Toronto Energy Benchmarking

Buildings account for more than half of Toronto’s greenhouse gas emissions, mostly due to energy and water use.

Toronto’s Energy and Water Reporting By-law PDF, under Chapter 367 of Toronto’s Municipal Code, requires owners of buildings 929 m2 (10,000 ft2) and larger to report energy and water use to the City annually.

Benchmarking is the process of tracking a building’s energy and water use and comparing its performance over time, and to the performance of similar buildings. Benchmarking is the first step towards improving building efficiency.

Benchmarking your building’s energy and water use can help you:

• Determine your building’s baseline level of performance

• Identify opportunities to improve energy and water efficiency

• Lower energy and water use to reduce operating costs

• Reduce your building’s greenhouse gas emissions

Owners of buildings that have a gross floor area of 4,645 square meters (50,000 square feet) and larger:

• are required to report their buildings’ 2023 energy and water consumption data to the City by July 2, 2024.

• are required to report their buildings’ 2023 energy and water consumption data to the Province by July 1, 2024.

Owners of buildings that have a gross floor area of 929 square meters (10,000 square feet) and larger:

• will be required to report their building’s 2024 energy and water data to the City by July 2, 2025.

Please note: The Gross Floor Area (GFA) of a single building or structure is the sum of the total area of each floor level of a building, above and below the ground, measured from the exterior surface of the enclosed exterior walls on each floor level.

• GFA includes places inside the building or structure’s supporting areas, such as any common areas.

• GFA includes atriums, elevator shafts, mechanical equipment areas and storage rooms.

• GFA does not include any exterior, unroofed or open-air spaces, such as an outdoor parking area.

• GFA is not the same as rentable space, but rather includes all area inside the building(s). Rentable, or leasable, space is a sub-set of GFA.

Please note: Some building types are exempt from reporting EWRB data to the Ontario Ministry of Energy. For a full list of the property types required to report under O.Reg. 506/18, see the List of building types in the Ministry of Energy’s guide to energy and water reporting.

The city requires 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.

Water is another utility required for reporting.

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.

• Toronto Energy Benchmarking Program

• Toronto Energy & Water Reporting By-Law

Touchstone IQ for Buildings offers expert-led benchmarking and easy DIY tools for Toronto’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.