BE:1A - COMPLETE

BE:1A - “Develop an energy benchmarking and disclosure policy for municipal and commercial buildings with the first-year disclosure completed by the end of 2020.”

On July 12, 2021, the Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance, Proposal 185, was added to the City-County code governing Indianapolis and Marion County. Proposal 185 will encourage energy efficiency and unlock benefits for community and building owners. It will require buildings 50,000 square feet and larger to disclose energy and water consumption to the city using Portfolio Manager. It also applies to city-owned buildings of at least 25,000 square feet. In 2026, the data will be made public, enabling the transparency we’re looking to provide to the real estate community and to everyone in the city.

This is the first policy to result from Thrive, the City’s sustainability & resiliency action plan. It was also made possible with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge.

Thriving Buildings

Indy's benchmarking program, referred to as Thriving Buildings, gives organizations the opportunity to benchmark their energy and water data to identify ways to save money on utility costs while improving air quality for Indianapolis residents. Building owners, operators, and managers can get a head start on compliance and get involved now by visiting the Thriving Buildings webpage.

To stay up to date on Thriving Buildings news, including upcoming "Data Jam" benchmarking workshops here.

For a full implementation and transparency timeline, click here.

Questions? Email Benchmarking@Indy.Gov

Thriving NONPROFITS

An energy efficiency cohort and matching grant initiative.

Applications are currently closed, but you can complete this interest form to be notified of future opportunities.

Thriving Nonprofits helps Marion County nonprofits improve the energy efficiency of their facilities and reduce their operating costs.

Funded by the McKinney Family Foundation and administered through a partnership between IFF and the Indianapolis Office of Sustainability, Thriving Nonprofits provides mission-driven organizations with free energy-focused building assessments of their facilities and matching grants up to $10,000 to facilitate building upgrades that reduce energy usage and monthly utility bills.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must own their own facilities or have long-term lease agreements to qualify, and the facility must be located in Marion County, IN. Organizations eligible to apply for Thriving Nonprofits include:

• Nonprofits

• Schools

• Early childhood education centers

• Public libraries

• Medical facilities

• Grocery stores in communities identified as "food deserts"

PROJECT EXAMPLES

Examples of building upgrades the matching grants will cover include, but are not limited to:

• solar panel installation

• HVAC replacements including heat pumps

• roof repairs or replacements

• weatherization

• lighting upgrades

• air/duct sealing

• efficient appliance upgrades (ENERGY STAR)

BE:1C - COMPLETE

BE:1C - “Establish low-interest loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in new and existing buildings, sustained by a revolving loan fund from a combination of financing sources.”

On August 6, 2025, the City of Indianapolis’s Office of Sustainability distributed $2 million to capitalize lending operations at the Indiana Energy Independence Fund (IEIF), the state's nonprofit green bank helping Hoosiers lower energy costs in their homes and buildings. These federal funds were allocated from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.

IEIF is well-equipped to offer "low interest loans for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in new and existing buildings, sustained by a revolving loan fund from a combination of financing sources."

Indiana Energy Independence Fund

The manifestation of this action item has resulted in the Indiana Energy Independence Fund (IEIF). IEIF is the state’s nonprofit green bank, and they support businesses, nonprofits, and homeowners in making investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.

Want to upgrade to an energy efficient water heater or HVAC system? Thinking about installing solar? IEIF just launched PowerSave Indiana, a new residential loan program serving Northwest, Central, and Southern Indiana. And homeowners in Northeast Indiana can take advantage of IEIF’s Smart-E Loan program to pursue home energy upgrades.

Commercial properties (including businesses, nonprofit organizations, government facilities, and other public institutions) can also leverage IEIF’s energy improvement financing and vetted contractor network.

BE:2D - Complete

BE:2D - “Increase street sweeping operations throughout the county to improve stormwater drainage.”

Street sweeping contributes to sustainability, resilience, and public health by:
-Preserving the lifespan of public infrastructure
-Minimizing the burden on the Combined Sewer treatment system
-Diverting potentially hazardous or harmful debris from entering waterways
-Removing possible obstructions from stormwater inlets, which might otherwise contribute to local flooding

Street Sweeping Fact Sheet

BE:2D - Street Sweeping

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works $2.1 million street sweeping program preserves pavement and protects city infrastructure by removing salt, litter, gravel and other debris along Combined Sewer thoroughfares; streets in the downtown Mile Square and Broad Ripple areas; major county thoroughfares; as well as along bike lanes and trails. Street sweeping protects water quality by removing dirt and surface debris, minimizing the burden on the city’s sewer system. It also keeps leaves and other debris from clogging stormwater drains, which may result in flooding during rainy days.