Audits Exemptions:

Audits are required for the base building systems of a property. Base building systems not covered:

  • Systems owned, maintained and paid for by residential or commercial tenants
  • Systems that exclusively serve residential tenants that residential tenants pay the bills for
  • Industrial

Audit Exceptions:

  • EPA ENERGY STAR certified for 2 of the last 3 years
  • Would have been ENERGY STAR certifiable for 2 of the last 3 years if EPA offered it, but ENERGY STAR certification is unavailable for that building type
  • ENERGY STAR score has improved 15 points in the last five years
  • The property’s weather-normalized source energy use intensity has been reduced by 15% in the last five years
  • Meets the most recent LEED EBOM for 2 of the last 3 years

OR

  • No occupancy certification or no temporary occupancy certification
  • Demolition permit issued and demolition has commenced
  • Multi-family housing, if electricity data aggregation isn’t available and there’s no master meter
  • Commercial where the owner isn’t responsible for operating or maintaining equipment, or paying for utilities, but only if electricity data aggregation isn’t available and there’s no master meter
  • Financial hardship (see above)
  • No utility services

Audit Extensions:

  • Good faith effort made but failed to obtain (limit of 2)
  • Financial hardship (see above)
  • <50% of rentable floor area occupied by tenants AND the number of reduced-cost audits has declined substantially year-to-year (limit of 3)
  • Converted from Industrial to Commercial (audit due 5 years after conversion)

Audit Deferments (audits not due in the regular cycle):

  • New buildings (<10 yrs old) that meet current energy code
  • Substantially improved buildings that meet current energy code

Audit performed since 1/1/2010 that qualifies under this ordinance (ASHRAE Level II or completed by Georgia Power), with paperwork signed and certified by the professional who did the work. This qualifies as early compliance is only good in the first round of audits.

To file for an exemption, extension, or deferment fill out the form below.

Email buildingefficiency@atlantaga.gov with any questions.