Site Energy is the total amount of energy delivered to a building’s meter, measured directly through utility billing and building energy management systems. This metric represents actual consumption visible on electricity and gas bills without accounting for generation efficiency or transmission losses. Site energy provides the baseline for operational cost analysis and efficiency tracking.
Technical Details
Site Energy measurement occurs in kWh for electricity and therms or cubic feet for natural gas at the point of delivery to the building. Monthly utility bills and submetered systems provide this data. Site energy consumption typically ranges from 10-20 kWh/sf/year for efficient office buildings to 50+ kWh/sf/year for energy-intensive facilities like hospitals or data centers. Real-time monitoring through Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) tracks consumption patterns and identifies peak demand periods.
Practical Significance
Site Energy forms the basis for calculating operating costs and establishing Energy Cost Budgets. Comparing site energy against design predictions reveals actual building performance. Site energy metrics guide day-to-day operational decisions, retrofit prioritization, and utility rate management, directly impacting facility budgets and sustainability goals.