LAS MUNICIPAL ENERGY PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKING PROJECT
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Over the last year and a half, Local Authority Services (LAS) and
more than 140 municipalities worked with a consortium led by Marbek
Consultants on the Municipal Energy Performance Benchmarking Project.
Data from 393 municipal facilities across Ontario was compiled, analyzed
and compared. The results of this project show that there is
considerable room for improved performance in Ontario’s municipal
sector and that there is a significant gap between the predominant
current performance and the benchmarked best
performance.
Energy benchmarking analyzes and reports on key energy performance
metrics in order to foster continual energy performance improvements
through comparison with relevant and achievable internal and external
norms and standards. The Municipal Energy Performance Benchmarking
Project was developed to enable municipal participants to compare the
performance of their own facilities to various other benchmarks, and to
provide an overview of how well the sector is doing in managing energy
performance.
A benchmarking tool was developed to generate benchmarking reports
under each of the following facility categories:
1. Office
2. Library
3. Arts and Culture
4. Emergency Medical Services
5. Fire
6. Police
7. Long-term care
8. Community Centre
9. Arena Multi-pad Arena
11. Indoor Pool
12. Multi-use Recreation Complex
13. Public Works/Transit Garage
The benchmarking approach used went beyond traditional energy
benchmarking to incorporate a broader definition of energy performance.
This included:
Energy Use
A comparison of whole-building energy use to average and best-in-class
benchmarks for similar facility types and under similar operating
conditions. The results inform how well a facility is performing
relative to its peers.
Technical Best Practices
Technical best practices (TBP) refer to the application of
energy-efficient technologies, equipment, controls, and operating and
maintenance practices that improve the energy performance of a
facility. A TBP survey is a qualitative assessment of
technical best practices within a facility and its operations. The
survey used to benchmark the current technical practices relative to
best practice focused on the following technology categories:
- Lighting
- HVAC
- DHW
- Envelope
- Arena technologies
- Pool technologies
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Management Best Practices
Management best practices (MBP) involve a comparison of management best
practices present in facility-level operations to average and
best-in-class benchmarks. The results inform facility-level
management competencies for improving energy performance.
The survey used to benchmark the current management practices relative
to best practice focused on the following categories:
- Planning
- Organization and accountability
- Opportunity identification
- Project management and implementation
- Reporting and communication
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Organizational Best Practices
The survey used to benchmark current organizational practices focused on
the following competency areas:
- Policy
- Planning
- Financing
- Organization and accountability
- Energy management information systems
- Communications
- Training and capacity development
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There are three main components to this project:
1. Individual Facility Level Reports (2 page reports that have been
mailed out to all participants)
2. Best in Class Reports (downloadable from the Best in Class
Winners Page)
3. Final Aggregate-Level Report (downloadable from the Final Report
Page)
It is anticipated that the outputs of this project will be used
to:
- Inform municipalities with respect to the energy performance of
their facilities,
- Provide a benchmarking tool and methodology to support future
municipal benchmarking initiatives and tools, and
- Inform the on-going development of energy and environmental policies
and programs in Ontario.
The Municipal Energy Performance Benchmarking Project was made
possible as a result of financial support from the Ministry of Energy
and Infrastructure. LAS also greatly appreciated the municipal member
participants at all locations as well as the members of the Municipal
Energy Performance Benchmarking Advisory Committee.
Should you have any questions please contact LAS Energy Services
Coordinator Scott Vokey at 416-971-9856 ext. 357 or by email at SVokey@amo.on.ca.
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