On Nov. 19, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) unanimously passed a resolution supporting multifamily building owners getting access to whole-building energy data, as long as the privacy of tenants is protected. NASUCA calls on regulators and utilities to consider comprehensive energy benchmarking policy, including electronic access to data.
Energy efficiency in the multifamily sector is critical, as it can help preserve affordability for renters (about half of all renters spend between 30 and 50 percent of their income on rent and utilities). Benchmarking is the foundation of a successful energy efficiency strategy for multifamily housing. Aggregated, whole-building energy data is crucial for building owners to be able to evaluate and justify energy efficiency upgrades and track performance–necessary for them to take action to reduce energy costs for renters.
IMT’s executive director, Cliff Majersik, said: “Kudos to NASUCA for taking this important step to empower tenants and their landlords with the information they need to work together to make their apartments and buildings more energy efficient. NASUCA’s resolution empowers consumers while strengthening privacy and acknowledging the very different privacy needs for different types of utility data.”