Step 2 Savings Energy Challenge Webinar: Introduction to Energy Star Portfolio Manager - August 24, 2026
Step 2 Savings Energy Challenge Webinar: Introduction to Energy Star Portfolio Manager (August 24, 2026)
Valerie, the City's Energy Manager in the Office of Climate Action, hosted the first webinar of the Step 2 Savings Energy Challenge on August 24, 2026. The session introduced the free program for multi-unit residential properties and places of worship to increase energy and water efficiency, focusing on establishing baselines and benchmarking via Energy Star Portfolio Manager. Attendees included program participants from organizations such as the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Wesley Housing, and Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, as well as staff from the city's green building and community engagement teams.
Discussion Items
- Program Overview: Valerie outlined the one-year challenge program, which includes three steps: (1) benchmarking and establishing a baseline (August–October 2026), (2) setting energy targets (November–January), and (3) developing an energy plan. Participants must attend at least 60% of the monthly webinars (typically third Wednesdays, 2–3 PM).
- Energy Star Portfolio Manager: Valerie demonstrated how to create an account, enter property data, track energy, water, and emissions, and generate reports. Key points included using a corporate account for multiple buildings, checking "searchable" to enable sharing, and collecting at least 12 months of utility data (with a recommendation for 36 months to identify trends).
- Utility Data Collection: Valerie emphasized the importance of benchmarking to measure performance and plan improvements. She noted that water tracking is optional but recommended due to its cost. The next webinar (September 16, 2026) will focus on accessing and entering utility bills, with utility representatives expected to present.
- Participant Questions:
- Steve Walls (Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions) asked whether sewer costs are included in water tracking; Valerie responded that, to her knowledge, Energy Star Portfolio Manager only tracks water, not sewer, and advised consulting the program glossary.
- Claudia Romero (Wesley Housing) asked whether to collect utility bills from residents or only common meters; Valerie clarified that house meters (building-level) are the focus.
Key Outcomes
- No votes or formal decisions were taken; the session was educational and preparatory.
- Attendees were assigned homework: finish creating their Energy Star Portfolio Manager account, collect 12–36 consecutive months of utility bills (electric, gas, and optionally water), download the data collection worksheet, and complete it before the next webinar.
- The next webinar is scheduled for September 16, 2026, from 2:00–3:00 PM, covering utility data access and entry.
Meeting Transcript
Hi, Angela. Hi, Valerie. No, that's hi everybody. Welcome to the webinar. I am going to share my screen. And we're going to start. Move some stuff out of the way. I want to start at the end. I could just say that was a very fast um webinar. So hi everybody. Welcome to our first webinar of the step two savings energy challenge. And of this one, the first step is establishing your baseline and benchmarking. And this is an introduction to Energy Star Portfolio Manager. So welcome, welcome. So I'm so happy that you're here. You are all participants. Most of you are participants in the challenge program. So we're thrilled to have you here and be a part of this thing. We look forward to this next year of running this program. So since all of you don't actually know each other, if you wouldn't mind, um, I'll go around the staff first, and then if each one of you can introduce yourself, uh, that would be great. So you already know me. I'm Valerie. I'm the city's energy manager in the Office of Climate Action. And if Dustin uh can introduce himself. Hey there, everyone. Currently named Angela Scott here in the square, but I'm actually Dustin Smith, and I am the green building manager with the City of Alexandria, and I work a lot with uh implementation of green building policy or plan on new development in the city. But I'm also um supporting Valerie on this project as you guys get started with your um benchmarking your buildings. Uh Julie, would you mind introducing yourself? Yeah, hello. Um Julia Fernandez Marcos on the community engagement and climate justice manager for the city. And thanks for joining us. Uh how about Dante? You're next on my screen. Hi, everyone. Uh, my name is Dante Arminio. Uh, I'm the sustainability research assistant for uh the apartment and office building association. Um so I'm just excited to learn a little bit more about what we have going on here. Welcome, Dante and Angela. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Angela Scott, and I am the asset management analyst here at Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority. And Martin Lucirio is the director of asset uh management, and uh he had an emergency and he's not able to attend. So I'm just filling in and introducing him as well. He'll be joining when we have future webinars. So sorry for the confusion about the name tags. I I know it's something about our link came up with interesting names. Uh Claudia, would you like to introduce yourself? Hi, I'm Claudia Romero Wesley Housing. I'm the portfolio operation specialist. And then Steve, um you're next. Steve, are you there?
openpublica.com