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Frequently Asked Questions

Energy Efficient Buildings

What is energy benchmarking?

In order to manage your energy consumption, you must first understand it. Energy benchmarking is the ongoing review of your building’s energy consumption, which provides the data to encourage building operators to strive for continuous improvement and reductions in the use of energy. By engaging in ongoing energy benchmarking, you can:

  • Identify poorly performing buildings
  • Establish a baseline for measuring improvement in energy consumption
  • Enhance and create competition through comparison with similar buildings
  • Earn a rating or gain recognition for having a high-performance building
  • Make a business case for efficiency investments
  • Track how current projects are expected to save energy, money, etc.
  • See how a certain building compares to a portfolio or peer group.
  • Assess a building’s performance before you buy/lease it
  • Present building performance to a potential buyer or lender
  • Set targets for improved performance
  • Facilitate assessment of property value and marketing rental properties

The ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager tool helps you measure and track the energy and water use of your buildings, all in a secure online environment. You can use the results to compare your building with other similar Canadian buildings, identify under-performing buildings, set investment priorities, verify efficiency improvements, and receive recognition for being a high-performance building. Visit ENERGY STAR® to get started with energy benchmarking.

Check out our ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager FAQ for more information.

Learn more with the Natural Resources Canada Energy Benchmarking Primer.

What are the benefits of energy efficient buildings?

Canada’s commercial building sector is a significant energy user and producer of carbon emissions. It includes a range of building types, including offices, hospitals, schools, and more. Buildings retrofitted to higher energy-efficiency standards provide multiple benefits to those who own and occupy them, including:

  • Long-term energy and cost savings: an energy efficient building will have the advantage of lower energy, water, and maintenance costs.
  • Lower emissions and overall environmental impact: energy efficient buildings have lower greenhouse gas emissions due to their reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Buildings that use primarily clean energy such as hydroelectricity have the lowest emissions.
  • Better thermal comfort: well-designed mechanical systems and building components work together to manage comfortable indoor temperatures.
  • Improved comfort and health: continuous ventilation and fresh air throughout the building can lead to better well-being with occupants and as a result, a more productive workforce.
  • Higher Value: businesses and consumers see the value in energy efficient buildings, and as a result there is a premium associated with buying or leasing space in well-built, energy efficient buildings.

Check out our resources for commercial buildings for more information.

See FortisBC’s Energy-Saving Tips for Business.