Energy & Water Reporting and Benchmarking – Large Buildings

Over half of Toronto’s greenhouse gas emissions are generated from buildings, and improving their energy efficiency is key to achieving the City’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target to net zero by 2050, or sooner.

The Province of Ontario’s Energy & Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) regulation, is designed to help building owners and managers improve their building’s energy and water efficiency.

Through this regulation, some privately owned buildings (greater than 50,000 square feet) will be required to report annual energy and water consumption and performance data.

Full details on the regulation can be found on Ontario’s EWRB Guide.

The third mandatory reporting deadline has been extended to October 1, 2020 from July 1, 2020. Step by Step instructions on reporting can be found below.

 

Large multi-unit residential, commercial and some industrial buildings with a gross floor area of 50,000 square feet or more are required to report.

To see if your building is subject to the reporting requirements, consult the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) property codes.

Building owners are required to report their data to the Ministry of Energy by July 1 each year. The reporting requirement will be phased in, beginning July 1, 2018, with buildings that are 250,000 square feet or more.

Mandatory Reporting Timelines

Beginning July 1, 2018 (for 2017 calendar year):

  • Commercial and industrial Buildings 250,000 square feet and larger.

Beginning July 1, 2019 (for 2018 calendar year):

  • Commercial and industrial buildings 100,000 square feet and larger.
  • Multi-unit residential buildings 100,000 square feet and larger.
  • 2020 reporting deadline (for 2019 calendar year) has been extended until October 1, 2020.

Beginning July 1, 2023 (for 2022 calendar year):

  • Commercial and industrial buildings 50,000 square feet; and larger.
  • Multi-unit residential buildings 50,000 square feet and larger.

Information such as building characteristics, and monthly energy and water consumption data for the previous calendar year will need to be reported.

For a complete list of the data elements, you need to gather and report, visit the Province of Ontario EWRB Guide.

Building owners are required to create an online account and report data to the Ministry of Energy through the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.  

Download the Ontario Ministry of Energy Guide for using Portfolio Manager to report under the EWRB regulation.

For additional support and questions, join one of the Ontario EWRB reporting webinars: https://energy.adobeconnect.com/rq25akzgm166/

  • Dates: June 25, July 9, July 23,  August 6, August 20, September 3, September 17
  • Time: 12:00 noon to 1 p.m.
  • Conference Line: 416-212-8101 or 1-866-602-5423 — Conference ID: 6625319

Training resources on the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager can be accessed at Natural Resources Canada.