NEW: Milwaukee Efficient Buildings Benchmarking Program
July 2024, the Milwaukee Common Council passed a benchmarking ordinance requiring property owners of commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet and owners of government buildings over 10,000 square feet to annually input their buildings' energy consumption usage into the free ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. ECO plans to open a Help Desk and Commercial Buildings Resource Center to support owners with complying with the ordinance, as well as identify incentives and other resources to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and add clean energy components. The ordinance was developed after a series of community conversations to inform and solicit feedback.
Send Questions to Pam Ritger de la Rosa
ECO's Other Helpful Guides
Open AllClose All ECO Design Guidelines for Commercial Buildings
ECO created Design Guidelines for Commercial Buildings to share the history, purpose, and use of sustainable urban design in Milwaukee.
The guide includes details on the following categories:
• Site Design
• Building Design
• Energy Use
• Materials & Resources
• Construction & Demolition
• Indoor Environment Quality
• Operations & Maintenance
City of Milwaukee Introduction to Commercial Rainwater Harvesting
The Commercial Rainwater Harvesting Guide supports commercial properties in reusing water to reduce their environmental footprint, lighten the load on stormwater infrastructure, and protect natural resources.
Rainwater harvesting projects come in many shapes and sizes, but the type of system and level of complexity is dependent on the end-use of the water you collect, be it irrigation, flushing toilets, cooling towers, fire suppression, manufacturing processes, washing vehicles, laundry, or filling pools.
The guide includes details on the following categories:
• Recognition & Marketing
• Permitting & Codes
• Catchment, Storage & Treatment
• Finding Green Vendors
• Practical Case Studies
Sustainable Building Features
Get Started: Follow 4 Steps
- Step 1: Use Benchmarking for Energy Use
- Step 2: Conduct an Energy Assessment
- Step 3: Set Your Sustainability Goals
- Step 4: Take Advantage of Incentives & Financing
Start Benchmarking
Portfolio Manager is a FREE, interactive management tool that offers energy benchmarking of any type of building. Nearly 25% of U.S. commercial buildings actively benchmark using the tool.
Create a Profile to Get Started
Explore ENERGY STAR® benchmarking resources such as live online trainings, recorded webinars, how-to-guides, employee education kits, energy-savings competitions, and data trends.
Find Benchmarking Resources
Energy Advisors help guide you through an energy efficiency project by offering pre-approval on qualifying projects and process rebates based on equipment, among other support.
Find an Advisor
Trade Allies are valuable contractors and service providers who deliver energy efficiency and renewable energy products and expertise directly to Wisconsin residents and businesses.
Find a Contractor
Find a Certification or Challenge
The Milwaukee Better Buildings Challenge launched in September 2016, bringing together all of the resources a building needs to develop an energy efficiency project, including benchmarking in ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager and free energy assessments. ECO is currently evaluating funding opportunities to relaunch the challenge supported by the federal Department of Energy. Learn about past successes below.
Take the Challenge!
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is challenging organizations to set ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals. Organizations can partner with DOE to reduce portfolio-wide GHG emissions (scope 1 & 2) by at least 50% within 10 years. DOE will provide technical assistance and opportunities to learn and share actionable best practices for carbon reduction. Join local leaders the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Johnson Controls, and Kohl's who have shown early commitment.
Take the Challenge!
ENERGY STAR®-certified buildings save energy and money while protecting the environment by generating fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. Once in operation, ENERGY STAR®-certified buildings use 35% less energy than similar buildings nationwide. To be certified as ENERGY STAR® each year, a building must meet strict energy performance standards set by Environmental Protection Agency and verified by a licensed Professional Engineer or Registered Architect.
Get Certified!
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program used worldwide that is available to all building types and all building phases. To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Certification requires a verification and review process.
Get Certified!
The Water Council's Water Stewardship Verified (WAVE) Program gives companies a way to improve water stewardship and have it independently verified by SCS Global Services. It is a six-step methodology for improving, reporting, and recognizing good corporate water stewardship. Join local companies like AO Smith in assessing water-related risk across the enterprise and implementing best practices for performance.
Take the Challenge!
The State of Wisconsin Focus on Energy Program offers incentives and rebates to commercial buildings for areas such as new construction and renovations, equipment replacement, operations and maintenance, renewable energy, tune-ups and assessments, and special offerings like roadway lighting.
Explore What's Available
The Green Innovation Fund will be the first environmental and clean energy fund in Wisconsin. Commonly referred to as “green banks,” the Green Innovation Fund and its partners will leverage public and private financing to invest in projects that provide environmental and clean energy solutions.
Stay Tuned for Updates
The Inflation Reduction Act offers tax credits, rebates, deductions, grants, and loans to property owners for energy efficiency retrofits and efficient new construction. Funding is available to improve the energy efficiency of and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in commercial buildings.
Read What's Available
The City’s Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing leverages private capital for upfront improvements and collects payments with a voluntary municipal special charge. PACE can affordably finance energy or water efficiency, renewable energy, energy reliability, electric vehicle infrastructure, green infrastructure, and other resiliency upgrades.
Apply for Financing
Grow Solar Greater Milwaukee is an education and group purchasing program for residential and commercial solar. FREE information session, site assessments, and cost estimates are available. Home and business owners in Milwaukee County can pool their buying power for significant discounts that make installing high-quality solar more affordable.
Sign Up for the 2023 Program