The City of Des Moines has taken a significant step towards sustainability by passing the Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance, which requires large buildings to annually report their energy and water usage. This ordinance is part of the city's long-term strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are significantly contributed to by large buildings—accounting for 35% of the city's total emissions. By implementing benchmarking, building owners can compare their resource usage against similar buildings, which helps identify inefficiencies and opportunities for cost savings. Council Member Josh Mandelbaum highlights the ordinance's role in providing owners with essential data to facilitate informed decisions on energy improvements. While there is no obligation to make changes based on the reported figures, the initiative aims to foster a greater understanding of energy waste among building owners.

Furthermore, this benchmarking effort offers valuable insights for the city and utility companies regarding where additional support may be needed. The program ultimately promotes a culture of sustainability and resource efficiency within the community. For more information, residents can visit the city's benchmarking initiative website.