The City of Chicago has released its 2022-2023 Energy Benchmarking Report, showing a 39% decrease in carbon emissions per square foot for properties larger than 50,000 square feet since 2016. The report was announced by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Environment (DOE).
The Chicago Energy Benchmarking Ordinance, enacted in 2013, requires building owners to track energy use and identify opportunities for savings in large buildings. In 2019, the city introduced the Chicago Energy Rating System, making it the first U.S. city to require public display of energy performance ratings for large buildings.
“Chicago is committed to taking bold steps toward reducing emissions,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Focusing on the reduction of building emissions will not only make a significant dent in Chicago’s overall emissions, but also serve as an example to other cities as we work collectively to address the climate crises facing our world.”
Buildings account for about 70% of Chicago’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The city is working on several strategies to help residents reduce building-related emissions.
“Reducing our city’s emissions is a process that requires tackling the variety of different emissions sources, with a special focus on the biggest source, which is buildings,” said Angela Tovar, Chicago’s Chief Sustainability Officer and DOE Commissioner. “This is a process that requires a lot of stakeholders and coordination. With the reestablishment of Chicago’s Department of Environment in 2024, Chicago is better equipped than ever to successfully coordinate with and support building owners and managers as they work to reduce their emissions.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Carbon emissions from large buildings have fallen by 39% since 2016, with healthcare, retail, and office sectors seeing the largest drops.
- Compliance rates among buildings remained high but declined slightly from 87% in 2021 to 82% in 2023.
- Overall energy use intensity has decreased since 2016; however, some sectors saw small increases in energy use during 2022 and 2023 as activity returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The report combines data from two years due to pandemic-related disruptions that made reporting more difficult for building owners. This approach helps align future reports with their intended schedule.
According to city officials, these results highlight both progress made and areas where further improvement is needed. The Department of Environment plans continued expansion of benchmarking programs and initiatives such as Green Homes Chicago—which supports homeowners switching to electric systems—and efforts promoting renewable energy adoption.
Further information about the ordinance and full details from the latest report can be found at cityofchicago.org/energybenchmarking.