1. Benchmark. Benchmark. Benchmark!

Every building manager who is concerned with energy performance should be engaged in a benchmarking routine. Energy benchmarking is the ongoing recording and review of a building or organization’s energy consumption. The goal is to understand when performance gets better or worse, and how that performance compares with other similar buildings or organizations in the area.

There are many different tools available to help with energy benchmarking, such as Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager. This online tool is now linked with BC Hydro Web Services, so meter data can be uploaded automatically to a Portfolio Manager account. Finding the best way to initiate a benchmarking routine can be tedious, especially when there are numerous sites in a portfolio. Kambo’s Energy Solutions Specialists can act as off-site energy managers who look after the process of energy benchmarking, a cost-effective solution for those who want the insight that benchmarking provides but don’t want to invest in a dedicated energy manager.

2. Book an Energy Assessment

Booking an energy assessment is the natural next step to a more efficient building. Without knowing the existing condition of a building and its energy systems, it is impossible to plan improvements. A thorough level one energy assessment will provide a snapshot of the site and a basic inventory of energy systems. Kambo offers complimentary level one energy assessments, complete with expert recommendations targeted at increasing cash flow through utility bill reduction.It is industry best practice to assess your buildings annually; this allows you to keep an eye on aging building systems and take advantage of new, energy efficient building technology as soon as it becomes cost-effective.

3. Lighting Retrofit

While there is an abundance of measures that can be taken to reduce building energy consumption, the ones we’re most often asked about are those that offer the shortest payback – lighting upgrades. These low risk projects can often be funded by a quarterly maintenance budget and completed over the course of the year, especially if they’re considered during budgeting time.

In the complex world of building energy management, lighting upgrade projects are relatively straight-forward and an excellent first step to a more efficient building. They can be completed with minimal disruption to building occupants, leave your building with improved light quality and curb appeal, and reduced lighting operation costs by as much as 80%. Capturing the data required for a lighting upgrade project estimate can usually be done during a simple level one energy assessment.