--- title: Utility Tracking and Benchmarking Blog | WegoBlog (2) description: WegoWise is site that allows you to track and compare your energy use in order to move towards efficiency. This blog is devoted to related topics such as tips for responsible energy use, cutting costs, and local laws that may effect you. (2) --- [![Wegowise](https://sites.wegowise.com/hubfs/www.wegowise.com/Image/Header_logo.svg "Wegowise")](https://www.wegowise.com/) [Try WegoWise](https://www.wegowise.com/signup) [signup](https://www.wegowise.com/signup) # Utility Tracking and Benchmarking Blog | WegoBlog ## [Greener than the Grass: Greenest Cities in the U.S.](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/149123/Greener-than-the-Grass-Greenest-Cities-in-the-U-S) Posted by [Tammy Bui](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/tammy-bui) on Thu, Jun 20, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-201123843.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/149123/Greener-than-the-Grass-Greenest-Cities-in-the-U-S) It’s definitely tough to be in the city and think of how “green” it can be, especially because cities are mostly built environments. Aside from industrialization, you can’t stop from noticing the streets covered in trash, air full of car exhaust, and lack of large green spaces! However, some cities in the U.S. have begun to push these stereotypes aside. The [WegoWise, Inc.](https://www.wegowise.com/) team decided to gather 7 cities that have promoted sustainability in great ways. Check it out! [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/149123/Greener-than-the-Grass-Greenest-Cities-in-the-U-S) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/149123/Greener-than-the-Grass-Greenest-Cities-in-the-U-S#comments-listing) Tags: [Sustainability](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/sustainability), [save energy](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-energy), [save money](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-money), [Recycling](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/recycling), [Energy efficiency](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-efficiency), [Green living](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/green-living) ## [Living Small In a Big City: Micro Units](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148939/Living-Small-In-a-Big-City-Micro-Units) Posted by [Tammy Bui](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/tammy-bui) on Fri, Jun 14, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-68490679.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148939/Living-Small-In-a-Big-City-Micro-Units) As more and more people leave single-family and multi-family suburban homes, they begin to move towards the city. Places like Boston, New York, and Los Angeles are flooded with young professionals who are on the look-out for apartments that will make their wallet feel comfortable while being close to their work place. For these young professionals, moving allows them to develop their career path in a fast-paced , urban environment. A city like Boston, where [WegoWise, Inc.](https://www.wegowise.com/#home) is based, can tell you that living in a city where there is growth in demand for downtown living causes limited housing space. Enter micro units, a small sized apartment, perfect for one or two, that just might be a new and innovative way of living in urban downtowns. [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148939/Living-Small-In-a-Big-City-Micro-Units) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148939/Living-Small-In-a-Big-City-Micro-Units#comments-listing) Tags: [Energy efficiency](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-efficiency), [Affordable housing](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/affordable-housing), [Green living](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/green-living) ## [Installing Residential Solar Power: My Experience](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148675/Installing-Residential-Solar-Power-My-Experience) Posted by [Craig Isakow](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/craig-isakow) on Tue, Jun 11, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-62245708.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148675/Installing-Residential-Solar-Power-My-Experience) **What to expect when you're expecting...Solar Power. **Last year my wife and I decided to take the plunge, we signed up for residential solar power.  After living in China and breathing really dirty air for 2 years, I became interested in the advantages of solar power.  I dreamt of a solar world. [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148675/Installing-Residential-Solar-Power-My-Experience) 3 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148675/Installing-Residential-Solar-Power-My-Experience#comments-listing) Tags: [save energy](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-energy), [save money](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-money), [solar](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/solar), [advantages to going solar](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/advantages-to-going-solar), [solar world](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/solar-world) ## [Energy Star Portfolio Manager Upgrade: What Is It?](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148643/Energy-Star-Portfolio-Manager-Upgrade-What-Is-It) Posted by [David Segan](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/david-segan) on Fri, Jun 07, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-40758241.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148643/Energy-Star-Portfolio-Manager-Upgrade-What-Is-It) **EPA Investing in New Energy Star Portfolio Manager Web Services  **** **The EPA is closing in on the scheduled release of their newly upgraded Energy Star Portfolio Manager that will make benchmarking building energy efficiency more, for lack of a better word, efficient.   The upgrade will include changes to the database architecture, system processing, web services, and user interface.  All changes are being made with an overarching purpose of improving functionality and usability for all parties.  Most notable for the Portfolio Manager user, is that the web services, formally known as Automated Benchmarking Services (ABS), will have a new software design to simplify the process of exchanging data with Portfolio Manager. [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148643/Energy-Star-Portfolio-Manager-Upgrade-What-Is-It) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148643/Energy-Star-Portfolio-Manager-Upgrade-What-Is-It#comments-listing) Tags: [save energy](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-energy), [save money](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-money), [Energy Benchmark](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-benchmark), [Energy Star Portfolio Manager](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-star-portfolio-manager), [Energy Disclosure](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-disclosure), [Energy Star Web Services](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-star-web-services) ## [Should I buy shares of the Empire State Building? An energy look](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148409/Should-I-buy-shares-of-the-Empire-State-Building-An-energy-look) Posted by [Kelly Smith](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/kelly-smith) on Tue, Jun 04, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-56751047.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148409/Should-I-buy-shares-of-the-Empire-State-Building-An-energy-look) After decades of deliberation, the owners of the historic [Empire State Building](http://www.esbny.com) in New York City have [decided to IPO](http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/29/investing/empire-state-building-ipo/), allowing the public to purchase shares of the Manhattan icon. This means that ownership in the famous structure are available to you and me, regardless of whether we are real estate moguls. Because I am an energy nerd, this analysis focuses on the impact of [recent green projects](http://www.esbnyc.com/sustainability_energy_efficiency.asp) on the building's value. [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148409/Should-I-buy-shares-of-the-Empire-State-Building-An-energy-look) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148409/Should-I-buy-shares-of-the-Empire-State-Building-An-energy-look#comments-listing) Tags: [Sustainability](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/sustainability), [Energy efficiency](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-efficiency), [Funding](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/funding), [Energy Disclosure](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-disclosure) ## [WegoWise's Friday Links: It's a Scorcher!](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148330/WegoWise-s-Friday-Links-It-s-a-Scorcher) Posted by [Sam Watters](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/sam-watters) on Fri, May 31, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-54938718.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148330/WegoWise-s-Friday-Links-It-s-a-Scorcher) [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148330/WegoWise-s-Friday-Links-It-s-a-Scorcher) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148330/WegoWise-s-Friday-Links-It-s-a-Scorcher#comments-listing) Tags: [Sustainability](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/sustainability), [Building science](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/building-science), [Friday Links](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/friday-links) ## [WegoWise Top 5 Links for Music Festivals](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148080/WegoWise-Top-5-Links-for-Music-Festivals) Posted by [Sam Watters](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/sam-watters) on Fri, May 24, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-49284411.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148080/WegoWise-Top-5-Links-for-Music-Festivals) The WegoWise office is abuzz today in anticipation of our homecity's own music festival, [Boston Calling](http://bostoncalling.com/), this weekend. Music festivals continue to gain popularity around the world, with thousands of eventgoers streaming in to remote (and not-so-remote) locations to celebrate and listen to some tunes.  With such a concentration of people staying, partying, and doing the things people do, music festivals have an uphill struggle to avoid potentially serious environmental impacts.  Whether your a concerned citizen, an avid festival-goer, or planning your own Memorial Day "boombox, burgers and buds" backyard festival this weekend, take a look at our Friday links and get some knowledge! [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148080/WegoWise-Top-5-Links-for-Music-Festivals) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148080/WegoWise-Top-5-Links-for-Music-Festivals#comments-listing) Tags: [Renewables](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/renewables), [Sustainability](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/sustainability), [Recycling](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/recycling), [Green living](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/green-living) ## [Is Mandatory Energy Benchmarking a Good Thing?](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148000/Is-Mandatory-Energy-Benchmarking-a-Good-Thing) Posted by [Barun Singh](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/barun-singh) on Thu, May 23, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-48503771.jpg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148000/Is-Mandatory-Energy-Benchmarking-a-Good-Thing) We provide tracking and benchmarking services to a lot of multifamily and commercial buildings throughout the US. As leaders in this space, we often get asked what we think of energy benchmarking and disclosure laws. Recently, this debate came to our backyard, with Boston's consideration of the [Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO)](http://www.cityofboston.gov/environmentalandenergy/conservation/berdo.asp). The ordinance passed a vote of the Boston City Council vote only two weeks ago. [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148000/Is-Mandatory-Energy-Benchmarking-a-Good-Thing) 2 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/148000/Is-Mandatory-Energy-Benchmarking-a-Good-Thing#comments-listing) Tags: [epa portfolio manager](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/epa-portfolio-manager), [BERDO](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/berdo), [Energy Benchmark](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-benchmark), [Energy efficiency](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-efficiency), [energy star](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-star) ## [Revitalizing the Rural Energy for America Program](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147935/Revitalizing-the-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program) Posted by [Joanna Blaszczak](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/joanna-blaszczak) on Tue, May 21, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-46082252.jpeg) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147935/Revitalizing-the-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program) While rural areas by definition have fewer buildings, their energy use reduction potential at a national level should not be forgotten.  For logical reasons, most building energy efficiency improvement initiatives have targeted urban areas where buildings are concentrated. As part of our nation’s commitment to becoming more energy independent, supporting efforts to improve the efficiency of buildings in diverse rural areas represents an opportunity to achieve those goals holistically. The **Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)** supports underserved rural small businesses and agricultural providers seeking to use renewable energy resources and cut energy waste in their operations. This program represents an important step in responding to the energy reduction challenges facing the US. [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147935/Revitalizing-the-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147935/Revitalizing-the-Rural-Energy-for-America-Program#comments-listing) Tags: [Sustainability](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/sustainability), [Energy efficiency](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-efficiency) ## [Driving Energy Efficiency through Better Buildings](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147814/Driving-Energy-Efficiency-through-Better-Buildings) Posted by [Craig Isakow](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/author/craig-isakow) on Fri, May 17, 2013 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://sites.wegowise.com/hs-fs/hub/107469/file-43051926.png) ](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147814/Driving-Energy-Efficiency-through-Better-Buildings) We love energy tracking, the key idea behind the US Government's Better Building Challenge. Over the next few weeks there are a number of terrific events focused on reducing energy and saving money by improving the built environment through energy efficiency upgrades. [Read More](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147814/Driving-Energy-Efficiency-through-Better-Buildings) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/bid/147814/Driving-Energy-Efficiency-through-Better-Buildings#comments-listing) Tags: [save energy](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-energy), [M&V](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/mv), [better buildings](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/better-buildings), [save money](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-money), [epa portfolio manager](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/epa-portfolio-manager), [Benchmark](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/benchmark), [better building](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/better-building), [Energy efficiency](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-efficiency), [energy star](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-star), [Energy Disclosure](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-disclosure) [Previous Page](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/page/1) [All Posts](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/all) [Next Page](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/page/3) [![New Call to action](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/107469/37986de4-f7a0-4b24-a3de-0f3f2f4a96d1.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/107469/37986de4-f7a0-4b24-a3de-0f3f2f4a96d1) [![Receive our quarterly newsletter](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/107469/7978ced2-deff-479a-b4b3-f8710e567987.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/107469/7978ced2-deff-479a-b4b3-f8710e567987) ### Subscribe by Email ### Browse by Tag - [advantages to going solar (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/advantages-to-going-solar) - [Affordable housing (22)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/affordable-housing) - [baselining (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/baselining) - [Benchmark (6)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/benchmark) - [BERDO (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/berdo) - [better building (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/better-building) - [better buildings (2)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/better-buildings) - [Bike Sharing (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/bike-sharing) - [bikeshare (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/bikeshare) - [Building science (46)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/building-science) - [california AB1103 (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/california-ab1103) - [Case Study (10)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/case-study) - [Citi Bike (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/citi-bike) - [Construction (4)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/construction) - [Data Centers (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/data-centers) - [Digital Detox (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/digital-detox) - [EDF (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/edf) - [Einstein (2)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/einstein) - [Energy Benchmark (3)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-benchmark) - [Energy Disclosure (9)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-disclosure) - [Energy efficiency (189)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-efficiency) - [energy independence (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-independence) - [energy star (6)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-star) - [Energy Star Portfolio Manager (2)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-star-portfolio-manager) - [Energy Star Web Services (2)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/energy-star-web-services) - [epa portfolio manager (2)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/epa-portfolio-manager) - [Finance (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/finance) - [Friday Links (4)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/friday-links) - [Funding (13)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/funding) - [Green living (76)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/green-living) - [Green Property Management (4)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/green-property-management) - [Hubway (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/hubway) - [importing energy (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/importing-energy) - [Investment Confidence Project (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/investment-confidence-project) - [Localvore (9)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/localvore) - [M&V (3)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/mv) - [News and Policy (110)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/news-and-policy) - [Recycling (16)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/recycling) - [renewable energy (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/renewable-energy) - [Renewables (48)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/renewables) - [Retrofitting (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/retrofitting) - [save energy (14)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-energy) - [save money (5)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/save-money) - [solar (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/solar) - [solar systems (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/solar-systems) - [solar world (1)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/solar-world) - [Sustainability (94)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/sustainability) - [Water Conservation (31)](https://sites.wegowise.com/blog2/topic/water-conservation) ### Latest Posts [![New Call to action](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/107469/fb58801a-0dcf-4dec-87d0-cb41df7c6663.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/107469/fb58801a-0dcf-4dec-87d0-cb41df7c6663)     [![New Call to action](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/107469/b55b861b-ad07-4e4a-b532-701e557f88ac.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/107469/b55b861b-ad07-4e4a-b532-701e557f88ac) © WegoWise Inc.