Providing Utility Data to Support Benchmarking ENERGY STAR Data Access Network: Module 2 Agenda Energy Data and Benchmarking: Common Challenges Understanding the Role of Utilities in Providing Data to Support Benchmarking Related Network Resources
Energy Data and Benchmarking: Common Challenges 3 Why Focus on Data? As noted in Module 1, there are numerous ways in which utilities can support benchmarking These include providing training and technical
assistance for customers to use Portfolio Manager However, the benchmarking process begins with adequate access to data, so this is where we will focus What Data Do Commercial and Multifamily Buildings Need in Order to Benchmark? Property use details Whole-building energy
consumption data Specific details differ by property type Includes information such as square footage, number of operating hours, number of occupants Typically information that can be gathered by the property owner/manager Minimum of 12 complete, consecutive
months of data for each fuel type consumed to operate the property Can be entered meter-by-meter, or as an aggregate sum by fuel type May be directly accessible by property owner/manager, but not always Why Would a Building Owner Not Have Access to Energy Data? Most commonly occurs in multi-tenant buildings where tenants are billed directly by the utility (depends on
lease structures) Office buildings Multifamily properties Certain retail configurations The owner/manager may only receive bills for common space energy consumption and/or owner-occupied portions of the building This doesnt provide the full data needed for benchmarking at the whole-building level! 6
Cant The Owner Just Ask Tenants for Their Energy Data? In theory, yes However, the burden on the owner/manager increases with the number of tenants Each tenant needs to provide access to its consumption data (directly or via utility release authorization) Consumption data must be entered into Portfolio Manager by the owner/manager on a monthly basis If certain tenants cant or wont provide their monthly
consumption data, then the owner cannot accurately benchmark at the whole-building level This dynamic is noted as one of the most significant barriers to benchmarking commercial and multifamily properties 7 Why is This an Issue? The building owner/manager is typically the party doing the benchmarking In the case of local benchmarking mandates, the owner is the
entity required to comply If the owner cant get the whole-building consumption data needed to benchmark, they might: Miss out on the opportunity to understand and improve the energy performance of their property; Miss out on the opportunity to participate in voluntary programs that require benchmarking as a first step (e.g., energy reduction competitions); and/or Risk non-compliance with a state or local benchmarking ordinance
8 Where Does This Leave Us? Many building owners and operators want to or are required to benchmark their properties Barriers to data access are particularly pronounced in large, multitenant buildings and may be insurmountable without utility assistance Even when a building owner can access complete consumption data, the option to streamline the process of data collection can be very attractive
Less time tracking down data = more time assessing benchmarking results and undertaking energy performance improvements Building owners are or will be looking for solutions to help them obtain whole building data for benchmarking more quickly and more easily 9 Understanding the Role of Utilities in Providing Data to Support Benchmarking
10 When it Comes to Energy Data for Benchmarking, Utilities Are Most Likely to Have What Customers Need Utilities may not be the only entity with extensive energy consumption data but they are the first place customers are likely turn when seeking data The utility tracks our consumption and sends us our bill every month so why cant they get us data in a format that will
make benchmarking easier? State & Local Governments Are Also Looking to Utilities for Solutions Increasingly calling upon utilities to provide easier, more streamlined access to the energy data needed to benchmark Utilities can be engaged as stakeholders in discussions about state/local benchmarking policies Some jurisdictions are even requiring utilities to provide data
12 Customer Needs Become Opportunities for Utilities Increased customer satisfaction Increased opportunities for customer engagement Ability to position the utility as a trusted advisor 13
More Than 30 Utilities Across the Country Are Already Providing Data Access www.energystar.gov/utilitydata 14 Coming up in Module 3 How utilities are working to balance the need for data access with the responsibility to
protect customer privacy The importance of aggregated whole-building data as a key solution Solutions for identifying and mapping discrete meters/accounts to buildings, in order to facilitate aggregation Related Network Resources 16
For Further Exploration ENERGY STAR Interactive Utility Data Access Map ENERGY STAR Utility Data Access Fact Sheet IMT Utilities Guide to Data Access for Building Benchmarki ng SEE Action Network Regulators Guide to Data Access for Commercial Build ing Energy Performance Benchmarking
17 Thank you! If you have any questions, comments, or other feedback on the contents of this module, please email: [email protected] 18
