Existing Building Commissioning program

Tune up your building’s energy efficiency while reducing costs and increasing market value

Save on Energy’s Existing Building Commissioning (EBCx) program is designed to help owners, operators and managers of commercial and institutional buildings in Ontario improve their energy management. Implementing building management best practices will help reduce energy wastage, enhance occupant comfort and increase profitability. 

What does the program offer?

The EBCx program offers financial incentives to commercial building owners to hire qualified commissioning providers to undertake building recommissioning at their facilities, helping them realize energy savings from improved facility operations and maintenance (O&M) business practices.

The building commissioning process is carried out by an accredited building commissioning provider who will identify potential energy conservation measures and work with the participant to implement recommended building improvements.

The program also provides pay-for-performance incentives for savings achieved through implementation of these practices. The commissioning provider will train participants to engage in ongoing commissioning and to integrate this process into their standard management practices.

Are you a commissioning provider in Ontario?

The EBCx program is now accepting applications for authorized commissioning providers. Take your business to the next level.

Learn more at SaveOnEnergy.ca/EBCxCPSignUp

What are the benefits of the program?

By participating in this program, you can:

• Increase profitability and property value
  Reduce your operating costs and prolong equipment life for higher profits and property value.  
  
  
• Reduce environmental impact
  A commissioning provider can help you identify ways to reduce your energy use and achieve a lower carbon footprint.
  
  
• Develop a continuous improvement mindset
  The program provides training on how to improve your building management practices and implement a continuous improvement process, making savings likely to persist over time.
  
  
• Enhance occupant comfort
  From better indoor air quality and thermal comfort to reduced noise, your occupants and their productivity will benefit from improved building management practices. 

How does the program work?

The EBCx program has three phases and incentives are available to participants who complete each one.

Hire a professional to investigate your facility and prepare an investigation report setting out a commissioning plan. 

• Receive up to $0.06 per square foot of the building area, subject to a maximum of $50,000 per facility and/or 75% of the costs paid by the participant to the commissioning provider to undertake the investigation. 

Undertake the commissioning process by implementing energy-efficiency measures at the facility identified in the investigation phase. This may involve repairs, small replacements and reprogramming equipment.

• Receive $0.03 per kWh of confirmed energy savings, subject to a maximum of $50,000 or 30% savings of the facility’s kWh calculated per the baseline model, whichever is lower.

In the final phase, receive training from your commissioning provider to maintain the savings and monitor your systems for one year. 

• Receive $0.03 per kWh of confirmed incremental persisting energy savings, subject to a maximum of $50,000 or 30% of the facility’s kWh calculated using the baseline model, whichever is lower. Savings are calculated and verified after the 12-month period. 

Is the EBCx program a fit for my organization?

To qualify for this program, you must be the owner, operator, or manager of a commercial or institutional building and meet the following requirements.

Your facility/facilities must:

• have a minimum of 12 months of consecutive energy data 
• have consumed a minimum of 750,000 kWh per annum, not including energy consumed by industrial and manufacturing processes.  
• have baseline models meeting the minimum standards. You can refer to the Measurement and Verification (M&V) Guidelines or speak to your commissioning provider for more information
• not have undertaken a commissioning exercise in the last two years 
• not be participating in a building accreditation system that requires EBCx as a pre-requisite  
• be connected to, or behind the meter of, an electricity customer connected to the IESO-controlled grid or a distribution system  
• meet any other eligibility requirements as outlined in the M&V Guidelines below.

And your project must include one of the following measures:

• occupant behavioural measures 
• set point and scheduling optimization  
• air and water balancing 
• other operational and maintenance changes 
• equipment repairs and minor replacements.
  
   

Please refer to the Program Requirements below for the full list of program eligibility requirements and program measures. All measures are subject to review and approval by the IESO. We also recommend that you speak to your commissioning provider for technical assistance.

Don’t have a commercial building?
Visit the programs and incentives web page to find the right Save on Energy program for your business.

Key program documents

• Program Requirements (pdf)
• Commissioning Provider Participant Agreement (pdf)