If initial benchmarking shows that a building does not meet the minimum requirements for energy performance, what action should the project consider?

When initial benchmarking reveals that a building does not meet the minimum requirements for energy performance, performing a basic energy use analysis is a logical and essential step. This action allows the project team to identify specific areas where energy efficiency improvements can be made. By thoroughly analyzing energy consumption patterns, the team can determine which systems or behaviors are contributing to inefficiencies.

A basic energy use analysis provides valuable insights into energy usage, highlights anomalies, and reveals opportunities for optimization without the extensive commitment that a full energy audit entails initially. This process lays the groundwork for more comprehensive assessments later on, such as a detailed energy audit if necessary, but it starts with a more manageable evaluation that can direct subsequent actions.

The other options lack the necessary proactive approach to tackle the energy performance issue effectively. Ignoring the results is detrimental, as it fails to address the identified shortfall. Requesting an energy audit, while ultimately beneficial, may not be the immediate next step after initial benchmarking — it can be seen as a more in-depth examination that might not yet be warranted. Simply upgrading all appliances could lead to unnecessary costs and may not directly resolve the underlying inefficiencies identified in the benchmarking. Thus, focusing on a basic energy use analysis is a prudent and strategic first step.