Ontario’s Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) program was created to track energy and water usage in large, privately-owned buildings. Launched in 2018, the ultimate goal of the program is to show building owners and facility operators how their commercial property’s consumption compares to other similar-sized buildings using local data as a benchmarking tool.
New this year, annual reporting is required for any building with a total gross square footage of 50,000 or more, including multi-residential high-rises, low-rises, and large townhome complexes. According to Justin Tudor, President at Keller Engineering, a good rule of thumb is that if your building has more than 50 units, you will need to report your water and energy consumption by July 1, 2023.
“As the winter turns to spring, it’s the right time to start thinking ahead to the upcoming deadline,” he advises. “Being EWRB compliant means taking certain steps to ensure your data is accurate and submitted on time—in other words, you don’t want to leave it to the last minute.”
The Benefits of Compliance
While time-consuming and detail oriented, Tudor says EWRB compliance brings a host of benefits that make the additional work well worth it.
“Expect to see improved building efficiencies and utility savings,” he says. “Also, depending on your provider, you will also have access to all that compiled data from your region, which will better inform future decisions like which system adjustments to make and what operational best practices to adopt.”
While some building owners and condominium corporations may choose to self-report their findings by appointing a Board or staff member to the task, others may prefer to outsource the responsibility to an accredited third party. Either way, the regulations do require independent verification of data by a qualified party in the first year of reporting and every five years thereafter.
How to Report
Becoming EWRB compliant is a three-step process:
1) Collect your building(s) data
2) Review data for accuracy
3) Submit data before the July 1 deadline through your Energy Star Portfolio Manager account.
The information needed to complete the EWRB report includes details about the building’s location and ownership, gross floor area, use type, EWRB ID number, and energy and water usage data for the required period. (Your EWRB number should be provided in advance through the Ministry of Energy, otherwise it may be obtained by emailing EWRBSupport@ontario.ca.)
For the first year, and every five years thereafter, an accredited body or qualified professional must verify your data before it is submitted.
Outsourcing to a qualified service provider
Busy property managers can take comfort in knowing they are permitted to seek assistance from a qualified service provider to ensure their report is submitted correctly. In addition to offering end-to-end management of data collection, verification, and reporting, the certified professionals at Keller Engineering also offer an in-depth analysis of how your building’s energy and water use compares to its neighbours.
Aren’t happy with your results from a previous EWRB report? Or, looking for some analysis on the data you submitted? Don’t worry—Keller has you covered there too: “We can help build a plan to address all your building’s concerns,” Tudor says. “Just give us a call if you have any questions.”
For more information, visit www.kellerengineering.com
