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Preparing for Toronto's Energy and Water Reporting Bylaw Rules for Buildings Between 10,000 and 50,000 Square Feet


Beginning 2027, Toronto’s Energy and Water Reporting Bylaw regulations are expanding to include buildings with areas ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 square feet. This new change is significant for many small commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings that have never been required to report before. Here's what you need to know to stay ahead of the game.


What is the Energy and Water Reporting Bylaw Regulation?


This regulation is designed to improve energy efficiency across the city by promoting transparency in building performance. The ultimate goal is to empower building owners and operators with data that helps reduce energy and water consumption, costs, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The submitted data are used to create a benchmark of your building’s energy and water performance relative to similar buildings. This benchmarking helps identify areas where you can reduce consumption and save money.


Who Needs to Report in 2027?


In 2027, the scope of the regulation will expand to include buildings between 10,000 and 50,000 square feet. A variety of building types will be affected, including:


  • Offices

  • Retail spaces

  • Community centers

  • Schools

  • Light industrial facilities


The first reporting deadline will be July 2, 2027, when building owners will be required to submit 2026 data. It’s important to start preparing now to ensure the necessary information is ready.


What Data You'll Need to Collect


To meet the reporting requirements, the following information will be necessary:


  • Utility bills for electricity, natural gas, energy, and water from the previous calendar year

  • Descriptive information such as the gross floor area (GFA), address, property type, number of suits, year of constructed, property tax assessment roll number, and primary use

  • Occupancy details and operating hours


How to Report


Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure you’re ready for the reporting process:


  1. Create an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account—this is the tool used to submit your building’s data.

  2. Enter your data and building’s data—including size, use, meters, and utility consumption.

  3. Request data directly from your utilities and enter it into the system—many utilities, such as Enbridge, Hydro One, and Toronto Hydro, offer automated tools that allow you to upload consumption data directly into the Portfolio Manager.

  4. Submit your report—once all data is entered, submit your completed report through Portfolio Manager to the City of Toronto (and if it is 50,000 square feet or larger, then you must report to the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines as well).


Many utilities already have tools in place to make this process easier, so be sure to take advantage of them.


Why This is Worth Doing Beyond Compliance


While meeting the compliance deadline is important, there are additional benefits to completing the reporting:


  • Benchmarking helps identify areas of energy and water waste, which can lead to cost savings.

  • It increases your building’s asset value by demonstrating that it's performing efficiently.

  • The data can help inform decisions about retrofits and make your building eligible for energy efficiency incentives (e.g., Save on Energy, Enbridge rebates).

  • For companies focused on Net Zero goals or ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting, this data is foundational and demonstrates your commitment to sustainability.


How Achieve Sustainability Can Help


At Achieve Sustainability, we specialize in making the process as simple as possible for building owners. We offer:


  • Portfolio Manager setup

  • Data collection and quality review

  • Interpreting benchmarking results

  • Guidance on next steps to reduce emissions and costs


Conclusion


The July 2, 2027 deadline for the first round of reporting is fast approaching, and it’s crucial to start preparing now. By getting your building ready, you’re not just meeting a regulatory requirement—you’re taking steps to improve your building’s performance, reduce costs, and contribute to a more sustainable future.


Contact Achieve Sustainability today to learn how we can support you in getting your building compliant and turning your compliance efforts into a long-term performance improvement opportunity.


🌿 For more information, book a free consultation here or email info@achievesustainability.ca.

 
 
 

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