Improving performance of Toronto’s largest buildings

eAwazLifestyle

Toronto- To implement a new energy and water reporting by-law, the City of Toronto has opened a reporting link that enables owners of large buildings in Toronto to report energy and water use to the City annually.

Reporting and benchmarking will support the owners of large buildings in their efforts to improve environmental performance, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and lower operating costs. In 2024, the reporting requirement applies to buildings that are 4,645 square metres (50,000 square feet) or larger (approximately 7,500 buildings in Toronto). The deadline for reporting 2023 building energy and water use is Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

Owners of buildings this size are already required to report the same data to the Province of Ontario. To simplify the process, owners will report their data to both the City and the Province using the same free online tool called Energy Star Portfolio Manager. Beginning in 2025, owners of buildings that are 929 square metres (10,000 square feet) or larger will also be required to report their energy and water use to the City.

More information about the reporting requirement and how to report is available on the City’s Energy and Water Reporting webpage. Buildings represent more than half of the GHG emissions in Toronto mostly due to energy and water use which can also represent some of the largest operating costs for building owners. By reporting energy and water use, building owners are able to track their buildings’ performance over time and compare it with the performance of similar buildings.

The City will use the data to compare the buildings’ performance and design future City programs, policies and supports to help Toronto property owners improve their energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. The City’s Net Zero Existing Buildings Strategy aims to lower GHG emissions from buildings to net zero by 2040.