2026 Commercial Building Energy Benchmarks: How Does Your Building Compare?

Benchmarks by Building Type

Data from ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager 2024, covering millions of square feet of benchmarked commercial space nationwide. All EUI values are source energy (includes upstream generation and transmission losses).

Full Benchmark Table

All values: source EUI in kBtu/sqft/yr. Source: ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Data Trends 2024. ESTAR Score 75 = certification threshold. Lower EUI = better performance.

Understanding ENERGY STAR Scores

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager assigns each building a score from 1–100, relative to similar buildings nationally:

What Drives EUI Differences Within Building Types?

Office Buildings (Median EUI: 85)

EUI varies 3–4x across office buildings depending on: age of HVAC system (pre-1980 systems use 40–60% more energy), occupancy density (high-density open-plan offices have 20–30% higher EUI), server room load (each kW of IT power adds ~1 kBtu/sqft/yr to building EUI), and plug load density. Green leases and tenant energy disclosure can reduce tenant sub-metering gaps.

Hotels (Median EUI: 171)

Full-service hotels have 30–50% higher EUI than limited-service. Pool operations add 15–30 kBtu/sqft/yr; laundry adds another 10–20. HVAC in guestrooms (PTACs running unoccupied) is typically 35–45% of hotel energy. Occupancy-based HVAC control systems reduce hotel EUI by 10–20% at minimal capital cost.

Retail (Median EUI: 214)

Retail EUI is dominated by lighting (40–50%) and HVAC (30–40%). Stores with open refrigerated cases add 30–50 kBtu/sqft/yr vs. closed-case stores. LED lighting retrofits with advanced controls typically reduce retail EUI by 20–35%. Night covers on open cases save another 10–15%.

Hospitals (Median EUI: 478)

Hospitals require 100% outside air ventilation in procedure rooms and high ACH rates throughout — this alone drives EUI 3–5x above standard office. Energy efficiency opportunities focus on: variable air volume (VAV) controls in corridors and admin areas, heat recovery from exhaust air, efficient central plant (chiller + boiler upgrades), and LED + daylighting in non-clinical areas.

Warehouses (Median EUI: 33)

The most energy-efficient commercial type. Lighting (60–70% of warehouse energy) responds directly to LED retrofits — typically cutting EUI by 15–20 kBtu/sqft/yr. Dock door infiltration management reduces heating loads. High-volume low-speed (HVLS) fans reduce stratification and HVAC demand. Unheated warehouses easily achieve EUI below 10 kBtu/sqft/yr.

Building Performance Standards — Why Benchmarking Matters Now

Building Performance Standards (BPS) legislation is expanding rapidly. These laws typically mandate that buildings benchmark their energy use annually, then meet performance targets or pay penalties:

The benchmark data on this page shows where buildings need to reach — or stay — to avoid BPS penalties. A hospital at 478 kBtu/sqft (median) is compliant with most hospital-specific BPS provisions; an office at 133 kBtu/sqft (75th percentile) faces penalty exposure under most major city BPS laws.

Frequently Asked Questions