Yes, if a building has more than 50,000 square feet of gross floor area and no residential units, it is covered, whether it is a school, hospital or office. Government-owned buildings must comply, except federal buildings. The CEC FAQ lists no special exemption for schools or hospitals.
See what AB 802 covers.
Are public school districts covered?
The CEC FAQ says government-owned buildings are required to comply, except buildings owned by the federal government. A school building over 50,000 square feet is a covered building. The CEC has sent letters to school agencies, as reported by the Coalition for Adequate School Housing.
Are hospitals covered?
Hospitals are a property type in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The CEC FAQ lists no hospital exemption. A hospital building over 50,000 square feet with no residential units is covered unless more than half of its floor area is used for scientific experiments needing controlled environments, or for manufacturing or industrial purposes. Confirm your facility with the CEC helpdesk.
Is each school building reported separately?
Reporting is at the building level when possible. Covered buildings on the same site that are served by one common meter without submetering are treated as one building. Check how your campus is metered, then confirm with the CEC helpdesk.
Who files for a district with many sites?
The owner, such as the district or health system, is responsible. Facilities or energy staff often file, or the owner can authorize an agent. Notices sent to individual school sites may not reach the right team, so the owner should tell the CEC who the contact is. The CEC lets owners claim a building on benchmarkingca.com so that compliance notices go to the right contact.
What are the exemptions?
Buildings with no certificate of occupancy for more than half the reporting year, buildings scheduled to be demolished within a year, substantially destroyed buildings, and buildings reported under a CEC-listed local program. Exemptions are annual.
Frequently asked questions
Do charter schools or private hospitals have to report?
Covered status depends on size, residential accounts and use, not on the type of organization. Confirm your building with the CEC helpdesk.
Is a campus one building or many?
Buildings served by one common meter without submetering are treated as one building. Otherwise report each building separately.
Where can a district claim its buildings?
The CEC FAQ describes a claim form linked from benchmarkingca.com so contact information is associated with each building.
Sources
- Building Energy Benchmarking Program
- Building Energy Benchmarking FAQ
- 20 CCR 1681
- Coalition for Adequate School Housing
Beacon is a private benchmarking service provider and is not the California Energy Commission (CEC).
