OTTAWA—The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) is launching new training on energy benchmarking strategies and regulation for both private and public sector stakeholders this month.
Introduction to Energy Benchmarking, and Understanding Ontario's Mandatory Energy Benchmarking for Large Buildings, are courses that will introduce the general processes for accurate data collection, show participants how to create a building profile and successfully use Energy Star Portfolio Manager. The courses will also discuss Ontario's upcoming Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking regulation.
The reporting of annual benchmarking results for large commercial buildings will soon become mandatory across Ontario. Several other jurisdictions, including Vancouver and Manitoba, are also considering similar legislation.
"By implementing these practices, building owners and managers have access to key data on the performance of their buildings, which enables them to make strategic investments in operational improvements, technology upgrades and retrofits in an effort to conserve more energy, reduce emissions and realize financial savings," said CaGBC president and CEO Thomas Mueller in a media statement issued last month.
The courses were developed in consultation with the Illinois Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and were modelled after the training they implemented in support of the City of Chicago's Energy Benchmarking Ordinance.
The first benchmarking course was set to take place on Sept. 14. Courses can be taken separately or together, with both webinar and classroom options available. For more information on these courses and to register, visit cagbc.org/ebcourses.
