In 2016, Orlando City Council unanimously passed the Building Energy and Water Efficiency Strategy (BEWES), a policy focused on tracking the energy and water output of our largest buildings. BEWES is a key strategy identified in the Green Works Orlando Community Action Plan.
Important Deadlines: The BEWES Benchmarking and Audit Submission Deadline for the 2026 Compliance Season is May 1, 2026. Building owners who wish to apply for an exemption must submit their Exemption Request Form and all supporting documents by April 1, 2026. Those seeking an extension must submit their Extension Request Form by April 15, 2026. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions: buildingefficiency@orlando.gov.
What Does This Ordinance Entail? The City of Orlando adopted the BEWES policy to reduce citywide energy use, lower utility bills, improve comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under this policy, all buildings 50,000 square feet and above are required to benchmark their energy consumption annually using the free online ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool and report the results to the city.
Why Are You Receiving This Letter? Your name or the name of your organization appears on the Orange County Tax Collector’s website as a tax-paying entity associated with the property listed above. Those responsible for complying with this ordinance are building owners or other designated individuals, such as a property manager or a third-party energy consultant. If you believe you are not the correct recipient of this correspondence, please contact us at buildingefficiency@orlando.gov.
Please note: third party services are not required for BEWES benchmarking. Please see the BEWES Compliance Guide for instructions on how to benchmark your energy consumption.