Sustainability · Defined
Energy benchmarking
Measuring building energy use consistently and comparing performance over time or against an appropriate reference. Reliable property and utility data are the foundation.
Why it matters
Benchmarking identifies patterns and helps prioritize investigation; it does not diagnose the cause of high consumption on its own. Missing meters, estimated readings, incorrect areas, or changes in occupancy can distort the result.
In practice
A project example
A sudden increase in use may reflect a building-system problem or newly included utility data. Check the inputs before selecting a capital project.
Technical references
General educational guidance from KOW Building Consultants. Examples are illustrative, not project records. The applicable contract, standard, program, and jurisdiction control the requirements for a specific assignment.