What New Orleans’ New Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance Means for Our City – and How LifeCity Can Help
On November 13, 2025, LifeCity joined the Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS), Energy Smart New Orleans, and dozens of local building owners and managers at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside for an important milestone: the public overview of the City’s new Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance. This policy will play a major role in reducing emissions, improving building performance, and helping New Orleans achieve its climate and resilience goals.
As a company committed to helping organizations measure, manage, and improve their environmental impact, LifeCity is excited about what this means for our community and how we can support property owners through this transition.
What Is Energy Benchmarking and Why Does It Matter?
In the simplest terms, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Benchmarking is the practice of tracking a building’s energy use and comparing it to similar buildings. This helps owners identify efficiency opportunities, lower energy costs, and reduce carbon emissions.
According to ORS, commercial buildings account for 43% of the city’s energy-related emissions, and large buildings alone make up 20% of New Orleans’ total greenhouse gas emissions. Improving how these buildings operate is one of the most impactful pathways toward a healthier, more resilient city.
Benchmarking works. Data shows that by comparing energy use with similar buildings, property owners can uncover ways to improve efficiency and achieve average annual savings of 2.4% – a meaningful reduction that compounds over time.
What the New Ordinance Requires
Beginning in 2026, large commercial and multifamily buildings in New Orleans will be required to benchmark their energy use each year using the free ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool.
Who must comply:
2026: Buildings 50,000+ sq. ft.
2027: All buildings 20,000+ sq. ft.
These buildings make up just 1% of properties, yet represent nearly 40% of the city’s total building square footage. This is a major opportunity to drive impact.
Covered Property Owners must:
Review the City’s Covered Properties List (CPL) and claim or correct their property information.
Enter whole-building energy data into the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Submit that data to the City by May 31 each year.
The City will then publish building-level data, such as Energy Use Intensity (EUI), ENERGY STAR scores, and greenhouse gas emissions, through a public dashboard and annual report.
Why This Matters for New Orleans
The ordinance is a pathway to lower operating costs and build a stronger local workforce. Benchmarking helps owners uncover inefficiencies and reduce expenses. Even small improvements can produce major savings across thousands of square feet. Energy efficiency is projected to be Louisiana’s highest-growing clean energy job sector, adding over 9,000 jobs by 2030. Benchmarking creates demand for HVAC technicians, energy auditors, insulation contractors, and other skilled roles.
Benchmarking is also a step towards improving public health and resilience in a changing climate. Reducing energy waste means reducing emissions, especially important in a city where almost 1 in 10 adults report having asthma, the building stock is aging, and climate impacts are already happening. Benchmarking provides data to help owners make informed decisions about upgrades, funding opportunities, and long-term building performance.
The Building Energy Benchmarking Ordinance represents a major step toward a more efficient, healthier, and climate-ready New Orleans. It brings us in line with national leaders like New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. – cities that have shown that transparency and data lead to real improvement.
Need Sustainability and Reporting Support?
LifeCity is committed to supporting local businesses, property owners, and organizations as they navigate this transition. With the right tools, data, and guidance, benchmarking becomes not just a compliance requirement but a strategic advantage.
Improved building performance can support your organization’s impact reporting and Love Your City Scorecard. We help turn your data into a meaningful sustainability story. Reach out to impact@mylifecity.com for support in improving your energy efficiency and sharing your impact.
View the slides from the presentation here.