Energy benchmarking is like checking how much energy and water a building uses. Then, we compare this to how it used energy before or how similar buildings use it. This helps us see if the building uses water and energy well.
Methods for Measuring Energy Consumption Benchmarking
Having a good plan for energy benchmarking is really important. You need to make a clear strategy with goals and ways to measure things. Use tools like old data and industry rules. And for better comparisons, use special software made for energy benchmarking.
Advantages of Implementing Energy Usage Benchmarking
Your company can benefit in many ways from energy efficiency benchmarking. You’ll have more control over how much energy you use, be better at managing energy costs, and improve how well things work. Energy benchmarking is often talked about when people discuss managing energy and reporting how eco-friendly they are.
There are many online tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and GRESB that help you compare your buildings to national sustainability and efficiency standards. If you get certified by GRESB or ENERGY STAR, it shows clients, investors, and employees that you care about the environment. But before using these tools, it’s important to know what it is to benchmark energy, its parts, and why it’s useful.
What is Energy Benchmarking?
If energy benchmarking had a saying, it would be “you can’t control what you don’t measure.” This shows how crucial it is to track energy use over time. For big buildings, like offices and large homes, energy benchmarking is really important for managing energy well.
Basically, benchmarking energy efficiency means looking closely at how much energy and water a building uses. Then, you compare this data with how it used to perform, other similar buildings, or a model of a typical building. This helps find where energy is being wasted, makes it easier to plan improvements, and helps make smart choices for long-term energy savings.
Understanding the Process of Energy Benchmarking
Benchmarking uses two main types of data: internal and external. Internal data is about how much energy and water your buildings have used before, helping you find problems unique to your buildings. External data is about how other similar buildings use energy over time. You can get this data from tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. By looking at both types of data, businesses and property managers can make better choices for saving energy.
After collecting data, the verification stage of the energy benchmark becomes crucial. This phase ensures the accuracy and reliability of the acquired information. Here are some steps to consider:
- Take out very high or very low Energy Use Intensity (EUI) values in your buildings. Compare them to the average EUI values given by the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS).
- Conduct on-site verification as necessary.
- Consider randomly sampling utility meter data for validation.
- Since data might not be flawless, establish a protocol to fill in data gaps.
- Compare your building’s energy use against its historical performance, serving as a baseline.
- Employ energy management software to assess how your building’s energy performance measures up to its potential.
- If managing multiple buildings, evaluate individual building performance against similar structures within your portfolio.
By adhering to these steps, you ensure the accuracy and reliability of your benchmarking process, enabling informed energy management decisions.
Advantages of Implementing Energy Benchmarking Practices
Many states and cities now make it a rule to measure energy use, and buildings have to meet certain standards called building benchmarks. The building benchmarking is needed as people are worried about climate change in the US. Even if your area doesn’t need benchmarking yet, it’s smart to do it.
Energy benchmarking is really important for businesses today, especially when it comes to being eco-friendly. It helps companies check how well they use energy and find ways to use less. This involves comparing how much energy a building uses to accepted standards, so you can find ways to do better. It includes looking at utility benchmarking and building energy benchmarking. The outcome is an informative energy benchmarking report, shedding light on consumption trends and potential efficiency measures.
Creating a Comprehensive Strategy for Energy Benchmarking
To establish an effective Energy Benchmarking Plan, consider the following steps:
- Clearly state why you’re doing the benchmarking program, following rules like Local Law 84/133. Say what you want to achieve and who should see the results, like clients, investors, or managers.
- Identify the essential metrics required to convey the results comprehensively and outline the methodology for data collection.
- Formulate a dedicated benchmarking team, assigning distinct responsibilities to each team member.
- Choose a suitable benchmarking tool and software that aligns with your goals.
- Develop a data verification procedure, following the guidelines outlined earlier, to ensure the accuracy of the collected data.
By creating a well-structured Energy Benchmarking Plan, you’ll streamline the process, enhance clarity, and foster more effective energy management decisions.
Optimizing Energy Benchmarking Through Utilizing Existing Tools
Energy benchmarking services are becoming really important for businesses and organizations in the US. Luckily, there are many helpful resources to get you started and keep you going. One key resource is ENERGY STAR’s website. They have a tool called ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager that’s useful for all sorts of businesses at different points in their energy benchmarking journey.
It’s a good idea to get help from a consultant along with online guides. Energy benchmarking and management take a lot of time, so a consultant can be really helpful. They can guide you through policies and provide tools for accurate data collection, analysis, and consistency. Including energy benchmarking in your strategy helps measure and improve energy efficiency. With benchmarking, businesses can make positive changes in how they use energy.
Harnessing the Power of Benchmarking Software for Energy Efficiency
Benchmarking energy use can be a lot of work. Especially if you do it manually. Keeping track of a company’s energy use and bills can become a big, time-consuming job. To make things easier, there’s software like Energy Watch’s watch wire platform. This software not only helps with following city or state rules but also automates collecting and watching data.
The result is a comprehensive, precise, and dependable analysis of your energy data. Numerous services offered by specialized energy benchmarking companies guide businesses through this process. Participation in a building energy benchmarking program can provide a structured approach.
Conclusion
Energy benchmarking is really important for businesses to use less energy and work better. NYC Building Benchmarking is a well-known service that helps organizations use energy more efficiently. We guide businesses through complicated rules and make sure they use energy in a better way.
FAQs
What is Energy Benchmarking?
Energy benchmarking looks at how well buildings use energy and compares it to what’s normal in the industry or among similar buildings.
How is energy benchmarking done?
It involves comparing energy and using external references.
What is benchmarking and energy cost?
Benchmarking is a useful tool to control energy costs by finding inefficiencies and improving how energy is used.
What is energy benchmark compliance?
Compliance means following rules set by cities or states for energy benchmarking, which is a must-do requirement.
How can you benchmark energy use?
Make a strategy, collect data, check if it’s correct, compare to standards, and use benchmarking software.
What are the benefits of energy benchmarking?
Improved operational efficiency and increased control over consumption.
