Identify energy waste, retrofit opportunities, and compliance gaps with ASHRAE Level 1, 2, and 3 energy audit services for commercial, institutional, and multi-unit buildings across Canada. Green Canada Energy Advisors helps building owners and property teams make practical decisions around energy performance, operating costs, benchmarking, and long-term decarbonization planning.
An ASHRAE energy audit is a structured review of how a commercial, institutional, or multi-unit residential building uses energy. Based on ASHRAE Standard 211, the audit scope may be set as Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 depending on how much detail the building owner needs for budgeting, retrofit planning, capital upgrades, or investment-grade analysis.
Green Canada Energy Advisors provides ASHRAE-based energy audit services for buildings across Canada. Our team reviews utility data, operating schedules, building systems, site conditions, and retrofit opportunities to help property owners, managers, and facility teams make practical decisions around energy performance, operating costs, benchmarking, reporting preparation, and long-term decarbonization planning where applicable.
Choosing the right ASHRAE audit level matters because each tier supports a different business decision. A Level 1 audit gives building owners a high-level review of energy use, obvious operational issues, and early improvement opportunities. A Level 2 audit connects utility data, building systems, operating schedules, and energy conservation measures with estimated costs and payback ranges. For more complex projects, a Level 3 audit supports deeper analysis for major retrofit planning, capital budgeting, financing discussions, or investment-grade decisions.
Green Canada Energy Advisors helps property owners, managers, and facility teams select the right audit level for their building and budget. Our work supports practical decisions around energy performance, operating costs, and retrofit priorities, while also helping clients prepare for benchmarking, reporting, incentive applications, and long-term decarbonization planning where applicable.
An ASHRAE energy audit is most valuable when it turns technical findings into clear, fundable capital planning. Green Canada Energy Advisors helps commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential building owners identify where energy is being wasted, which systems may be increasing operating costs, and which improvements should be reviewed before major capital is committed.
Instead of treating energy efficiency as a standalone facility upgrade, our team connects audit findings to retrofit planning, maintenance decisions, and incentive-readiness where applicable. This gives property owners and facility teams stronger documentation for budgeting, funding discussions, and long-term decarbonization planning before physical upgrades move into procurement.
Energy benchmarking turns raw utility data into a clearer picture of how a building is performing over time. As part of an ASHRAE-based energy audit, Green Canada Energy Advisors reviews energy use, operating patterns, and Energy Use Intensity (EUI) to help identify performance gaps, unusual consumption patterns, and areas that may need deeper investigation.
For commercial, institutional, and multi-unit residential buildings in Canada, utility data can be organized through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to support benchmarking and reporting preparation where required. Our team helps property owners and facility managers establish reliable performance baselines, so retrofit planning, incentive opportunities, and long-term decarbonization decisions are based on cleaner data before major capital planning begins.
The answer depends on factors specific to your building’s energy use, operating schedule, systems, and maintenance history. To determine the potential savings, a Preliminary Energy Use Analysis (PEA) is completed at the start of the ASHRAE audit process.
If your building has completed major energy efficiency upgrades within the past 10 years, the potential for further improvement may be more limited. However, buildings without significant recent energy upgrades can expect to uncover savings potential around 20%, depending on current performance and the measures selected for implementation. In advanced deep retrofit scenarios developed after the energy study, larger reductions may be possible, including substantial reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
The ASHRAE Level 1 audit, also known as a walk-through or screening audit, is the initial step in understanding a building’s energy performance. It involves interviews with building staff, a review of utility bills and available data, and a brief walkthrough of the facility. The primary focus of a Level 1 audit is to identify potential energy efficiency improvements, understand the building’s configuration, and review major energy systems. The results typically include a preliminary energy-use benchmark and a concise report highlighting visible efficiency opportunities. While detailed recommendations may be limited at this stage, notable operational issues, low-cost improvements, or projects requiring further review can be identified. The ASHRAE Level 1 audit helps provide an early view of building performance, compare energy use against relevant benchmarks, establish a baseline for measuring future improvements, determine whether further evaluation is needed, and guide the focus of any next steps. This approach helps building owners avoid unnecessary audit scope and control the costs associated with moving into more detailed ASHRAE Level 2 or Level 3 audits.
The ASHRAE Level 2 audit is the next phase for many facilities, building on the Level 1 findings with a more detailed energy analysis. It provides a closer examination of primary energy-consuming systems, including the building envelope, lighting, HVAC, domestic hot water, plug loads, controls, and other major energy uses. The audit connects energy consumption, operating schedules, system performance, and occupant comfort considerations to identify practical Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs). The resulting report outlines potential ECMs ranging from low-cost operational improvements to capital upgrades, with estimated energy savings, implementation costs, and payback ranges where applicable. These Level 2 findings help owners and management teams make informed decisions around retrofit planning, budgeting, incentive readiness, and implementation.
The ASHRAE Level 3 audit is typically pursued when significant capital investment is being considered for complex system upgrades or deep retrofits identified during a Level 2 analysis. Because it provides a more intensive evaluation of expected benefits, project costs, operational risks, and performance outcomes, it is commonly referred to as an investment-grade audit. This level of review is recommended when Level 2 findings identify high-potential but capital-intensive measures that require stronger technical and financial validation before financing discussions, corporate budget approvals, or procurement decisions move forward. To reduce financial uncertainty, a Level 3 audit may include whole-building energy simulation or detailed system-specific modelling to evaluate how the facility is expected to respond to proposed mechanical, controls, envelope, or architectural modifications. This process can involve more extensive field data collection, including temporary data loggers, building automation system trend data, and targeted submetering to track key operating parameters under real operating conditions. This information is used to calibrate the energy model against actual utility and operational data, improving the reliability of projected savings when combined with detailed cost estimating. The resulting calibrated analysis gives building owners, management teams, and capital planning stakeholders a stronger technical and financial foundation before committing resources to complex energy system modifications or deep retrofits. By reducing uncertainty around costs, savings, and implementation risks, the Level 3 audit helps support more defensible decisions before procurement, engineering design, or construction commitments are finalized.
Need ASHRAE energy audit services for a commercial, institutional, or multi-unit residential building? Green Canada Energy Advisors can help determine the right audit level, review benchmarking or reporting requirements, and clarify the analysis needed for retrofit planning, incentive readiness, and capital budgeting.
Complete the form and our team will review your building type, project goals, and next steps. You’ll get a clearer path for improving energy performance, reducing operating costs, and planning long-term decarbonization where applicable.
ASHRAE Energy Audits identify energy-saving opportunities, propose low-cost upgrades, and prioritize energy efficiency projects, leading to reduced energy bills and lower maintenance costs, and reducing the carbon footprint of a building.
A Level 1 audit is a high-level walkthrough used to identify obvious energy issues and decide whether deeper analysis is needed. A Level 2 audit provides a more detailed review of utility data, building systems, Energy Conservation Measures, estimated savings, costs, and payback ranges. A Level 3 audit is an investment-grade analysis used for major retrofit planning, financing discussions, and capital decisions that require a higher level of technical and financial detail.
Savings vary by building condition, utility history, operating schedules, system performance, and whether major upgrades have already been completed. Buildings without significant recent energy upgrades may uncover savings potential around 20%, depending on the measures selected for implementation. If the audit leads to a deeper retrofit plan, larger reductions may be possible, but an ASHRAE energy audit itself identifies and evaluates opportunities rather than guaranteeing savings.
Yes, ASHRAE Energy Audits assess various factors impacting comfort and air quality, allowing for improvements in these areas through energy-efficient measures.
Yes, in addition to the cost savings achieved through energy efficiency, there may be possible incentives. However, as the programs are changing regularly, you can give us a call for an updated information.
Yes, Green Canada Energy Advisors provide complementary services such as energy management consulting and renewable energy solutions to further enhance sustainability and energy efficiency.
Green Canada Energy Advisors include licensed Professional Engineers (P.Eng) and individuals certified by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The timeline for an ASHRAE Energy Audit varies based on the complexity of the building and the desired level of assessment, typically ranging from a week to a couple of months.
