Energy benchmarking answers a simple but powerful question: how does my building compare?
Key Metrics
Energy Use Intensity (EUI): Total energy consumption divided by floor area. The universal metric for building comparison. In Canada, typically expressed in ekWh/m²/year.
ENERGY STAR Score: A 1-100 percentile ranking against similar buildings. A score of 75 means you're better than 75% of comparable buildings.
Carbon Use Intensity (CUI): Emissions per unit of floor area. Becoming increasingly important as carbon targets replace energy targets.
Benchmarking Methods
- Peer comparison — compare against buildings of similar type, size, and climate zone
- Historical comparison — compare against your own building's past performance
- Target comparison — compare against a specific EUI or emissions target
Using EdiMono for Benchmarking
EdiMono provides all three comparison methods: - Portfolio-wide ranking by EUI, with weather normalization - Year-over-year performance trends per building - Custom target tracking with progress indicators
Common Benchmarking Mistakes
- Comparing buildings without normalizing for weather
- Using gross floor area for one building and net for another
- Ignoring process loads (data centers, commercial kitchens)
- Not accounting for occupancy differences
Key Takeaway
Benchmarking tells you where to focus. Start with the worst performers — that's where the biggest opportunities are hiding.