During an Energy Audit, what specific comparative measure can help identify energy performance gaps?

Benchmarking against CBECS (Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey) values is a valuable step in identifying energy performance gaps during an Energy Audit. CBECS provides a national database of energy consumption data across various types of commercial buildings, offering insights into typical energy usage patterns. By comparing a building's energy performance metrics—such as energy use intensity (EUI)—with CBECS benchmarks, one can determine whether a building is consuming more or less energy relative to similar properties.

This comparative measure reveals areas where the building may be underperforming, helping to pinpoint opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. Understanding where a building stands in relation to the broader market can inform strategic decisions for upgrades or operational changes necessary to enhance energy performance.

While leveraging previous audits, investing in upgrades, and analyzing occupant habits are all essential components of energy management, they do not provide the same level of empirical data for benchmarking as CBECS. Therefore, utilizing CBECS values specifically allows for a clearer understanding of performance gaps in the context of similar buildings across the nation.