Improved building performance has become a standard for all businesses worldwide. Reduced utility expenses and long-term savings have attracted everyone. Energy efficiency is the key component of success for any business today. 

Energy benchmarking ordinance allows to make improvements in energy efficiency of the buildings. Building owners, managers, and maintenance teams get useful insights into energy consumption by energy benchmarking ordinances. The data obtained is a pivotal force for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing utility bills, and maintaining a sustainable environment. 

1. Understanding Benchmarking Ordinance Data

A building’s energy performance is measured by some set standard known as metrics. These metrics are analysed by the data obtained through energy benchmarking ordinances. Some of the best known metrics are:

• Energy Usage Intensity (EUI): 

As the name suggests, EUI is a KPI that measures the energy usage per square foot over the year. EUI is the most regarded metric of energy benchmarking. 

• Utility Data:

The utility data metric helps analyse the water usage, electricity, gas consumption, and other essential utilities. 

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

One of the important metrics, greenhouse gas emissions, is specifically designed to examine the total amount of emissions produced by energy consumption. 

The overall energy consumption patterns are obtained through these metrics. Regular reports and energy management systems play a key role in providing data for measuring these metrics. 

2. Accessing Your Data

Following are the steps you must follow in order to access the data through benchmarking specific to your building:

1. Recognize Data Sources: 

The first and foremost step is to find out exactly where your building’s energy usage data is saved. The recorded data is usually found in energy management systems, and utility bills. Public records also sometimes add to it. 

2. Retrieve Data: 

Ask for the data from your utility provider if it is not available already. Community websites that publish benchmarking results can also be reached out to access data. 

3. Use Benchmarking Results: 

Use the energy benchmarking ordinance results obtained to utilise benchmarking tools such as ENERGY STAR. These tools help you keep a track of your energy consumption and make meaningful changes where needed. 

Accessing data through valid sources is essential as it is later used to generate insightful reports. 

3. Analyzing the Data

Once the data is obtained, it is time to analyze it in an organized manner. Follow the steps below to keep it structured:

1. Arrange Data: 

The accessed data must be arranged and entered in an energy benchmarking tool first. Choose the tool that satisfies your requirements the most. 

2. Evaluate Metrics: 

Use the benchmarking tool to evaluate metrics such as EUI, total energy consumption by utility data, and greenhouse gas emissions. 

3. Compare Data: 

This is the most important part of any analysis. Comparing current data results with previous data helps you analyse trends and patterns in the energy consumption. 

4. Identifying Performance Gaps

Energy performance gaps are identified by comparing your energy performance data by local and industry averages. Some ways you can identify gaps are:

• Benchmarking Comparisons: 

Use the benchmarking tools to generate comparison reports of your building’s energy consumption. 

• Local Benchmarks: 

Compare your results to local benchmarks such as with the performance of buildings like yours in your surroundings. 

• Industry Averages: 

Industry benchmarks are set standards for buildings operating in the same way. Comparing your data to industry averages helps you understand the progress and worth of your business better. 

Energy benchmarking ordinance helps identify areas and departments that seem to be underperforming. Performance gaps identified are then used to make improvements in the building wherever needed. 

5. Setting Realistic Improvement Goals 

Try to set realistic and achievable goals that can actually work and bring improvements on the basis of results. Break down your goals into timelines to achieve them effectively and efficiently. One way you can do this is setting short term and long term goals separately. 

• Short-Term Goals: 

Focus on rapid pushovers such as improving HVAC efficiency, and reducing energy usage where possible. 

• Long-Term Goals: 

Design extensive improvements that consume greater time and investments. This might include reinstalling updated energy systems, updation of softwares, and the necessary upgrades in the building. 

Make sure all the defined goals are smart, meaning, they can be achieved and measured. Ensure you have the proper systems and determined maintenance team that helps you thrive in your business. 

6. Implementing Energy Efficiency Measures

Adopting energy efficiency measures through energy benchmarking ordinance improves building performance. Following are some of the well-known measures:

• Upgrade Lighting: 

Replacing the traditional lighting with energy efficient LEDs helps reduce energy consumption and improves energy efficiency.

• HVAC Improvements: 

Replace traditional systems with modern energy efficient HVAC systems. These include heating, ventilating and air conditioning properties. 

• Upgrade Insulation: 

Upgrade to better insulating systems that put an end to energy loss. Improving sealing might also add to it. 

• Improve Major Systems: 

Reinstalling major energy systems with renewable energy systems and windows reduces energy loss and improves building performance by enhancing energy efficiency.

Consider these measures as necessary and keep checking for upgrades regularly. Carrying out goal achievement in a structured manner increases the chances of reaching the benchmarks in a quick and effective way.  

7.  Monitoring Progress and Adjusting Strategies

Make sure you are monitoring the implemented measures regularly to avoid any inconveniences. Any task that is reviewed regularly has a very low chance of getting stuck in the way. Some mandatory steps you can take are:

• Regular Reporting: 

Collecting and analysing data on a regular basis helps generate necessary reports. These reports are later used for taking required decisions based on results obtained from its trends and patterns.

• Review Performance: 

Keep reviewing performance of the building’s energy based on the steps taken. This encourages you to keep a check on pre-defined goals and identify areas for improvement. 

• Adjusting Strategies: 

The results from reports and reviewing performance gives meaningful insights about where the building stands. These insights can be used to adjust previously defined strategies and goals to meet the required criteria of energy efficient buildings. 

The milestone of energy savings and reduced bills is obtained by efficient management. Keeping a check and balance on energy efficient measures and goals is a way to success. 

8. Engaging Stakeholders

Stakeholders are an asset to any business. Engaging and involving stakeholders in your business improves marketability and reliability of your buildings. Creating an interactive environment is like an add-on to achieving your goals efficiently. 

• Tenant Engagement: 

Involving tenants in all the necessary engagements ensures a collaborative environment. Make sure they use energy efficient ways and contribute to the sustainability of the environment. 

• Involving Management: 

Make sure the management is loyal to designated tasks. A committed management supports energy-efficient practices and keeps their upper heads informed of any potential threats. 

• Maintenance Teams: 

Educate and train maintenance teams according to today’s systems. This includes having complete know-how of incorporated energy-efficient systems and their weak ends. 

Engaging stakeholders promotes a sense of responsibility and ensures business success. Involvement of more relevant people might bring useful and meaningful ideas. It is like more brain, more accomplishments. 

9. Review and Plan for Future Compliance 

Review regular performance metrics through energy benchmarking ordinance. Compare your building performances to local benchmarks and plan future compliances accordingly. Analyze yearly reports for compliance and measuring progress annually. 

Updating and implementing strategies that best fit your goals helps you achieve industry benchmarks. Also, keep track of the modern world and upcoming trends in the market to compete with competitors in the market. 

Staying in touch with the outside world and happenings in the world of energy effective solutions helps you plan for future compliances. The advancements in technology have made everything easier than ever. Thus, it can help you save energy, time, and money too. 

Conclusion

Effectively implementing measures through energy benchmarking ordinance results leads to significant benefits. These include; reduced utility bills, effective and low energy consumption, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and maintaining sustainable building standards. Regular engagements and checking on energy trends reduces the chance of getting any disruptions. Smart and productive approach of building owners and managers can help businesses grow.