EUI is the primary metric used in building performance standards across the US. Use this reference to see how your building compares — and what you need to achieve for compliance.
Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is the standard measure of a building's annual energy consumption per unit of floor area. It is calculated by dividing a building's total energy use for a full calendar year — including electricity, natural gas, steam, and all other energy sources — by its gross floor area in square feet. The result is expressed in kBtu per square foot per year (kBtu/SF/yr). A lower EUI indicates a more energy-efficient building. EUI enables meaningful comparisons across buildings of different sizes and is the primary metric used by ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and virtually every state-level building performance standard enacted to date.
It is important to understand the distinction between site EUI and source EUI. Site EUI measures only the energy delivered to and consumed at the building itself, based on metered utility bills. Source EUI accounts for the full energy chain: upstream generation, transmission, and distribution losses are factored in using national average conversion factors. Because generating electricity involves significant losses before it reaches a building, electricity has a much higher source-to-site ratio than natural gas. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager uses source EUI to calculate its 1–100 score, making that score comparable across buildings with different fuel mixes. Most state building performance standards — including Washington's Clean Buildings Performance Standard, Oregon's BPS, and Colorado's BPS — use site EUI as the compliance threshold, so the values in the table below reflect site EUI unless otherwise noted.
Compare your building's current EUI against national median performance, ENERGY STAR targets, and Washington State CBPS compliance thresholds. All values are site EUI in kBtu/SF/yr.
| Building Type | Median US EUI | ENERGY STAR Score 50 EUI | WA CBPS Target EUI | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office | 78 | 65 | 63–66 | Zone 4C: Administrative/Professional = 63; Government/Other = 66. Zone 5B: ~65–68. Most private offices use 63 |
| Retail Store | 74 | 57 | 68 | Zone 4C; Zone 5B: 75. Highly variable by hours of operation |
| K–12 School | 72 | 59 | 49 | Elementary school (Zone 4C); high school: 48. HVAC scheduling controls are critical |
| Multifamily (5+ units) | 62 | 52 | 32 | Zone 4C; Zone 5B: 33. Whole-building metering required for accurate benchmarking |
| Warehouse (unrefrigerated) | 35 | 25 | 36 | Zone 4C; Zone 5B: 44. Refrigerated warehouse target: 121. Lighting upgrades often sufficient |
| Hospital / Acute Care | 385 | 325 | 215 | Zone 4C and 5B both 215. High intensity due to 24/7 operations and ventilation requirements |
| Hotel / Motel | 120 | 95 | 68 | Zone 4C; Zone 5B: 72. Gap analysis should account for occupancy and seasonal patterns |
| College / University | 130 | 105 | 102 | Zone 4C and 5B both 102. Lab-heavy campuses will have higher baseline EUI |
| Data Center | 600+ | N/A | N/A | No CBPS target — excluded due to unique IT loads; PUE is the standard metric |
| Supermarket / Grocery | 450 | 380 | 191 | Zone 4C; Zone 5B: 198. Covered by WA CBPS (Table 7-2a). Refrigeration loads dominate |
| Medical Office | 95 | 78 | 60 | Zone 4C; Zone 5B: 65. Plug load management and scheduling are key levers |
| Worship Facility | 45 | 38 | 39 | Zone 4C; Zone 5B: 42. Covered by WA CBPS (Table 7-2a). Low occupancy hours typically keep EUI low |
WA CBPS targets are Zone 4C (Western Washington, including Seattle / Tacoma) site EUI values from Table 7-2a of the CBPS standard (July 2024). Zone 5B (Eastern Washington / Spokane) targets differ slightly — see the standard for the full 113-type table. Median US EUI and ENERGY STAR reference values are based on CBECS national survey data and Portfolio Manager published figures. Verify current targets with the applicable state agency before making compliance decisions.
Building performance standards (BPS) are laws that require existing commercial buildings to meet minimum energy performance thresholds by a specified deadline, with financial penalties for non-compliance. EUI-based BPS programs set a maximum allowable site EUI for each building type and require owners to demonstrate, through annual benchmarking data submitted to a state agency, that their building meets or beats the target. If the building exceeds the EUI threshold, the owner must undertake energy efficiency improvements and resubmit data showing compliance.
Not all BPS programs use EUI as the primary metric. New York City's Local Law 97 (LL97) and Boston's BERDO set limits in terms of greenhouse gas emissions intensity (kg CO₂e per square foot), which places additional emphasis on fuel switching from gas to electricity as the grid decarbonizes. However, EUI remains the most widely adopted compliance metric in the US, and even emissions-based programs ultimately reward the same outcome: reduced energy consumption and improved building efficiency.
Site EUI targets by building type (Table 7-2a). Tier 1 (>50k SF): phased deadlines June 2026–2028 by size. Tier 2 (20k–50k SF): July 2027, report-only. Full compliance guide →
Site EUI targets modeled on ENERGY STAR reference values. Phased deadlines beginning 2023 for large buildings, with ongoing compliance cycles.
Statewide mandatory program (HB 21-1286) covering buildings over 50,000 SF. 7% GHG reduction target by 2026; 20% by 2030. Local jurisdictions (Denver, Boulder) may have additional requirements.
GHG intensity limits (tCO₂e/SF) that tighten in 2030 and again in 2035. Applies to buildings over 25,000 SF. Penalties up to $268/tCO₂e above limit.
Emissions intensity targets with five-year compliance cycles beginning 2025. Applies to buildings over 20,000 SF in Boston.
Illinois, Maryland, and several additional states have enacted or proposed BPS legislation. EUI benchmarking is the foundation for all of them. See the BPS deadline tracker →
You can calculate a rough site EUI for any building using 12 months of utility bills and a basic understanding of your building area. Follow these three steps.
Gather 12 months of utility bills for every fuel source your building uses: electricity (kWh), natural gas (therms or CCF), steam (Mlb or kBtu), fuel oil (gallons), and any other source. Convert each to kBtu using standard conversion factors:
1 kWh = 3.412 kBtu
1 therm = 100 kBtu
1 CCF natural gas ≈ 102 kBtu
Sum all converted values to get your building's total annual energy consumption in kBtu. Include all meters serving the building, including tenant submeters if you have access to that data.
Use your building's gross floor area as recorded in your lease, tax records, or architectural drawings. Gross floor area includes all conditioned and unconditioned interior spaces measured to the exterior face of the building envelope. Divide your total annual kBtu by this number:
Site EUI = Total Annual Energy (kBtu) ÷ Gross Floor Area (SF)
The result is your building's site EUI in kBtu/SF/yr. For ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, you will enter raw consumption data and the tool performs this calculation automatically, reporting both site and source EUI.
Locate your building type in the table above. Compare your calculated site EUI to the Median US EUI column to understand where you stand relative to peers. Then compare to your applicable jurisdiction's target column. If your EUI exceeds the compliance target, the difference is your compliance gap — the amount of energy reduction needed to meet the standard. A gap analysis will identify the most cost-effective combination of measures to close that gap before your deadline.
Knowing your EUI is step one. Getting it to where it needs to be — on time and cost-effectively — is where we come in.
We set up or audit your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account, ensure all meters and building attributes are entered correctly, and produce your official site and source EUI. Most building owners have errors in their Portfolio Manager data that inflate their apparent EUI or cause compliance reports to fail verification.
Once we have accurate benchmarking data, we identify where your building's energy is going and which systems are underperforming relative to their potential. We quantify the EUI gap and model the expected reduction from each candidate measure, so you can make capital allocation decisions with confidence.
We develop a sequenced compliance plan that fits your timeline and budget, prepare all required state agency submissions, and provide ongoing support through your compliance deadline. If your building is in Washington, Oregon, or another BPS state, we handle the regulatory interface so you don't have to.
John Slagboom, CEM, has worked with commercial building portfolios ranging from single-asset owners to multi-state property managers. Whether your building is well below its EUI target or significantly above it, the right starting point is accurate benchmarking and an honest gap analysis. Learn about our benchmarking service or review Washington CBPS compliance requirements if you own buildings in the state.
We handle Portfolio Manager setup, EUI calculation, and gap analysis. Know where you stand — and exactly what it takes to comply.
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