Methodology to leverage energy submetering data in commercial office buildings to reduce energy consumption

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Buildings in Canada are responsible for about 35% of all energy use and greenhouse gas emissions about 53% of electricity use. Thus, buildings represent a major opportunity to reduce Canada's environmental impact and need for costly infrastructure. Furthermore, energy costs are very significant to businesses. A promising approach to reducing building energy use and hedging against energy price increases is to implement energy conservation strategies. But, as building equipment, envelopes, and lighting become more efficient, technologies and systems that leverage occupants and data about occupants have become increasingly important. However, this opportunity is only beginning to be recognized and strategies and technologies with long-term proven persistence are lacking. Bentall Kennedy, an award-winning and industry-leading Canadian building operator and manager, has taken many steps to significantly reduce the environmental impact (e.g., energy, water, solid waste, greenhouse gas emissions, transportation, green cleaning) of its buildings. But over 50% of energy is used by lighting and tenant equipment, over which Bentall Kennedy has limited control and influence. In response to these challenges, Bentall Kennedy has upgraded its entire flagship building in Ottawa, World Exchange Plaza, to be submetered. That means, for the first time, that they will have the capability to charge tenants for the electricity they use rather than a floor-weighted proportionate share for the building. The proposed research project is to develop a comprehensive program to reduce energy use by way of technology and occupant and tenant engagement. The multi-faceted approach shall employ a combination of building engineering principles and human factors engineering. Key strategies and deliverables include: 1) a methodology for estimating energy end uses for each tenant; 2) a statistical analysis of energy savings before and after submetered billing; and, 3) effective customized energy use data reporting to tenants. The targeted outcome is energy savings of 10-20% in World Exchange Plaza, which can be extended to Bentall Kennedy's other buildings and much of the rest of the market.