ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Audit (Walk-Through) | Ontario

ASHRAE Level 1 energy audit

An ASHRAE (the widely accepted industry standard) Level 1 energy audit is a walk-through analysis: we review 12 or more months of utility bills, benchmark the building against similar ones, walk the site, and report the low-cost and no-cost savings plus the larger projects worth studying further.

The fastest, lowest-cost way to find out whether a building is wasting energy, and whether a deeper audit will pay for itself.

Reviewed by Adam Polakow, Managing Director · Checked October 27, 2026

What a Level 1 audit includes

ASHRAE Standard 211 defines three levels of commercial energy audit. Level 1, the walk-through analysis, is the first and lightest. It answers one question: is this building using more energy than it should, and where should we look?

Utility analysis

At least 12 months of electricity, gas and water bills, broken down by season and compared with weather.

Benchmark

Energy use intensity compared with similar buildings, using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and Ontario's reported data.

Walk-through

A site visit with your operator: plant, controls, lighting, envelope and schedules.

Short report

Low-cost and no-cost measures you can do now, and the capital projects worth a deeper look.

Who it is for

Owners and managers who have never had an audit and want to know where they stand
Condo boards before a reserve fund study update
Portfolios deciding which buildings deserve a Level 2 first
Buildings with a weak ENERGY STAR score in their EWRB report

How it works

Data. You authorize us to collect 12 to 24 months of utility data, or send the bills.
Benchmark. We calculate energy use intensity and compare it with similar Ontario buildings.
Site visit. A walk-through with your building operator, typically one visit.
Report. Quick wins, a shortlist of capital opportunities, and a recommendation on whether a Level 2 audit is worth it.

Level 1, 2 or 3?

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Answers	Is there a problem, and where?	What should we do, and what will it cost and save?	Can we bet capital on it?
Savings estimates	Indicative	Per measure, with payback	Investment grade
Good for incentives	Rarely on its own	Yes, most programs	Yes, large projects

Not sure which you need? Read EnerGuide vs ASHRAE energy audits, or start with a free benchmark.

Common questions

What is an ASHRAE Level 1 energy audit?

A walk-through analysis under ASHRAE Standard 211: utility bill review, a benchmark against similar buildings, a site walk-through, and a short report of low-cost and no-cost measures plus capital projects worth further study.

How long does a Level 1 audit take?

For most buildings, one site visit plus analysis of at least 12 months of utility data. Timing depends on the size of the building and how quickly the bills can be gathered.

Is a Level 1 audit enough for incentives?

Usually not for capital projects. Incentive programs and lenders generally want measure-by-measure savings estimates, which a Level 2 audit provides. A Level 1 tells you whether a Level 2 is worth doing.