BenchmarkYYC
What is BenchmarkYYC?
BenchmarkYYC helps building owners measure, track, and share energy and emissions data. This enables smart choices to improve energy use and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also aids in planning for long-term improvements.
How does BenchmarkYYC work?
- All buildings on the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager list of property types can join.
- The buildings can be of any size and must be in Calgary.
- Owners must sign up for the program and agree to the Terms and Conditions.
- Owners must use the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to track monthly, whole-building energy consumption.
- Each year, owners share their energy and GHG data with BenchmarkYYC and receive an Energy Performance Scorecard, access to discounted training opportunities and timely notifications of new building retrofit funding programs.
- Owners can choose to disclose their building energy and GHG emission performance. Learn more about our disclosure options.
What does BenchmarkYYC track and share?
BenchmarkYYC tracks and shares your buildings’ energy and GHG data.
The Building Performance Scorecards provides:
- Your energy use and GHG intensity compared to the previous year.
- Your GHG intensity ranking compared to all similar properties.
- Your monthly energy performance trend, by energy type, year-over-year.
- A modelled breakdown of your building's energy consumption and GHG emissions into its main systems: heating, cooling and baseload.
- Insights and recommendations on how to improve your building performance.
The goal is to lower GHG emissions intensity to 0 kg CO2e/m²/year by 2050. See the Terms and Conditions for the full list of the data collected.
How are emissions calculated?
All energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data reported through BenchmarkYYC are collected using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, ensuring standardization of calculation methodologies. All data submissions are analyzed by ENERGY STAR Portfolio Managers Quality Check and subsequently reviewed by a Certified Energy Manager. All data quality concerns are communicated to the representative of the participating organization.
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager calculates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using methodologies consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. This ensures that the calculations are relevant, complete, consistent and transparent.
How do I share my energy and emissions data?
- BenchmarkYYC collects energy and emissions data from May to November each year.
- Each building must have 12 months of whole-building energy consumption data.
- Owners log into their ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager accounts to share data.
Submit your data:
View program summary reports
- Building Energy and Emissions Performance by Property Type - Open Calgary
- 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 Data Summary
Building energy data rebate
A limited-term rebate of up to $2,250 per participant offsets the fees associated with obtaining monthly, aggregated, whole-building utility data for multi-tenant buildings. This data is needed to properly measure, track and manage energy and GHG performance.
Learn more about the rebate and how to apply:
Additional resources
- The City of Calgary’s Climate Strategy
- *NEW* Alberta Ecotrust Retrofit Accelerator
- A Benchmarking Primer (NRCan)
- Energy Benchmarking Basics (NRCan)
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Technical Reference (ESPM)
- Emissions-Neutral Building Information Exchange (ENBIX)
- Portfolio Manager Basics
Contact us
Energy Performance Scorecard
All enrolled buildings get an annual scorecard which displays key building performance metrics. The scorecard ranks your buildings against similar ones, helping you stay on track with your GHG emissions targets.
Energy Performance Map
The Map shows the locations and property attributes of buildings involved in Calgary. It also displays their energy performance metrics and greenhouse gas emissions.
Building energy and emissions data
BenchmarkYYC annually shares aggregated building energy and emissions data by property type on Open Calgary.
This dataset reveals Calgary’s building performance trends over time. These trends are calculated using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Alberta Ecotrust Retrofit Accelerator
The Alberta Ecotrust Retrofit Accelerator offers free coaching for sustainable building upgrades. Coaches help identify and minimize issues during the retrofit process.
As a BenchmarkYYC participant, you’ll receive the data needed to work with the program.
Learn more and apply at Retrofit Accelerator - Alberta Ecotrust.
What is a "deep retrofit?"
A “deep retrofit” upgrades a building’s systems and framework to reduce:
- emissions
- energy consumption
- operating costs
This process can lessen a buildings’ environmental impact.
BenchmarkYYC awards
The BenchmarkYYC Awards recognize the top-performing commercial buildings annually. Participants track their energy use and GHG emissions and report their findings for continuous improvement.
Learn more about award-winning properties by viewing their case studies on the Energy Performance Map.