Equitable Building Performance Standards

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Energy use from existing buildings is one of the City's most significant sources of GHG emissions. Since West Hollywood has a substantial number of older buildings, many of which were constructed before modern energy efficiency standards, reducing emissions from existing buildings is a critical step toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, as the City committed to as part of WeHo Climate Action

On December 1, 2025, the City Council adopted the Equitable Building Performance Standards (EBPS) to improve energy performance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support a healthy, sustainable community. EBPS targets the City’s largest existing buildings, which contribute a significant source of the City’s emissions, while pairing requirements with technical and financial support to help building owners comply.

VIEW THE ADOPTED EBPS ORDINANCE HERE .

EBPS is a City ordinance that requires certain existing buildings to track and improve their energy performance over time. The policy will require owners of all existing buildings over 20,000 square feet in the City to 1) report their building energy use annually beginning in 2026, through a process called "benchmarking," and 2) make improvements to their building to meet performance targets beginning in 2028 that get more stringent over time.

The policy is designed to:

Reduce climate pollution from buildings.

Lower long-term energy costs.

Improve indoor comfort and health.

Offer flexibility and alternative pathways for building owners to meet the requirements.

Ensure an equitable transition by prioritizing support for under-resourced buildings and tenants.

Who is covered?

EBPS applies to all existing buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger and have received a certificate of occupancy. 310 buildings in West Hollywood are covered, which represents about 6% of the City’s total building stock.

Some buildings, including residential condominiums and those under financial hardship, are only required to benchmark and can apply to be exempted from meeting performance targets (please refer to Section 15.100.080 of the ordinance)

EBPS Requirements at a Glance

	Annual Energy Benchmarking	Meet Building Performance Targets	Building Performance Action Plan (Alternative Pathway)
WHO?	All covered buildings (20,000+ sq ft)	Covered buildings over 20,000 sq ft (excluding residential condos)	Covered Buildings that cannot meet the first and/or second interim performance targets by the deadlines
WHAT?	Track whole-building energy use using ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager Submit benchmarking data to the City Data must be verified by a Qualified Energy Professional for the first year	Achieve and maintain required energy or greenhouse gas performance targets Targets are based on building type and defined in the Administrative Guidelines	Submit a Building Performance Action Plan (BPAP) BPAP outlines planned upgrades, timeline to compliance, and supporting documentation Includes benchmarking report, distributed energy resource report, and an energy audit or retro-commissioning report
WHEN?	Due September 15 in 2026, May 15 each year ater Exemptions: none	First Interim Performance Target: by May 15, 2028 (based on 2027 performance) Second Interim Performance Target: by May 15, 2032 Final performance standard: by May 15, 2036 Exemptions: residential condominiums and those under financial hardship	First Interim Performance Target: by May 15, 2028 Second Interim Performance Target: by May 15, 2032 Note: BPAP is not available as a compliance pathway to meet the final performance standard by May 15, 2036

Where do I start?

Step 1: Set Up Benchmarking

Create or update your ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager account

Connect utility data or enter data manually

Ensure all required meters are included

Verify your data using a third-party verification

Step 2: Submit Data Through the City Platform

Use the City’s EBPS compliance platform (launching in June 2026)

Track compliance status and receive notices

Step 3: Plan for Performance Targets

Review your building’s performance relative to required targets

Identify efficiency, electrification, and operational improvements

Apply for technical assistance or financial support, if eligible

Third Party Verification

You must submit a Data Verification Checklist verified by a third-party provider with your 2026 benchmarking report (verifying 2025 energy use and building information).

A third-party verifier will review each benchmarking report for accuracy and could assist with any adjustments needed in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to help the building get the right energy efficiency target. During the review, they will complete and sign a Data Verification Checklist PDF and enter their information into your Property in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

The third-party provider must be in good standing and have one of the following licenses or credentials:	The data verifier cannot be:
Professional Engineer (PE) issued w/n the U.S.* Registered Architect (RA) issued w/n the U.S.* Certified Energy Manager (CEM from AEE) Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP from ASHRAE) Energy Management Professional (EMP from EMA)	The building owner or an employee of the building owner; or The building owner’s designee who prepares or submits the benchmarking report; or A designee's employee who prepares or submits the benchmarking report.

You can find trained vendors in our Service Directory (coming soon).

Tools, Resources & Support

1) EBPS Help Desk

Building owners and managers will have access to a dedicated Help Desk (coming soon!)

Help Desk services will be available in advance of the 2026 benchmarking deadline

2) Technical Assistance & Financial Support

To support compliance, especially for under-resourced buildings, the City has secured limited grant funding through Clean Power Alliance.

Available support may include:

Free or subsidized energy audits or retro-commissioning
Technical advising on energy upgrades
Assistance with Building Performance Action Plans
Direct installation of select energy improvements (such as heat pumps, electrical upgrades, and insulation)

Funding is limited and prioritized for equity-eligible buildings, including rent-stabilized and affordable housing. Application (coming soon!)

3) Resources

Check out our Programs for Better Multifamily Buildings

Check out our Electrify WeHo page for a menu of electrification financial assistance programs.

Check out the USGBC-CA ResourceHub for California Building Performance information and additional Help Desk services

Compliance

STAY INFORMED

This webpage will be updated regularly as Administrative Guidelines, platforms, and support programs are finalized.

Questions? Contact the EBPS Help Desk (contact information coming soon).

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