Chicago implements energy rating system for buildings

Chicago launched its Energy Rating System to rate and make public the energy efficiency of large buildings (50,000 square feet or larger), including about 3,400 buildings across the city.

The buildings will be provided with placards illustrating their energy performance on a zero to four-star scale, which they are required to display on-site and report at the time of building sale or lease. The city will list the ratings on the Chicago Data Portal after an initial six-month grace period for buildings to post the placards.
The goal of the program is to increase awareness and encourage energy efficiency by making the information about energy performance more transparent and easier to understand, Amy Jewel, Senior City Advisor, City Energy Project, told Smart Cities Dive via email.