Energy Benchmarking 2026: How to Go Beyond Benchmarking to Optimize Performance
The trajectory of utility benchmarking and performance mandates across the country continues to rise. As we enter 2026, the number of mandatory annual disclosures community owners and operators must navigate continues to grow in complexity and breadth. This remains a challenge for even the most experienced teams and can be outright daunting for those just getting started on their journey.
Having the right tools and strategies, along with an effective communication platform, can help to mitigate an increasingly stressful annual exercise. When done right, this obligation can lead to a host of benefits, including cost savings, risk mitigation and more. In this webcast, Katie Fluence, Manager, Benchmarking and Compliance at RealPage®, Keely Felton, Chief Sustainability Officer, Nova Group GBC and Emily Pierce, Vice President of Impact at Acento Real Estate Partners will discuss the latest developments in benchmarking, tips and tricks for success and how to leverage these obligations into competitive advantages.
From simple data disclosures to increasingly complex – and sometimes conflicting – performance targets, tune in to learn more about:
- The full landscape of reporting, including green loans, water, and more
- What’s new in 2026, and what we’re keeping our eyes on in years to come
- Data access & quality
- Using benchmarking to improve performance
- Best practices, lessons learned, and more
This RealPage webcast will help you prepare for the 2026 benchmarking season and show you ways to easily address an ever-changing list of regulations and mandates.
Emily has 15 years of experience working in the environmental sustainability field. She started her career in energy efficiency advocacy and education before moving into greenhouse gas reduction program management with the Urban Land Institute’s Greenprint Center. As Director of Sustainability at Easterly Government Properties, she developed and launched the company’s first sustainability program that achieved energy reductions within the first two years, setting the company on track to reduce energy by 10% in five years.
Currently Emily is the Vice President of Impact at Acento Real Estate Partners where she leads the company’s sustainability and social impact initiatives for their workforce housing, multifamily portfolio. She is a LEED Green Associate and Fitwel Ambassador. Emily has a BA from Elon University and an MPA in environmental science and policy from George Mason University.
Keely Felton
Chief Sustainability Officer, Nova Group, GBCKeely Felton is a senior sustainability executive specializing in real estate decarbonization and climate risk strategy. She works at the intersection of investment performance and environmental impact, helping owners and operators translate complex frameworks—including Building Performance Standards into actionable, defensible implementation plans.
Keely’s expertise spans energy audits (ASHRAE Levels I–III), CRREM reduction pathways, water and waste audits, green building certifications, portfolio-level GHG inventories, climate risk analysis, and regulatory compliance, particularly Building Performance Standards. She partners closely with executive leadership, asset managers, and property teams to embed ESG into acquisitions, capital planning, and long-term portfolio strategy. Keely specializes in integrating sustainability into underwriting, PCA processes, capital planning, and asset management—ensuring compliance with emerging regulations while protecting and enhancing asset value. She is particularly focused on defensible, auditable implementation pathways that drive ROI through energy savings, avoided fines, green financing access, and long-term portfolio resilience. Keely is a Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) through AEE, a Green Globes Fellow and a Certified ISO 14064 Lead Verifier.
Katie Fluence
Manager of Benchmarking and Compliance, RealPage, Inc.Katie Fluence is an accomplished sustainability and ESG leader with deep expertise in driving environmental, social, and financial value across the real estate sector. She currently serves as Manager of Benchmarking and Compliance at RealPage, where she helps clients maximize portfolio value while minimizing regulatory risk. She has held leadership roles across multiple organizations, including Elme Communities, where she served as Director of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), and RE Tech Advisors, where she led ESG reporting initiatives that strengthened transparency and accountability for real estate investment managers.
With more than a decade of experience in commercial real estate sustainability, her earlier career includes sustainability-focused roles at several international architecture and construction firms, giving her a holistic understanding of building performance, design, and operational efficiency.
Katie is widely recognized for her leadership within the industry and holds multiple advanced professional credentials, including LEED AP ID+C, LEED AP ND, and WELL AP and has also contributed to GRESB as a member of its Expert Resources Group. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Sustainable Design from Philadelphia University.
