Questionnaire - Offices
___ m2 OR
___ ft2
Floor area measurements have many different names (Gross Measured Area, Interior Gross Area, and Exterior Gross Area). For the purposes of benchmarking energy and water in BOMA BEST, the term Gross Floor Area (GFA) will be used to refer to the floor measurement that includes the following areas:
• Lobbies
• Tenant Areas
• Common Areas
• Meeting Rooms
• Break Rooms
• Atriums (ground floor only)
• Restrooms
• Elevator Shafts
• Stairwells
• Mechanical Equipment Areas
• Basements
• Storage Rooms
The following spaces should not be included in this measurement:
• Exterior spaces
• Balconies
• Patios
• Exterior Loading Docks
• Driveways
• Covered Walkways
• Outdoor Courts (Tennis, Basketball, etc.)
• The interstitial plenum space between floors (which house pipes and ventilation)
• Crawl Spaces
• Parking (indoor or outdoor)
____
• Office
• Healthcare
• Enclosed Shopping Center
• Universal
• Multi-Unit Residential
• Light Industrial
• Open Air Retail
_____
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• No
If tenant occupied, provide the following:
• A building floor plan outlining areas managed by the owner/landlord vs tenant
• A list of building systems identifying whether the owner/landlord or tenant is responsible for operations
• A list of building systems identifying whether the owner/landlord or tenant is responsible for maintenance and repairs
• If systems are managed by the tenant, provide supporting documentation such as an excerpt from the lease agreement demonstrating that tenant is responsible
• If the owner/landlord is restricted from accessing the tenant space provide supporting documentation such as a lease excerpt or a narrative signed by the owner/landlord or tenant detailing how and why the space is restricted
• Yes
• No
For multiple building submissions, provide a narrative describing how the three requirements have been met:
• The buildings must share an actual, physical connection that is complete and indivisible (e.g., a shared functional space that cannot be divided, such as underground parking, an atrium or conference space). Hallways or interior walking paths between buildings are not considered functional, shared space, even if they are lit and/or heated. This requirement is consistent with the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) definition of a “single structure”.
E1.0a – Energy and Carbon Assessment
Q: Has a Walkthrough Energy and Carbon Assessment been completed in the past five years?
E1.0b — Energy and Carbon Assessment
E2.0 – Energy Management Plan
Q: Is there an energy management plan with specific energy or carbon reduction targets?
E6.0 – Preventative Maintenance
Q: Is a Preventive Maintenance Plan in place for the building?
E13.0 — Owner or Landlord Shares Energy and Carbon Practices
Q: Has an Energy and Carbon Management Communication Plan been shared with the building tenants?
E1.1 — Mechanical System Assessment
E1.2 — Envelope Assessment
E1.3a — Detailed Energy and Carbon Assessment
Q: Has a Detailed Energy and Carbon Assessment been performed in the past five years?
E1.3b — Owner or landlord informs, tenant manages energy
Q: Does the owner or landlord conduct visual inspections of tenant-managed energy systems each year?
E1.4 — Deep Retrofit Study
E2.1a — Net Zero Transition Plan
E2.1b — Net-Zero Transition Target
Q: Does your organization have a net zero carbon reduction target?
E2.2 — Capital Plan
E3.1a — Benchmarking Energy Use
Q: What is the calculated Energy Star score for the building?
E3.2 — Benchmarking Carbon Emissions
Q: Are the whole building’s carbon emissions quantified and benchmarked?
E3.3 — Third-Party Recognition
E4.1a — Energy Use Tracking
Q: Was whole-building energy use data tracked before and during Covid?
E4.1b – Tracking Sub-Metered Use
Q: Was any sub-metered energy use data tracked before and during Covid?
E4.2 — Carbon Emissions Tracking
E4.3 — Data Monitoring
Q: How frequently are energy use and carbon emissions trended and monitored?
E5.1 — Energy and Carbon Conservation
Q: Which energy conservation or carbon reduction measures were implemented in the past five years?
E5.2 — Conservation Achieved
E5.3 – Energy and Carbon in New Tenancies
E6.1 — Retro-commissioning Investigation
E6.2 — Fault Detection
E7.1 — Building Automation
Q: Does the building have an operational building automation system (BAS)?
E7.2 — Control Strategies
Q: What control strategies are in place?
E7.3 — Controls Optimization
E8.1a — LEDs
Q: Are LED lighting installed in spaces controlled by the owner or landlord?
E8.2a — Light Sensors
E8.3 — Lighting Zones
Q: Are lighting controls installed in the building, where appropriate?
E9.1 — Peak Demand
Q: Is the building’s peak electrical demand known?
E9.2 — Peak Demand Patterns
Q: Is the month with the highest heating fuel consumption known?
E9.3 — Reducing Seasonal Peaks
E10.1 — HVAC Efficiency
Q: Is high efficiency, low carbon mechanical equipment installed in the building?
E10.2 — On-site Combustion
Q: Has the building transitioned off all forms of on-site combustion?
E12.1 — Training in Energy and Carbon
E12.2 — Innovation in Energy and Carbon
E13.1 – Align Engagement Initiatives with Tenants
W1.0a — Walkthrough Water Assessment
Q: Has a water assessment been conducted in the past five years?
W1.0b — Water Assessment
W5.0 — Mould and Water Damage Management
Q: Is a Mould and Water Damage Management Program in place at the building?
W7.0 — Owner or landlord shares Water Management practices
Q: Has the owner or landlord shared a Water Communication Plan with the building tenants?
W1.1 – Water Efficient Features
Q: Does the building incorporate any high-efficiency water fixtures?
W2.1a — Benchmark whole-building
Q: What is the calculated Water Use Intensity (WUI) for the building?
W2.1b – Sub-Metered Data
Q: Is any sub-metered water use available for the most recent 12 months?
W3.1a — Tracking Whole-Building Use
Q: Was whole-building water-use data tracked before and during Covid?
W3.1b – Tracking Sub-Metered Use
Q: Was any sub-metered water use data tracked before and during Covid?
W3.2 — Data Monitoring
Q: How frequently are any of the water uses trended and monitored?
W4.1a – Water Conservation (low/no cost measures)
Q: Which low/no cost water conservation measures were implemented in the past five years?
W4.1b – Water Conservation (Capital Expenditure measures)
Q: Which capital expenditure water conservation measures were implemented in the past five years?
W5.1 — Water Damage Response
Q: Is a process in place to respond to leaks or water infiltration issues?
W5.2 — Legionella Bacteria Control Management
Q: Is a Legionella Bacteria Control Management Program in place at the building?
W5.3 – Water Features for Laboratories
Q: Are the following strategies implemented to manage Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in laboratories?
W6.1 — Training in Water Management
W6.2 — Innovation in Water Management
W7.1 – Align Engagement Initiatives with Tenants
Q: Do any of the tenants’ water management approaches align with the owner or landlord’s?
I1.0a — Owner or landlord manages whole building IAQ
I1.0b – Owner or landlord informs, tenant manages IAQ
Q: Does the owner or landlord conduct visual IAQ inspections of tenant-managed spaces each year?
I4.0 — IAQ Management in Construction
Q: Is a plan in place to minimize indoor air quality impacts during renovation and construction?
I8.0 – Landlord Shares IAQ and Hazards Practices
I1.1a – Owner or landlord IAQ Corrective Actions
I1.1b – Tenant IAQ Corrective Actions
I1.2 – Owner or landlord frequently assesses IAQ
Q: How frequently are IAQ assessments conducted at the building?
I1.3 – Smoking Restrictions
I2.1a – Owner or landlord maintains Outdoor Air
I2.1b – Owner or landlord informs, Tenant maintains Outdoor Air
I2.2 – IAQ in New Tenancies
Q: Is there a procedure in place for reviewing the tenant-controlled HVAC equipment at lease expiry?
I2.3 — Air Quality Sensors
I2.4 – CO Monitoring in Parking Areas
I2.5 – CO Monitoring in Occupied Spaces
I2.6 – IAQ Management in Laboratories
I3.1 — Filter Inspection
I3.2 — MERV Filter Rating
Q: Are filters with MERV rating 13 or higher installed on AHUs?
I4.1 – IAQ Control in Construction Specifications
I4.2 – IAQ Management in Tenant Construction
I5.1 — Refrigerant Safety Program
Q: Is a Refrigerant Safety Program in place?
I5.2 — Refrigerant Inspections
Q: Have leak checks and inspections been conducted on refrigerant systems?
I5.3 — Phase-out High GWP Refrigerants
I6.1 – Hazardous Materials Management
Q: Is a Hazardous Materials Management Program implemented at the building?
I6.2 – Hazardous Chemicals Management
Q: Is a Hazardous Chemical Product Management Program implemented at the building?
I6.3 – Radon Risk Assessment
I7.1 — Training in IAQ and Hazards
I7.2 — Innovation in Energy and Carbon
I8.1 – Align Engagement Initiatives with Tenants
A1.0 — Accessibility Awareness
A4.0 — Occupant Engagement
Q: Is an Occupant Environmental Communication Program in place at the building?
A1.1 — RHFAC Survey
A1.2 — RHFAC Plan or Action
A1.3 — RHFAC Certification
A2.1 — Humidification
Q: Are humidification systems present and properly maintained?
A2.2 — Relative Humidity
Q: Is Relative Humidity (RH) maintained according to ASHRAE 55?
A2.3 — Visual Elements
A2.4 — Acoustic Elements
A3.1 – DEI Assessment
A3.2 — Inclusive Amenities
Q: Have steps been taken to enhance inclusive amenities at the building?
A3.3 – Sense of Place
A4.1 — Occupant Service Requests
Q: Is an Occupant Service Request Program in place?
A4.2 — Occupant Satisfaction Survey
Q: Was an occupant satisfaction survey conducted in the last three years?
A5.1 — Training in Accessibility and Wellness
A5.2 — Innovation in Accessibility and Wellness
P2.0 — Green Cleaning Program
Q: Is a Green Cleaning Program in place at the building?
P4.0a – Waste Audit
Q: Has a Waste Audit been completed for the building in the past three years?
P4.0b – Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy
Q: Is a Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy in place at the building?
P8.0 – Landlord Shares Custodial and Waste Management Practices
Q: Has the owner or landlord’s Custodial & Waste Communication Plan been shared with the tenants?
P1.1 Circular Economy Procurement Strategy
P1.2 Social Procurement Strategy
Q: Are social procurement strategies implemented and maintained in building management activities?
P2.1 — Pest Management
Q: Is an Integrated Pest Management Program in place?
P2.2 — Enhanced Cleaning Protocols
Q: Is there an Enhanced Cleaning Protocol in place during flu season or for pandemic response?
P3.1 — Cleaning Products and Equipment in use
P3.2 — Custodial and Pest Management Assessment
Q: Has an assessment of the building’s custodial practices been conducted in the last two years?
P4.1 – More frequent or detailed Waste Audit
P4.2 – Corrective Action
Q: Is there evidence of Waste Audit corrective actions implemented in the last five years?
P4.3 – Diversion Rate
P5.1a – Workplan
Q: Is a Waste Reduction Work Plan in place at the building?
P5.1b – Waste Diversion Strategies
Q: Are any of the following waste diversion initiatives in place at the building?
P5.2a – Waste Management Strategies
Q: Is a program in place at the building for recycling, waste avoidance, reuse or donation?
P5.2b – Additional Waste Management Strategies
P5.3 – Bin-sizing
P6.1 — Waste Management in Construction
P6.2 — Waste Control in Construction Specifications
P6.3 — Waste Management in Tenant Construction
P7.1 — Training in Custodial and Waste
P7.2 — Innovation in Custodial and Waste
P8.1 – Align Engagement Initiatives with Tenants
R2.0 — Past Climate Hazards
Q: What climate hazards and extreme weather events has the site experienced in the past 10 years?
R1.1 – Site Irrigation
Q: Which type of water efficient controls are used to irrigate the site’s landscaped areas?
R1.2 — Sensitive Site Management
Q: Are environmentally sensitive site management strategies implemented and maintained on the site?
R1.3 – Hardscape Management Program
R2.1 — Future Climate Hazards
R2.2 — Rank Climate Risks
Q: Have the climate risks been ranked and assessed for the building and site?
R2.3 — Resilience Strategies
R3.1 — Emergency Preparedness
Q: Do emergency preparedness and response plans include climate hazards and related extreme events?
R3.2 — Maintain Critical Systems
R3.3 – Capital Planning
Q: Are capital upgrade and renewal planning processes informed by climate-related risks?
R4.1 — Training in Resilience
R4.2 – Innovation in Resilience & Site