How Vaughan is built
- Before 1961 2%
- 1961–1990 29%
- 1991–2000 23%
- 2001 or later 47%
Reporting rules that apply in Vaughan
- No city-specific rule found (none found): No municipal energy/water benchmarking, reporting or building-performance by-law found; provincial rules apply (see rules.provinces.ON).
- 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
Incentives for audits and studies
- 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
Audit levels
- 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.
Commercial energy audit in Vaughan: common questions
Do Vaughan buildings have to report energy use?
Yes, above certain sizes: Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking (EWRB) - O. Reg. 506/18; Broader Public Sector energy reporting - O. Reg. 25/23.
Are there incentives for commercial energy audits in Vaughan?
Yes: Commercial Custom Audits & Studies - Energy Assessments and Meters; Affordable Housing Multi-Residential Program - energy assessment; Save on Energy Small Business Program; Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) Program. Check eligibility and pre-approval rules before you commission the audit.
What does a commercial energy audit cost?
It depends on the building's size and the ASHRAE level. Get quotes that state the level and the deliverables.