Sustainability Energy Standards & Compliance

Sustainability standards are everywhere

Around the world, many companies are required to report on sustainable energy use. Whether driven by a national regulation, corporate policy, or local incentive program, sustainability standards are everywhere.

While each standard has different reporting requirements, the role of an Energy Management System (EMS) is to collect, process and report on the required data. Below, you’ll find a summary of common sustainable energy standards along with an analysis of the EMS requirements for each one.

California SGIP

LGC Reporting

REC Reporting

NGER

NABERS (UK)

Applies to office buildings across the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland). It provides a performance-based energy efficiency rating (1–6 stars) for operational office energy use​.

  • Actual in-use energy performance of offices, bridging the “performance gap” between design and operation. NABERS UK targets improved operational energy efficiency to support net-zero carbon goals​.

    Currently voluntary, though increasingly adopted. There is no UK law mandating NABERS UK, but market and investor pressure drive uptake​. Future UK regulations may incorporate energy performance disclosure, making such ratings quasi-mandatory​.

    Rapid early uptake among major landlords and developers. By 2023, over 150 design-for-performance agreements for new buildings had been signed​, and leading property owners like British Land, Landsec, and Grosvenor committed portfolios to NABERS UK​. The first operational ratings (e.g. Toronto Square in Leeds, 4.5 stars) demonstrated the system in use​. Participation is growing but still in the hundreds of buildings as the scheme gains traction.

    • Data quality: Requires 12 continuous months of measured energy data for the building​. Data must cover at least the minimum “energy coverage” – e.g. ≥80% of floor area’s energy use must be metered to be eligible for a rating​. Only utility-grade meters or validated sub-meter data are accepted, and any unusual loads or exclusions must follow strict rules.

    • Report formats: Data is input by an accredited NABERS Assessor into the online rating platform. The output is a certified star rating certificate and report. The rating is valid for 12 months​. Supporting documentation (utility bills, occupancy surveys, etc.) must be collected by the assessor for audit purposes​.

    • Reporting frequency: Ratings use a 12-month period and can be renewed annually​. There is no recurring “compliance report” to regulators since the scheme is voluntary, but many building owners choose to update the rating each year to track performance​.

    • Data types required: Metered energy consumption by source (electricity, gas, etc.) for base building and/or whole building, floor area (NLA), hours of occupancy, and occupancy density (for certain rating types). NABERS UK also uses standardized occupancy surveys for offices to normalize energy intensity metrics.

    • Submission process: Conducted via the NABERS UK Lodgement Portal by an accredited assessor​. The assessor validates and uploads the 12-month energy data, answers quality assurance questions, and submits to CIBSE Certification for certificate issuance. A sample of ratings undergo audit to ensure data integrity.Item description

NABERS (Australia)

A national Australian scheme rating the environmental performance of buildings. It spans offices, hotels, shopping centres, data centres, apartments, etc., with separate ratings for energy, water, waste, and indoor environment quality​. NABERS Energy ratings (1–6 stars) are widely used for commercial offices.

  • Measures actual operational performance of buildings. NABERS provides a “benchmark” comparison of a building’s energy use (or water, etc.) against peers, normalizing for factors like climate and hours​. The aim is to drive energy efficiency improvements in operation – NABERS Energy has driven ~30% energy reduction across Australian offices over two decades​.

    Largely voluntary, but with some mandatory elements. NABERS began as a voluntary program; by 2012 about 60% of Australian office space had voluntarily obtained NABERS Energy ratings​. Certain uses have since been mandated – e.g. under Australia’s Commercial Building Disclosure law, owners must obtain a NABERS Energy rating and disclose it when selling or leasing office space >1000 m²​. Thus, NABERS is voluntary for most sectors, but office energy ratings are effectively required by law for real estate transactions in large offices.

    As of the 2010s, thousands of buildings use NABERS. Over 11,500 NABERS ratings were conducted in a recent year​. Approximately 75% of Australia’s office market (by floor area) has been rated under NABERS​. The scheme has issued tens of thousands of ratings since inception and has over 2,000 accredited assessors. Participation includes nearly all major office buildings (especially due to mandatory disclosure) and growing use in other sectors like shopping centers and hospitals.

    • Data quality: NABERS requires 12 months of measured data for the period being rated​. Energy data must be drawn from utility meters or accurate sub-meters, following the NABERS metering and consumption rules. All significant energy sources (e.g. grid electricity, on-site fuel use) must be included; if more than 20% of a building’s energy use is unmeasured, a rating cannot be achieved​. Meters should be calibrated and accurate (the NABERS rules reference standards for meter accuracy and allow limited estimation). Data gaps or anomalies must be managed per the NABERS rules, and assessors must validate the metering configuration​.

    • Report formats: The NABERS rating is calculated using the NABERS online tool or NABERS Perform software. The assessor submits an application which generates a NABERS certificate (showing the star rating and annual performance metrics)​. Supporting documentation (meter readings, utility bills, occupancy details) is kept by the assessor. The reporting format to the scheme is a standardized online form – after approval, the building owner receives a formal certificate and report.

    • Reporting frequency: NABERS certificates are valid for 12 months​. Participants typically update their rating annually to maintain a current certification (and for compliance in the case of office disclosure). There is no more frequent reporting requirement to the government, but building owners are encouraged to continuously monitor performance internally. In practice, many organizations integrate NABERS into annual sustainability reporting cycles.

    • Data types required: Depends on rating type. For NABERS Energy (Office), required data include total electricity (kWh) and fuel use over the year (e.g. natural gas, diesel in kWh or MJ), the portion of that energy attributable to base building vs tenancy (if doing a base building rating), floor area (net lettable area), weekly operating hours, and occupancy levels (for tenancy ratings)​. Other NABERS tools (like for data centers) require IT load vs infrastructure energy, etc. All data are input as aggregate annual values (with some allowance for exclusion of unusual loads per the rules).

    • Submission process: Only accredited NABERS Assessors can submit ratings​. The process is done through the NABERS online portal: the assessor conducts a site visit, collects meter data and evidence, performs calculations per the rules, then lodges the rating online. The NABERS National Administrator (NSW Government) reviews the submission. Typically, a small percentage of submissions are audited by NABERS each year for quality assurance​. Corporations that report NABERS (e.g. in annual reports or to Green Building indexes) simply use the certified results – no further reporting to NABERS beyond the rating submission is needed.

Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC)

The National Construction Code (NCC) Volume 1 sets mandatory minimum energy efficiency provisions for new buildings (Classes 3–9, i.e. commercial, multi-residential, public buildings). Since NCC 2019, it includes Section J8: “Facilities for Energy Monitoring,” which requires large new buildings to incorporate an energy monitoring system​

  • Ensuring new buildings have the infrastructure to monitor their ongoing energy use. The code’s intent is to enable building owners/operators to detect excessive energy consumption and maintain efficiency over time​.

    Involuntary – this is a legal requirement in the building code. Compliance is required for building approval. All new construction (or major refurbishments) of applicable building classes must include these EMS capabilities to.

    All new large commercial buildings in Australia from 2019 onward include these systems. For example, any new office >500 m² or shopping center >2,500 m² constructed recently has an energy monitoring EMS installed by code. Each year hundreds of new buildings nationwide would fall under this requirement. (There is no “program membership,” but compliance is effectively universal for new builds meeting the size criteria.)

    • Data quality: The NCC requires the use of energy meters capable of recording time-of-use consumption. Buildings >500 m² must have at least a main meter for total electricity and gas use​

    • Report formats: The energy data must be collected to a “single interface” where it can be stored, analyzed and reviewed by building managers​

    • Reporting frequency: Continuous monitoring is implied. Meters must record interval data (time-of-use), typically in 15-minute intervals or hourly. The system should log data continuously and retain it for operator access. There is no periodic report to authorities after construction; however, building operators are expected to use the EMS data routinely to detect issues. (The code’s goal is “excessive energy use can be detected and rectified”​

    • Data types required: Electric energy consumption is the primary focus: total building kWh and disaggregated kWh by HVAC, interior lighting, exterior lighting, appliance (general) power, central hot water, elevators/escalators, and other ancillary systems

    • Submission process: Compliance is demonstrated via design documentation and final commissioning. Designers must include the specified meters in electrical/plumbing plans. At completion, the builder provides evidence (meter schedules, BMS screenshots) to the building certifier that the system is in place. There is no online submission to a government portal for this – it is a one-time approval as part of building code compliance. After handover, building owners simply operate the EMS locally.

ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems)

A global standard for organizational energy management systems, applicable to any organization (industry, commercial, institutional, etc.) worldwide. ISO 50001 provides a framework for managing energy performance including all forms of energy consumption within the organization’s scope​.

  • Continuous improvement of energy performance. The standard uses a Plan-Do-Check-Act management system approach (similar to ISO 9001/14001) to help organizations systematically optimize energy use​.

    Voluntary. ISO 50001 is not mandated by law (though some jurisdictions give it legal weight – for example, the EU EED allows ISO 50001 in lieu of mandatory audits​.

    ISO 50001 has seen steady growth. By 2020 there were nearly 20,000 organizations certified worldwide​.

  • ISO 50001 delineates what an organization’s Energy Management System must include, rather than prescribing specific tech or metering, but it effectively requires robust EMS practices:

    • Data quality: Organizations must establish an energy review, identifying energy sources and uses, and determine a baseline. This entails gathering accurate data on energy consumption (e.g. utility bills, sub-meter readings) and relevant variables (production output, weather, operating hours)​

    • Report formats: There is no one external report format – instead, ISO 50001 organizations document their EnMS processes. Internally, they maintain records such as an energy policy, objectives and targets, action plans, energy performance indicators (EnPIs), and audit reports. Many ISO 50001 adopters produce an annual energy performance report for top management (as part of the required management review) which evaluates progress against targets​

    • Reporting frequency: ISO 50001 operates on a continual improvement cycle. Key activities include regular monitoring of energy use (often continuous or daily tracking through meters/EMS software) and annual management reviews​

    • Data types required: All energy carriers used by the organization (electricity, fuels, thermal energy, etc.), quantified in appropriate units (kWh, MJ, etc.). The standard specifically calls for identifying Significant Energy Uses (SEUs) – major energy-consuming processes or equipment – and tracking performance metrics for those. This can include production-normalized metrics (e.g. kWh per unit product), load profiles, efficiency parameters, etc. Organizations define Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs) relevant to their operations (for example, a factory might track kWh/ton of output as a key EnPI)​

    • Submission process: To become ISO 50001 certified, an organization goes through an audit by an accredited certifier. This involves submitting documentation (energy policy, procedures, records of energy data and improvements) to the auditor and facilitating on-site audits where evidence (meter data, logs, operational controls) is examined. There is no submission to a government (unless used as compliance evidence); submission is to the certification body. After initial certification, organizations maintain an internal EMS with ongoing data collection and improvements. They submit to periodic external audits to keep the certificate. If used in place of legislative energy audits (like in the EU), the organization may notify the regulator of ISO 50001 certification and thereby skip separate audit submissions​

ENERGY STAR (Portfolio Manager & Certification)

Primarily a U.S. program, ENERGY STAR for buildings covers commercial buildings and industrial plants, providing an energy performance score (1–100) using the EPA’s Portfolio Manager software. It also certifies top-performing buildings (score ≥75) as “ENERGY STAR Certified.” While U.S.-centric, Portfolio Manager is also used in Canada and elsewhere for benchmarking. The focus is on existing building operations (energy use intensity).

  • Building energy efficiency – specifically actual energy consumption relative to peers. ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager normalizes for climate, operating hours, occupancy, etc., and generates a percentile score (the ENERGY STAR Score). A score of 50 is median energy performance; 75+ qualifies for certification as high efficiency. The program aims to encourage energy savings by publicly recognizing efficient buildings and providing a simple metric for comparison​.

    Nominally voluntary at the federal level. Any building owner can choose to benchmark and pursue ENERGY STAR certification. However, in practice, it has involuntary aspects: many U.S. cities and states have mandatory energy benchmarking laws requiring owners to report their building’s energy data via ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager​.

    Extremely high. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is used to track energy use in over 25% of U.S. commercial floor space​.

    • Data quality: Portfolio Manager relies on actual utility data. Building owners must input 12 consecutive months of energy usage for all fuels. Data can be entered manually from utility bills or electronically via automated utility data upload (Web Services). For certification, a licensed professional (engineer or architect) must verify that the entered energy data and building attributes are correct​

    • Report formats: The primary output is the ENERGY STAR score and associated metrics (site EUI, weather-normalized source EUI, emissions, etc.). Portfolio Manager provides standardized summary reports and a Statement of Energy Performance. For compliance with city ordinances, a common format is the ENERGY STAR data verification checklist or a data export submitted to the city. For certification, applicants submit an online application which includes the data verification form signed by the professional. The ENERGY STAR certificate is an award (plaque and listing on EPA’s website) rather than a detailed report, but EPA does publish a registry of certified buildings.

    • Reporting frequency: Annual is typical. To maintain the ENERGY STAR certification, a building must reapply each year with the latest 12-month data (the certification is only valid for the year it was earned). Many benchmarking mandates require annual submission by a set date. Portfolio Manager itself can track data continuously; owners often update monthly to watch performance, but official reporting is usually yearly. (Some cities also require public disclosure of the ENERGY STAR score each year, effectively making it an annual reporting cycle for the building’s energy performance.)

    • Data types: Monthly (at least) consumption of all purchased energy: electricity (kWh), natural gas or other fuel (therms, cubic meters, etc.), district energy (steam, chilled water), on-site renewables, etc. The tool also collects operational parameters: gross floor area, weekly operating hours, number of occupants or beds (for hospitals, hotels), number of PCs (for offices), etc., depending on building type​

    • Submission process: Users maintain a Portfolio Manager account and property profile. To comply with a city ordinance, they share the property data with the city’s Portfolio Manager account or use a reporting link by the deadline. To obtain ENERGY STAR certification, the owner/proxy hits “Apply for Certification” in Portfolio Manager, obtains the required verification, and submits electronically to EPA. EPA reviews the submission and either approves or asks for clarifications. There’s no fee. The process is entirely online through the Portfolio Manager system​

LGC Reporting (Australia’s Large-Scale Generation Certificates)

Part of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target, Large-Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) are instruments representing 1 MWh of renewable electricity from accredited large renewable power stations​.

  • Tracking and incentivizing renewable energy generation. LGC reporting ensures that each MWh of renewable generation is accounted for and only counted once. The system underpins the Renewable Energy Target (RET) – verifying renewable output and obligating fossil energy purchasers to offset with certificates​.

    Participation is partly voluntary (developers choose to accredit and create LGCs for revenue) and partly mandated (electricity retailers must surrender.

    As of 2023, roughly 900 accredited power stations are in the LGC scheme (ranging from wind and solar farms to hydro plants) – each must report generation to create LGCs​.

    • Data quality: LGC creation requires accurate metered generation data. Each accredited power station must have revenue-grade electricity meters logging output in at least 30-minute intervals​

    • Report formats: Generators report via the REC Registry online portal. They input generation readings and create batches of certificates. Supporting documents include interval data files and any required attestations (for example, biomass plants must supply fuel use data to show renewable fraction)​

    • Reporting frequency: Periodic, aligned with calendar years. Generators can create LGCs as frequently as monthly (some do quarterly or yearly). All LGCs for a given year’s generation must be created by December 31 of the following year​

    • Data types: For generators: Electrical energy in MWh (typically net export to grid) for the accredited renewable generator. If the station co-fires biomass or has multiple fuels, detailed fuel data (tonnes, energy content, etc.) must be reported to prove renewable portion​

    • Submission process: Generators: log in to REC Registry (web portal), enter generation data under their accredited power station account, and hit “Create LGCs”​

REC Reporting (Renewable Energy Certificates, Global/Other)

This refers broadly to the reporting and tracking of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) in sustainability programs outside the Australian LGC context. It can include compliance RECs in various jurisdictions (e.g. U.S. state Renewable Portfolio Standards) and voluntary RECs used by companies (e.g. RE100 commitments). Essentially, REC reporting covers accounting for renewable electricity usage via certificates in regions such as the U.S., Europe (Guarantees of Origin), and international markets.

  • Ensuring claims of renewable energy use are backed by credible data. RECs are the instrument used to track renewable generation and ownership. REC reporting focuses on preventing double-counting and verifying that a given amount of green power was produced and assigned to a user. It underpins claims like “100% renewable electricity” in sustainability reports by requiring that for every MWh claimed, an equivalent REC is retired. Thus, the focus is transparency and credibility in renewable energy consumption claims​.

    Both. In compliance schemes like U.S. state RPS, utilities are required to obtain and report RECs to regulators annually. For example, a state might mandate 30% renewable electricity, so utilities must retire RECs and file reports with state public utility commissions​.

    Compliance: In the U.S., 29 states have RPS programs – hundreds of utilities and power suppliers must file REC reports annually. For example, every load-serving entity in California must report RECs via the California Energy Commission. Voluntary: Over 300 companies in RE100 commit to 100% renewable electricity, implying they report RECs in sustainability reports. Thousands of firms disclose green power usage via CDP. The I-REC program spans dozens of countries for voluntary RECs. In sum, REC reporting is undertaken by thousands of organizations globally, from utilities to Fortune 500 companies.

    • Data quality: Accurate tracking of renewable generation and ownership. This means robust REC registries where each REC has a unique ID and can be transferred and retired. To report RECs, one must ensure the RECs are retired/cancelled in the registry on behalf of the claiming entity. Data quality involves matching MWh of consumption with MWh of RECs. Many corporate buyers undergo third-party audits (e.g. Green-e verification) where their REC purchases and retirements are audited against their claims​

    • Report formats: Compliance REC reports: Utilities submit annual compliance reports to regulators detailing how many RECs were retired to meet the mandate, often broken down by resource type and year. These are usually simple tables (e.g. “Utility X retired Y RECs from wind, Z from solar for 2024 compliance”) plus affidavits from REC registries. Voluntary reporting: Corporations include REC usage in sustainability reports and in CDP responses. The GHG Protocol requires reporting Scope 2 emissions in two ways: location-based and market-based – the latter requires disclosing the sources of RECs/GoOs used​

    • Reporting frequency: Annually in most cases. Compliance reports are annual (aligned with utility compliance years). Corporate sustainability reports are annual, as are CDP disclosures. Some programs require more frequent updates (e.g. quarterly REC procurement reports in certain U.S. states), but the norm is yearly true-up of RECs against consumption. The REC registries themselves operate continuously – organizations can retire RECs at any time, but they typically compile and report on an annual cycle (calendar or fiscal year).

    • Data types: Number of RECs (usually denominated in MWh) by vintage (year of generation) and source type. For example, a company might report “We purchased 50,000 RECs (50 GWh) in 2022, of which 30% wind, 70% solar.” Emission factors are often applied to show the avoided grid emissions. Additionally, certificate serial numbers or ID ranges are data behind the scenes. Compliance filings might include each REC’s ID or at least proof from the registry of the total retired. In Europe, a Guarantee of Origin report would include the EECS certificate details (issuer, technology, etc.). So, qualitative data (technology, project name, location) and quantitative data (MWh of certificates) are both reported.

    • Submission process: Utilities (Compliance): They retire required RECs in the regional registry by the deadline, then submit a compliance report to the regulator (often a form or docket filing including evidence of retirement from the registry). For instance, a utility will use WREGIS to retire RECs, then submit the WREGIS retirement report to the state energy commission. Corporates (Voluntary): They typically don’t “submit” to a government, but they may undergo verification. If Green-e certified, they submit an annual report of their REC purchases to the Green-e program auditor​

SGIP (California Self-Generation Incentive Program)

A state-level incentive program in California (USA) for customer-sited distributed energy resources. SGIP provides rebates for behind-the-meter systems like battery energy storage, fuel cells, wind turbines, and other self-generation tech at both residential and non-residential sites​.

  • Encouraging deployment of clean energy technologies and ensuring they perform. A major focus in recent years is on energy storage systems and making sure they reduce peak demand and greenhouse gases. The program has both up-front incentives and performance-based incentives, thus it tracks how systems operate post-installation​.

    Voluntary – customers participate to get rebates. However, once enrolled, they must comply with SGIP’s rules (including monitoring and reporting) to receive and retain the incentive. It’s essentially a contractual obligation tied to the rebate rather than a law.

    SGIP has supported thousands of projects. As of 2022, over 10,000 energy storage systems (residential and commercial) have been deployed via SGIP, totaling hundreds of megawatts​.

    • Data quality: Systems ≥30 kW must install a performance meter meeting accuracy standards (±2% typical)​

    • Report formats: The PDP transmits periodic meter data reports to the SGIP administrators in a specified format (typically CSV or XML). The SGIP Handbook defines the file format and intervals for these reports​

    • Reporting frequency: Ongoing – typically quarterly data submission for 5 years. SGIP requires at least 5 years of performance monitoring for large projects. Data is recorded in 15-minute intervals and must be reported at least quarterly (some PDPs report monthly)​

    • Data types: Electric output (or in the case of storage, charge/discharge power). For generation: kWh generated each interval. For storage: kWh discharged and charged (and sometimes state-of-charge). For fuel-based systems: fuel input (e.g. cubic feet of gas) and exhaust emissions data if required (to calculate GHG emissions). The SGIP data focuses on energy throughput and availability – e.g. how often the battery is cycling, at what times (to ensure peak reduction). The PDP data stream typically includes timestamp, kW output (positive or negative), and any flags for data gaps. Environmental conditions or site load might be optionally tracked but not required.

    • Submission process: Participants hire an SGIP-approved PDP from a list​

ASHRAE 90.1 (Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential)

A technical standard specifying minimum energy-efficient design requirements for new buildings (commercial and multi-family over 3 stories, and other non-residential). It covers building envelope, HVAC, lighting, service hot water, and power equipment in buildings. ASHRAE 90.1 is used primarily in the United States and is also adopted or referenced in many other countries as a baseline for building energy codes​.

  • Minimizing building design energy demand. The focus is prescriptive criteria (R-values, equipment efficiencies, lighting power densities, etc.) and performance modeling methods to ensure new buildings are built to a certain efficiency level​.

    Semi-voluntary. As an ANSI/ASHRAE/IES standard it’s voluntary by itself​.

    Being a standard, it doesn’t have “members.” However, its impact is huge: effectively millions of new and renovated buildings have been designed to meet ASHRAE 90.1 criteria since it is embedded in building codes. As of mid-2018, DOE noted at least 7 U.S. states had adopted 90.1-2013 or later as code, and many others using 90.1-2010 or equivalent​.

    • While 90.1 is a design standard, it has provisions that entail implementing EMS capabilities in the building:

      • Data quality: ASHRAE 90.1 (since the 2010s) requires metering of energy by end-use in larger buildings. For example, 90.1-2013/2016 mandate that buildings over 25,000 ft² have permanently installed meters to track at least total building electricity, HVAC system energy, interior and exterior lighting separately, plug loads, etc.​

      • Report formats: ASHRAE 90.1 does not require reporting to authorities (enforcement is via plan review and commissioning). However, it requires that the metering system be capable of recording and storing interval data and providing reports of hourly, daily, monthly, annual consumption for each measured end-use​

      • Reporting frequency: Continuous monitoring with minimum 15-minute intervals for large tenants​

      • Data types: Electricity usage by major end-use category (lighting, HVAC, receptacle circuits, etc.)​

      • Submission process: Compliance is verified by design drawings and specifications showing the required sub-meters and EMS capabilities, and by commissioning tests. During design, engineers must include a metering plan in the construction documents to meet 90.1’s metering provisions. The authority having jurisdiction (code official) reviews plans for compliance. After installation, a commissioning agent or contractor functionally tests that the meters are working and logging data. There’s typically a requirement that the owner be given documentation on how to access the data. No data is submitted to ASHRAE or the government (except maybe a commissioning report to the building official). The EMS infrastructure then becomes part of normal building operations.

LEED is a green building certification system applied internationally to buildings and spaces. It has rating systems for Building Design & Construction (BD+C for new buildings), Interior Design, Building Operations & Maintenance (O+M for existing buildings), Neighborhood Development, etc. LEED covers a broad range of sustainability categories (site, water, energy, materials, indoor environment). EMS relevance is strongest in energy (and to some extent water) management credits. Applicable globally, but originally developed in the US.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

  • Driving higher sustainability performance in buildings beyond code minimums. In energy terms, LEED (especially LEED BD+C) focuses on modeled energy efficiency (earning points for energy cost savings vs. a baseline)​.

    Voluntary. LEED certification is pursued at the discretion of project owners. However, certain jurisdictions and organizations have made it effectively mandatory for their projects (e.g., many U.S. federal buildings must aim for LEED, some city codes give benefits for LEED, etc.). But as a program, it’s a market-driven voluntary standard.

    As of 2023, over 105,000 projects have been LEED certified across 185 countries​.

  • LEED includes specific requirements that either mandate or reward robust EMS usage:

    • Data quality: LEED BD+C (New Construction) requires a Building-Level Energy Metering prerequisite. All energy sources (electricity, gas, steam, etc.) must be metered at the whole-building level, and the owner must commit to share at least one year of energy data with USGBC​

    • Report formats: For new construction, there’s no immediate performance report – instead, teams provide a submittal template describing the metering systems and a commitment letter to report data. In LEED O+M, projects must submit at least 12 months of actual energy usage data (often in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager format or similar) as part of the certification​

    • Reporting frequency: Ongoing/continuous. LEED’s prerequisite includes a commitment to share energy data with USGBC for 5 years (or until building changes ownership) on at least an annual basis​

    • Data types: All forms of building energy use: electricity, onsite renewable production, gas, delivered fuels, and district energy. The Advanced Metering credit specifically says all significant energy end-uses representing >10% of total consumption must have advanced sub-meters​

    • Submission process: Through LEED Online, during certification application. The project team provides documentation: for prerequisites, a signed letter committing to data sharing and a description of installed meters; for the Advanced Energy Metering credit, cut-sheets or screenshots of the metering system and a narrative confirming it meets all criteria (networked, remote-accessible, 36-month storage, etc.)​

NGER (Australia’s National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme)

A nationwide mandatory reporting scheme for large corporations in Australia. Under the NGER Act 2007, companies that exceed specified thresholds must report their annual greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and energy production.​

  • Collecting consistent, comprehensive data on major energy use and emissions across the economy. NGER’s focus is on accuracy and completeness of emissions and energy data to inform government policy (and underpin programs like the Safeguard Mechanism and Australia’s emissions inventory). It covers Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (electricity) emissions, plus energy consumed and generated​.

    Involuntary – required by law for entities meeting thresholds. Corporations that produce or use over a certain amount of energy (e.g. >200 TJ) or emit over a certain tonnage of CO₂e (e.g. >50,000 tCO₂e) must register and report​.

    Approximately 900 companies (controlling ~~>{{900}} registered corporate groups) reported under NGER for the most recent year​.

    • Data quality: NGER requires adherence to the NGER Measurement Determination, a detailed rulebook on how to measure or calculate emissions and energy​

    • Report formats: Reporting is done via the Emissions and Energy Reporting System (EERS), an online portal​

    • Reporting frequency: Annually, based on the Australian financial year (July 1 – June 30). Reports are due by October 31 each year for the previous year’s data. The cycle: each year corporations collect data continuously, then spend a few months post-June verifying and compiling, then report by Oct 31. CER then reviews and may ask questions. After submission, CER publishes some data in

    • Data types: Both energy and emissions:

      • Energy consumption in TJ, by fuel type (e.g. natural gas, diesel, electricity purchased, etc.).

      • Energy production in TJ (e.g. electricity generated and sold, renewable energy generated).

      • Scope 1 GHG emissions in tonnes CO₂, CH₄, N₂O (and certain synthetic gases if applicable) for each source, andScope 2 emissions in tonnes CO₂e for purchased electricity.

      • Activity metrics like fuel quantity (kiloliters of diesel, tonnes of coal) are implicitly reported through energy content.

      • Facility identifiers and industry sector codes are also reported. Essentially, a full inventory of energy flows and direct emissions for the organization.

    • Submission process: Companies must register under NGER upon exceeding thresholds. Each year, they gather data from all operations. Many establish an internal team or assign an “NGER Coordinator” who collects spreadsheets from each facility or taps into metering systems. For example, mines will report how much diesel was used in mine vehicles, how much electricity was drawn from the grid, etc., often pulling from maintenance and procurement records. The coordinator consolidates this into the EERS input format. The corporation’s responsible officer (often CFO or Sustainability Manager) submits the report through the EERS web portal (with a secure login)​

California Title 24 Energy Standards (Building Energy Efficiency Standards)

Title 24 sets mandatory energy efficiency requirements for all new construction and significant alterations to residential and non-residential buildings within California. It applies statewide and is implemented through local building codes enforced by city and county authorities.

  • Title 24 aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy demand, and lower greenhouse gas emissions by specifying minimum design standards for building envelopes, HVAC, lighting, water heating, and electrical power distribution. It emphasizes both design efficiency and operational energy use through mandatory requirements, performance-based modeling, and prescriptive paths.

    Involuntary—compliance is mandatory by law for all applicable construction and renovation projects. Non-compliance can result in denied occupancy permits or construction approval.

    Every new residential and commercial building project in California, as well as major renovations, must comply. Tens of thousands of projects annually statewide must meet Title 24 compliance requirements.

  • Data Quality Standards:

    • Mandates installation of accurate, utility-grade meters and sub-meters to monitor major building loads (HVAC, lighting, plug loads).

    • Requires periodic calibration and verification of meter accuracy.

    Report Formats:

    • Compliance is demonstrated through Title 24 documentation submitted to local building departments (e.g., Certificate of Compliance and Certificate of Installation).

    • Energy modeling reports (performance-based compliance) generated by approved Title 24 software (e.g., CBECC-Com or EnergyPro).

    • Commissioning reports documenting system testing and operational readiness.

    Reporting Frequency:

    • Compliance documentation submitted at key stages: design (permit submission), construction completion (for Certificate of Occupancy), and post-occupancy commissioning reports.

    • Continuous EMS operation and periodic commissioning encouraged to maintain operational compliance.

    Data Types Required:

    • Building-level and sub-system energy consumption (electricity and gas usage).

    • HVAC system operational data, lighting system operation, controls functionality, and renewable energy generation metrics (if applicable).

    • Environmental data (temperature, occupancy, weather) required for accurate energy modeling and performance verification.

    Submission Process:

    • Initial compliance documentation and energy modeling reports are submitted electronically or in-person to local building departments for permitting.

    • Commissioning documents and certificates of installation are submitted prior to occupancy approval.

    • Ongoing operational data does not require submission to regulatory bodies post-occupancy, but operators must maintain records for inspection.

Solutions

EnergyX® Cloud Platform

  • Monitor & control your site’s energy use including EV charging stations, storage and solar.

    Built-in reports for sustainability, power quality, energy usage and cost allocation and more. Custom reports for any need.

  • Integrate DERMS, VPP & Charge Point Management platforms as well as Building Management Systems and Industrial Control Systems

    Connect to external data such as weather, pricing and enterprise data.

    Support for all IoT protocols, MODBUS, OCPP and OPC.

  • Powered by an EnergyX Edge Gateway, the LMS optimizes power distribution across EV charging stations and other DERs to prevent network overload and reduce peak demand costs.

  • We use ION Power meters, the most accurate & intelligent power meters available, measuring thousands of power quality and energy variables and transmitting them to the EnergyX platform.

  • For non-critical loads or circuits, we supply basic meters that provide all the necessary measurements to support energy and electrification management

Electrical Metering

  • AZZO works with you to asses, define, design, engineer, procure and commission the EnergyX solution, including the Energy Management and Load Management functions

  • We’ll ensure you get the most from your energy assets over the long term with services to expand, enhance and extend your system

  • With a support contract from AZZO, you are assured that your energy management system will always be performing at its peak.

EnergyX® Lifecycle Services