Published in Vancouver Sun (October 7, 2017)
Benchmarking allows property owners to compare the performance of their buildings with historical use and similar buildings. Photo: Stephen Hui, Pembina Institute
Local governments and property owners across B.C. want large buildings to be required to track their energy and water consumption, and to report this data to the province every year. Last week, the Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a resolution calling on the B.C. government to make energy benchmarking and annual reporting mandatory for large buildings, and to make energy data available to local governments to inform their regulations and climate-change programs.
Promoting high levels of building performance will also improve the quality and health of the spaces in which British Columbians live and work, create jobs in the clean economy, and support innovation in the local supply chain. Clearly, taking action on building energy benchmarking is a win-win for British Columbians.
Dylan Heerema,
analyst, Buildings and Urban Solutions Program, Pembina Institute, Vancouver
The Vancouver Sun published this letter to the editor on page G3 of its October 7, 2017, issue.
Dylan was a member of the Pembina Institute’s remote communities team until 2019, working from the Vancouver office to advance policy supporting diesel reduction, energy efficiency and clean electrification.
