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| Verdani’s Technical Services and Ordinance teams support clients at the intersection of energy performance, compliance, and long-term sustainability. From utility benchmarking using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®, to ordinance submissions and energy audits, Verdani helps turn data into strategy — and strategy into measurable results.
Reliable data management is essential for understanding how buildings perform, identifying inefficiencies, and prioritizing cost-saving improvements. Our team helps clients translate raw utility data into actionable insights that drive energy and water efficiency, reduce emissions, and support smarter asset management. This foundation of performance data not only strengthens compliance with local and state ordinances, but it also informs energy efficiency, operational improvements, and resilience strategies, including carbon reduction goals and climate risk assessments. The same data sets used to improve building operations can also be leveraged to streamline ESG disclosures, enhance GRESB® performance, and align with broader sustainability commitments.
By integrating compliance, performance, and strategy, Verdani empowers clients to create high-performing, resilient portfolios. |
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 | | In this edition of Verdani Vitals, we highlight key offerings that help real estate portfolios operate more efficiently, reduce emissions, and stay in line with evolving performance standards. |
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| Verdani’s Technical Services team provides practical, data-driven solutions to help clients improve building performance, ensure compliance, and reduce environmental impact. |
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| |  | ASHRAE
Level I & II
energy audits |
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 | Indoor air quality
(IAQ) testing |
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& incentive identification |
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analyses |
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 | Energy efficiency upgrade(s) recommendations |
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|  | Performance
opportunities identification |
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|  | Local energy and emissions regulation compliance |
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In 2024, our team supported: |
| | 14 LEED® and 10 Fitwel® projects in collaboration with our Certifications team |
| | 93 ENERGY STAR® certifications |
| | 231 building-level ordinance compliance submissions |
| | | | 28 commercial real estate clients |
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|  | As highlighted in Verdani’s recent article, The Rise of Building Ordinances, the U.S. has seen a steady rise in sustainable building ordinances over the past two decades, which is a clear response to the growing urgency of climate-related risks. These regulations now go well beyond encouraging transparency; they are driving action. From energy and emissions benchmarking to audits, retro-commissioning, and now the adoption of building performance standards (BPS), the regulatory landscape is changing, and fast. Approaching deadlines and looming threats of steep penalties for non-compliance impose intense pressure on the real estate sector.
BPS are reshaping the real estate industry by setting performance-based targets for existing buildings, effectively serving as energy codes for the current built environment. BPS push property owners to go beyond reporting and take visible action, often through facility upgrades like HVAC retrofits or enhanced insulation. By pairing energy codes for new construction with BPS for existing building stock, jurisdictions are aiming for full-spectrum environmental impact across the built environment.
Examples like New York’s Local Law 97, Denver’s Energize Denver, Boston’s Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), and Washington State’s Clean Buildings Standard show how BPS offer more than simple mandates. They provide stakeholders, building owners, and asset and property managers with a roadmap that outlines what the law requires, how their buildings measure up today, the consequences of inaction, and improvements based on current performance data.
Verdani is here to help you navigate these evolving requirements and stay ahead of the curve. Our team of experts are well versed in the evolving BPS across markets in the U.S. and are equipped to guide clients to efficient, effective, and up-to-code portfolios. |
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|  | Since 2008, over 45 cities across the U.S. have adopted energy benchmarking ordinances that require building owners to report their energy (and sometimes water) use to local jurisdictions. These regulations aim to promote transparency, drive performance improvements, and lay the groundwork for broader environmental goals.
At Verdani, our Technical Services team helps clients strategically meet these requirements to support benchmarking compliance. Services we offer include the following: Portfolio Setup and Management: We are experienced in onboarding buildings into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and can support ongoing portfolio data oversight to maintain consistency and accuracy. Utility Data Sync and Management: Our engineers are trained in utility data synchronization, and we also offer data collection, organization, and management services to support accurate reporting. Benchmark Reporting: Our team is knowledgeable in reporting requirements across major jurisdictions. We help provide accurate and timely documentation for annual benchmarking submissions or exemptions. Third-Party Data Verification: Many ordinances require independent data verification. If another party is managing data input, Verdani can serve as your third-party verifier. Our Engineering team includes licensed professionals qualified to complete the verification process in compliance with local regulations.
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 | |  | Since 2018, our Technical Services team has completed over 535 ENERGY STAR certification applications, and as a proud ENERGY STAR Partner, we are currently ranked 39th* in total certifications submitted. Recently, we recertified our own office headquarters with an impressive score of 99, a reflection of our commitment to building performance.
Stepping into the next phase of building performance excellence, Verdani is leading the way with ENERGY STAR’s new certification for commercial and multifamily buildings — ENERGY STAR NextGen™. NextGen certification recognizes buildings that go beyond efficiency to deliver strong performance in resilience, reliability, and future-readiness. Criteria include achieving an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher, staying below a direct (on-site) greenhouse gas emissions intensity ceiling, and sourcing at least 30% of total energy or 100% of electricity from renewable sources.
Verdani recently submitted our fifth NextGen Certification for Commercial Buildings application for a client, and are well equipped to submit more on behalf of additional existing and future clients.
*as of January 2025 |
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| Verdani’s Technical Services and Ordinance teams bring deep expertise and trusted credentials to every project, ensuring our clients receive technically sound, regulation-ready, and sustainability-aligned solutions. |
| Two Professional Engineers (PE) |
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 | Chris Wei VP of Engineering |
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|  | Sean Birnbaum Senior Director of Engineering |
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Two Engineers in Training (EIT) |
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 | Andrea Stanislav Senior Engineering Manager |
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Seven Certified Energy Managers (CEM) |
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| Andrea Stanislav Senior Engineering Manager |
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| | Chris Wei VP of Engineering |
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|  | Denita Toneva
Engineering Manager |
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 | Erin Simpson Director of Engineering |
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|  | Kate Bruskin Engineering Manager |
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|  | Kelsey Ceccarelli Senior Director of Engineering |
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| Sean Birnbaum Senior Director of Engineering |
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One Energy Manager in Training (EMIT) |
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Sydney Armitage Associate Engineering Manager |
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Three LEED Accredited Professionals (AP O+M) |
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| Chris Wei VP of Engineering |
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|  | Jennifer Webb Senior Engineering Manger |
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|  | Kellie Fleming Associate Director of Engineering |
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| As the regulatory landscape gets steeper and performance expectations rise, real estate teams are under pressure to do more with shorter timelines, evolving rules, and increasing demands for transparency. Whether you are preparing for local regulations or seeking data-driven improvements across your portfolio, Verdani is here to help you get ahead.
Reach out to request a proposal or learn more about our services:
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