The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week introduced a new green rating system to benchmark the energy performance of multifamily buildings.

Energy disclosure is proving to be critical to real estate transactions as failure to comply with AB1103 is opening up potential for significant delays, price negotiations and missed deals.

After a number of delays, compliance with AB 1103 is required from January 1, 2014.

California's commercial building energy disclosure law, AB 1103, will go into effect July 1, 2013 (UPDATE: after being postponed a number of times, AB1103 will now be implemented on September 1, 2013). The law requires commercial building owners to disclose a building's historical energy usage prior to selling, leasing, or financing the asset.

There are several energy-efficiency programs out there to help New York commercial real estate owners.

In California there are numerous programs to help commercial real estate firms with energy efficiency.

DALLAS-In GlobeSt.com’s recent webinar, Engineering Returns Through Energy Efficiency, Partner Energy’s Tony Liou discusses the many utility- and government-provided programs that offer rebates and incentives for completing energy audits or implementing efficiency measures.

In my recent webinar, I discuss many of the local programs and laws regarding energy efficiency that building owners, investors and brokers should be aware of.