Madison Building Energy Savings (BESP)
The City of Madison, WI’s Building Energy Savings Program (BESP) drives energy efficiency and support its goal of achieving Net-Zero Carbon by 2050. This mandatory ordinance requires specific commercial building owners and managers to implement both annual Energy Benchmarking and quadrennial Building Tune-ups.
Our team specializes in helping property owners and facility managers in Madison navigate these new local requirements with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. We ensure your buildings meet compliance deadlines while identifying opportunities for significant energy savings and operational improvements.
Mandatory Energy Benchmarking (Annual Reporting):
What It Is: Energy Benchmarking is the process of annually measuring and tracking your building's energy consumption using the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. This provides a clear, quantitative picture of your performance relative to similar properties.
Who It’s For: All non-residential commercial buildings 25,000 square feet
Need to know: Benchmarking reports are due annually by June 30th.
Our Service: We handle the entire benchmarking process, from utility data acquisition and cleaning to setting up your Portfolio Manager account and submitting the final report to the City of Madison's Building Owner Portal.
Mandatory Building Tune-Ups (Operational Optimization):
What It Is: Tune-ups are required, systematic operational assessments designed to detect and correct system maintenance and operational issues. Think of it as an operational "wellness check" for your building's core energy systems—it is focused on saving energy by optimizing what you already have, not replacing equipment.
Need to know: The City of Madison offers staggered compliance deadlines:
Buildings >100,000 sq. ft. by October 2026
50,000–99,999 sq. ft. by October 2027
Early Bird Submission option
Compliance Pathways and Alternative Options
The BESP ordinance is designed for flexibility. If your property is already a high-performer, you may be eligible for an Alternative Compliance Pathway, eliminating the need for a full tune-up.
We assess your eligibility for options such as:
Achieving a high ENERGY STAR Score (75+).
Recent completion of Retro-Commissioning (RCx) or a high-level ASHRAE audit.
Holding a recent LEED Gold or Platinum (O+M) certification.
By leveraging an Alternative Compliance Pathway, you can focus on maintenance improvements that directly impact your bottom line.
Partner with Sheehan Engineering in Madison
As experts in energy compliance across the United States, Sheehan Engineering has been assisting clients since the inception of these ordinances. We understand that compliance is an opportunity to reduce operating expenses and increase asset value.
Don't risk non-compliance and potential city fines. Let us be your dedicated partner for the Madison BESP.
Annual Reporting & Ongoing Benchmarking Support
Gather energy data from the local utilities; upload to EnergyStar Portfolio Manager; review property details; and report to the city on your behalf. We can manage your annual reporting to ensure you never miss a deadline again.
Building Tune-Ups
Provide expert onsite building tune-up services to support the BESP requirements for larger buildings.
Energy Conservation Implementation
Our team conducts can facilitate the implementation of any no/low cost energy efficiency measures by partnering with local contractors.
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