Ottawa Energy Benchmarking

The Benchmarking and Auditing program supports building owners and operators to identify opportunities to reduce their building’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Program participants benchmark their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions publicly. In exchange, participants gain access to:

• an Energy Performance Scorecard and Insights Report

• discounted building envelope thermal inspections

• training programs for building operators, strategic energy management and organizational net-zero planning

• site tours, case studies and other educational materials

• future retrofit financing programs.

Energy benchmarking is the process of tracking and recording a building’s energy performance over time. It is based on the fundamental principle that building energy consumption must be measured before it can be managed. Performance data can help owners and managers to identify opportunities for operational efficiency improvements and retrofit projects.

Energy benchmarking and the public disclosure of building performance data is a foundational piece for undertaking energy efficiency retrofits. Experience shows that collecting and reporting on building performance is a foundational step that alone can lead to annualized savings of between 2 and 3 percentOpens in a new tab or window(link is external).

Other benefits of energy benchmarking include:

• Obtaining standardized information on building energy consumption, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions

• Establishing baseline reference points for building systems optimization

• Highlighting opportunities for prioritizing underperforming buildings for energy efficiency improvement measures

• Measuring and verifying the results of energy efficiency projects

• Increasing transparency of the social and environmental impact of your business operations

• Becoming eligible for ENERGY Star® Certification

The program is open to all buildings in Ottawa, excluding small residential buildings like single detached homes, townhomes and other residential buildings under four storeys. The City is encouraging buildings over 20,000 square feet in size to participate.

O. Reg. 506/18 requires annual participation in the Province of Ontario’s Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking program is mandatory for most buildings over 50,000 square feet using Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

The city encourages building owners to report their energy and water usage annually via the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool by July 1st.

All energy utilities including electricity, natural gas, district energy, and any other purchased fuel type used to operate your building.

Building owners must report their energy usage data to EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a reporting tool that allows building owners to compare their building’s energy efficiency with similar buildings.

However:

• Touchstone IQ for Buildings is a fast, easy-to-use tool that integrates directly with EPA’s Portfolio Manager

• Touchstone IQ also offers expert-led benchmarking to building owners and managers looking for streamlined compliance and cost-saving recommendations

Many benchmarking ordinances require a Building ID as part of the report submission process. If needed, you may be able to find your Building ID number here.

• Ottawa Better Buildings Program

• Ottawa Benchmarking Energy Performance Map

Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Ottawa’s large properties. Simplify energy benchmarking compliance while gaining the tools to save money and build your energy intelligence with our exclusive software platform. Gain access to the nation's leading energy experts to ensure significant improvements in your energy usage for your commercial, multifamily, or public building. Our team has partnered with entities of all sizes to reduce their carbon footprint, reach ambitious targets, and comply with new regulations. Whether you're looking for comprehensive, step-by-step guidance to craft your energy management plan or a convenient, intuitive benchmarking solution, we've got you covered. Schedule your free personalized demo today or contact us for pricing or questions.