Commercial energy audits in Toronto

• Energy & Water Reporting By-law - Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 367, Building Emissions Performance (in force): Buildings 4,645 m2 (50,000 sq ft) and larger: reporting since 2024. Buildings 929-4,644 m2 (10,000-49,999 sq ft): must begin reporting in 2027. Buildings 9,290 m2 (100,000 sq ft) and larger: certified-professional verification in the first reporting year and every fifth year. Source
• Building Emissions Performance Standards (BEPS) (not adopted - deferred): No BEPS by-law or emissions limits have been adopted. At its Dec 16-17, 2025 meeting (item 2025.IE26.3, TransformTO Action Plan 2026-2030) Council directed staff to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in Q1 2027 with an economic impact review, updated legal analysis, tenant protection measures and an assessment of changed federal retrofit programs. If adopted, BEPS would sit in Chapter 367. Low-rise residential (3 storeys or less) would be exempt from any BEPS proposal. Source
• Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) - O. Reg. 506/18 (in force): Buildings 50,000 sq ft (4,645 m2) and larger. Buildings 100,000 sq ft and larger need a certified professional to verify data in the first reporting year and every five years after. Source
• Broader Public Sector energy reporting - O. Reg. 25/23 (in force): Applies by organization type (public agencies), not floor area. Source

• Commercial Custom Audits & Studies - Energy Assessments and Meters (Enbridge Gas (Ontario)): Pays up to 50% of eligible costs for energy audits, engineering feasibility studies, steam trap surveys/audits, air and water balancing and metering. The cap depends on the address's previous-year gas use: up to $6,000 (100,000 to under 3,000,000 m3), up to $10,000 (3,000,000 to under 10,000,000 m3), up to $20,000 (10,000,000 m3+, institutions only). Institutions max $20,000 per project; other commercial sectors max $10,000 per project. Details
• Affordable Housing Multi-Residential Program - energy assessment (Enbridge Gas (Ontario)): Up to $8,000 for an energy assessment (up to $40,000 per housing provider) to find natural gas savings in affordable housing buildings. Details
• Save on Energy Small Business Program (Save on Energy (IESO)): Free on-site assessment by qualified Save on Energy representatives, then free installed upgrades: up to $3,000 for lighting and up to $2,500 for refrigeration and smart thermostats (up to $5,500 total). Details
• Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) Program (Save on Energy (IESO)): Funds retro-commissioning. Investigation phase: up to $0.06 per sq ft, max $50,000 per application or 75% of the participant's cost for the commissioning provider. Implementation and persistence phases: $0.03 per kWh of confirmed/persisting savings (each capped at 30% of annual consumption or $50,000, whichever is lower). Details
• XLerate Program - Project Feasibility Study funding (Save on Energy (IESO)): Project feasibility study (PFS) funding at a 50% cost share; project incentives of $300/MWh up to 75% of eligible costs (max $15 million per project). Details
• BizEnergySaver Program (local initiative) (Save on Energy (IESO)): Free on-site assessment plus direct installation, with instant discounts applied on the invoice (most VFD upgrades now free). Details
• Building Tune-Up Program (City of Toronto (delivered by Enerva Energy Solutions)): Free expert on-site building assessment (the City says these typically cost $5,000 or more), a customized report of energy-performance opportunities, implementation support, staff training and a follow-up meeting. Details

• Level 1, walk-through: a site visit and bill review that benchmarks the building and lists low-cost measures.
• Level 2, energy survey and analysis: where the energy goes, with savings and cost estimates per measure. Most incentive applications use this level.
• Level 3, detailed analysis: monitoring and modelling for capital-intensive projects.

Ask which level a quote covers. Audits are done by engineering firms and energy consultants; look for a P.Eng. and credentials such as the Certified Energy Manager (CEM). How commercial energy audits work.