B3 Benchmark Rating
The B3 Benchmark Rating is an easy to understand 1 to 5 star-ranking system. For the energy benchmark, it is based on the ratio of actual kBtu per square foot compared to the benchmark kBtu per square foot model. A rating higher than 2 1/2 stars means the building is performing better than expected. A rating less than 2 1/2 stars indicates greater potential for savings.
Energy Usage Period
The actual energy usage is based on the most recent 12-month period of energy readings. Meter readings are month-normalized so that evenly aligned month boundaries can be measured. By default, the most recent 12-month energy period is used, but you can view earlier dates by dragging the chart’s scrollbar to a different period.
If the duration selector is expanded wider than 12 months, by dragging either end, just the first 12 months will be included in annual comparison. Multiple annual comparisons can be analyzed via Visualizations.
Graph Export Tools
The three-dotted button in the upper right corner of the graph provides additional charting functionality to export the chart out as an image or as raw data.
Filter
The filter drop down in the upper right corner lets you drill down into specific meter source types, change units and normalization options.
| Meter Source Types | By default, all energy sources are included in the benchmark view. Specific meter source types can be selected via the dropdown. |
| Units | By default, energy units are set to kBtu as a common unit of measure across all energy sources. When sources of the same type are selected, native units are available (e.g. electric and PV displayed as kWh). CO2e is an option in energy mode. Cost is an option for both energy and water modes. |
| Normalization | By default, metrics are square foot normalized and can be turned off to see annual values by selecting ‘None’. If occupant counts have been entered in the Building Editor, Person Normalization is also available. Having SF or person normalization on will exclude non-building sites from metrics since those values are set within a building, thus nothing with which to normalize by. |
Potential Savings
If any of the selected energy sources are using more than the expected energy use, index ratios above 1.0, there is potential for savings. The kBtu potential savings is simply the difference between the actual usage and the benchmark usage. If energy charges have been entered in meter readings, site specific average energy costs are used to calculate potential savings dollars. If energy costs were not entered, average state energy rates are used. Potential savings are calculated by summing the potential savings of selected fuel source(s), and of each site at the organization level. Potential carbon savings are calculated by taking each energy source’s potential kBtu and multiplying that times carbon factors provided by EPA’s eGRID. These factors are updated periodically to reflect changes in the mix of utility’s energy sources e.g. increases in renewable electricity generation compared to coal or nuclear generation.
Benchmark Calculation
The underlying benchmark calculation is based on a thermal model constructed from the specifications of your exact building. Mainly the space usage, square footage, occupancy schedules and conditioning attributes of each space asset area. If little is known about a building, typical specifications will be assumed by default based on the selected building type. However, all of these attributes can be overridden. Additional building types and space asset areas can be assigned and specified in great detail on the Operations tab.
If a great deal of detail is known about a building, advanced properties can be specified in the Advanced tab.
The building is simulated over the course of a typical year, modeled to the designated energy code.
Benchmarks By End-Use
If heating or cooling weather signatures can be identified, the B3 Energy Benchmark can be further broken down by end-use.
Weather Normalization
Click the Weather Normalization button to view weather normalization signatures and the quality of those signatures.
End Use Compared to Benchmark
If applicable, benchmark comparisons will be displayed by heating, cooling and base loads.
Organization-Level Benchmarks
At the organization level, only benchmark-complete sites are included in metrics. B3 Benchmarks are created at the site level, not the building level, since multi-building sites share meters and therefore share usage data. Those sites with a black checkmark in the Status column are benchmark-complete. A summary of sites included is stated at the top of the Sites list, i.e. "Sites (12 of 16 eligible)".
What does benchmark-complete mean?
Sites are deemed benchmark-complete and able to generate the engineering model when they meet the following criteria:
- Site must contain at least one building.
- Each building must have a valid, geo-locatable address.
- The summation of space usage type percentages must equal 100%.
- A valid original occupancy date must be specified.
- Site must have at least one meter defined.
- Every defined meter must contain a continuous 12-month period of meter readings with at least 95% measured usage data. The system estimates data when small gaps in usage occur; however, those gaps cannot comprise more than 5% of the total data.
- If a meter has recently been connected, a date connected should be entered to inform the system that no readings prior to that date will be entered
- If a meter is no longer in service, a date disconnected should be entered to inform the system that no readings after that date will be entered
- If a site does not meet these requirements, it can be excluded from organizational metrics by selecting the “Exclude this site from metrics” option in the Site Editor.
B3 Benchmarking Rating
A quick and easy visual representation of benchmark performance based on energy source selected. The 'stars' rating indicates high performers (low index ratios) as 5 stars and low performers (high index ratios) as 1 star. A rating of 2.5 stars corresponds with an index ratio of 1.0, indicating the site is using what is expected.
Annual Comparison
The bar graphs break out the actual usage and benchmark usage by energy source. Hovering over a bar will display the precise usage for each source based on the selected units in the filter.
| Actual | Total usage for most recent complete 12-month period for selected energy source(s) reported in units and normalization selected in filter option. Most recent complete 12-month period of usage data across the organization or site, depending on view. At the site level, the duration can be adjusted via the scroll bar under the monthly graph. If the graph is expanded wider than 12 months, just the first 12 months will be included in the annual comparison. Multiple annual comparisons can be analyzed via Visualizations. |
| Benchmark | Predicted usage based on site engineering model(s) as if it were built to the program's energy code using typical weather. |
Organizational Level Site list
At the organization level, the sites list contains summary information about each site and can be sorted by any of the available columns by clicking on a column header. Click a column header twice to sort it in descending order. The default order will be displayed the next time you log in. By default, the sites list in the B3 Benchmark tab is sorted by index ratio with lower performing sites on top.
The index ratio is actual usage divided by expected benchmark usage. A ratio of 1.0 means the site is using exactly what would be expected. A ratio higher than 1.0 is using more than expected and lower than 1.0 is using less than expected. Index ratios greater than 2.0 and lower than 0.25 will be highlighted red. These ratios indicate questionable results that may benefit investigating building and/or meter data.
Warnings and Errors
Throughout the application, colored triangles may be displayed. These indicate warnings (yellow) and errors (red) with the data or situations where the metric is not applicable or available (gray). Hovering over the triangle will display a message indicating the issue. Resolving warnings and errors typically requires updates to either the Building Editor or Meter Editor.