Who needs it, and when
| Gross floor area | Annual EWRB report | Data verification |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 sq ft (9,290 m²) and up | By July 1 each year | In the first year it applies, then every five years |
| 50,000 to 99,999 sq ft (4,645 to 9,290 m²) | By July 1 each year | Not required |
Toronto buildings also report to the City by July 2 under Municipal Code Chapter 367. Reporting to one does not satisfy the other. See Ontario EWRB vs Toronto reporting.
What gets checked
Verification confirms that what you reported in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is complete, accurate and reasonable for the building. In practice that means:
- Gross floor area matches drawings or assessment records, not leasable area
- Property use types are right, so the building is compared with the correct peer group
- Every meter is included: electricity, gas, water, district energy and tenant-metered spaces
- Twelve full months of data with no gaps or double counting
- Results make sense: energy use intensity in a plausible range for the building type
The errors we see most
Missing tenant meters
Only common-area utilities are entered, so the building looks far more efficient than it is.
Wrong floor area
Leasable or outdated area skews energy use intensity in either direction.
Wrong property type
A mixed-use building entered as one use is compared with the wrong peers.
Unit errors
Gas in cubic metres entered as another unit, or estimated bills left in.
How we help
- Review your Portfolio Manager account against drawings, bills and site records.
- Correct floor area, use types and meters, and fill data gaps.
- Coordinate verification by a qualified professional, and answer their questions.
- File the Ontario report, and the Toronto report where it applies, on time.
Already reporting? We can also take over your annual filing, so verification years are just another year.