Due?

Fines & Citations

Received a Letter?

If you received a "Not In Compliance" notice, fines accrue daily.

Penalty: Fines start at $100 and rise to $25 per day for continued non-compliance. We fast-track submissions to stop the fines immediately.

Status: Urgent
Action: Resolve Violation Now

Determine Your Building's Requirements

Sheehan Engineering | Your Chicago Benchmarking Provider

Our expertise is in retro-commissioning and energy auditing. We believe that most buildings can achieve significant energy savings and emissions reductions by optimizing the systems they already own. We analyze your building's HVAC, lighting, and control systems to find low-cost, high-impact solutions that cut utility costs and ensure full regulatory compliance.

As licensed engineers and certified professionals, versed in Chicago’s requirements, we are your single, expert partner. We provide a direct, technical, and cost-effective path to making your building more efficient, comfortable, and compliant.

Contact us directly, or fill out the form, to start the conversation!

Email: kevin@sheehan-eng.com

Call: (773) 312-2898

Chicago Energy Benchmarking & Data Verification FAQs

Technical details regarding the Chicago Energy Benchmarking Ordinance, the 2025 program updates, and data verification requirements.

Adopted by the City Council in 2013 and updated in 2017 to include the Chicago Energy Rating System, the ordinance increases transparency in the built environment. Buildings are rated zero-to-four stars based on performance. The 2025 relaunch involves a transition to a new support team and the BEAM knowledge base platform.
Due to the administrative transition, the Department of Environment has extended the compliance deadline for 2024 energy data to January 15, 2026. This extension applies to all Covered Buildings. Failure to submit compliant data by this date may result in violation notices.
Under the ordinance, Data Verification is mandatory every three years. This is an audit cycle where energy data, floor area, and occupancy must be reviewed for accuracy. If 2025 is your scheduled year, simple data entry is not sufficient—you must complete the verification process to be compliant.
Yes. The City requires a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE), Licensed Architect, or other authorized professional to review and sign off on your data. Self-certification by the building owner or property manager does not satisfy this legal requirement. Sheehan Engineering provides this professional licensure to ensure your submission is accepted.
While the City has introduced the BEAM Knowledge Base for support, the actual data submission mechanism remains ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Building owners must complete the specific "2024 Data Request" link within Portfolio Manager to release their data. BEAM is for guidance; Portfolio Manager is for reporting.
Non-compliance occurs when a Covered Building fails to submit accurate energy data, misses the Data Verification deadline, or provides false information. Penalties include an initial fine followed by cumulative penalties of up to $25.00 per day.