THE GRYPHIN ADVANTAGE INC.

Office Building
Financial Services
50 Coreslab Dr, Dundas
ON L9H 0B2

Energy Audit

Executive Summary
MGMS was retained to complete an energy audit for Gryphin Advantage Inc, located in Dundas
Ontario. This report presents the results of an energy audit conducted to assess the consumption
of electricity from a business office, of approximately 11,500 square feet, in Ontario. Included in
this report are the following sections: Explanation of Cost Structure, Building Energy
Performance Index, Energy Use Analysis, Identification of Energy Sources, and
Recommendations for future action. The Client wished to remain confidential for this report.
Utility data from the 2015 year was used as the basis for this energy assessment. As evident from
the appliance inventory and energy consumption (see Appendix B), majority of the electricity
consumed in the office came from major appliances such as:
The Refrigerator,
Computers and Monitors,
Ceiling Lights,
Fax Machine,
Canon Image Runner,
Desk Lights,
The Dehumidifiers,
Space Heaters, and
Break System
In an effort to reduce the utility costs for the Client, MGMS recommends focusing on low cost
energy reduction measures because the building is a new-build and already fitted with energy
efficient appliances and lighting. Key reommendations include:
Considering phantom power
Educational outreach practices
Internal audits
Change in maintenance schedule
In summary, MGMS conducted this energy audit in order to provide recommended solutions in
an effort to reduce energy consumed in the Gryphin Advantage Inc office resulting in improved
energy efficiency and reduced costs.

Table of Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 1
1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Project Background ............................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Scope of Work ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 1
2.0 Explanation of Cost Structure ................................................................................................... 1
2.1 Debt Retirement Charge ....................................................................................................... 1
2.2 Measured Electricity Usage Charge...................................................................................... 2
2.3 Delivery Charge .................................................................................................................... 3
2.4 Regulatory Charge ................................................................................................................ 3
2.5 Adjustment Factor ................................................................................................................. 3
2.6 Ontario Clean Energy Benefit ............................................................................................... 3
3.0 Energy Use Analysis ................................................................................................................. 3
3.1 Total Energy.......................................................................................................................... 3
3.2 Building Energy Performance Index .................................................................................... 4
3.3 Usage from 2014 2015 ....................................................................................................... 4
4.0 Identification of Energy Sources .............................................................................................. 4
5.0 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 6
6.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 7
7.0 References ................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.0 Appendix ..................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix A Site Visit Images ................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Appendix B Energy Analysis..................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

1.0 Introduction
1.1 Project Background
MGMS was retained to complete an energy audit for Gryphin Advantage Inc, located in Dundas
Ontario. The completion of this energy audit will allow the Company to assess its energy
consumption habits, and determine energy efficiency initiatives which will reduce consumption
and save on costs. The Client is an approximately 11,500 square foot, five year old office
building located in Ontario.

1.2 Scope of Work

An energy audit was performed, which included the review of the energy usage for the office of
Gryphin Advantage Inc. This audit was completed along with a site visit on March 1, 2016 to
identify appliance usage within the office. An analysis of the energy consumption in the office
from the 2015 year was used to create a report and provide recommendations for improvement in
electricity consumption. Through the recommendations provided in this report, the Client will
experience a reduction in energy consumption and associated costs. Included in this report are
the following sections: Explanation of Cost Structure, Building Energy Performance Index,
Energy Use Analysis, Identification of Energy Sources, and Recommendations for future action.

1.3 Methodology
MGMS completed an energy audit for Gryphin Advantage Inc in March 2016 by reviewing
monthly energy bills from the 2015 year and performing a site visit to take an inventory of heavy
appliances. The utility bills included information of the water (m3/day) and electricity (kWh)
usage, which included off-peak, mid-peak and peak usage and pricing. A site visit of the office
was conducted to identify appliances and usage of each appliance throughout a normal work
day. The information from the bills and site visit was compiled to create a report for the Client
on energy usage and potential areas for environmental efficiency of the office.

2.0 Explanation of Cost Structure

There are several additional charges that customers are subject to on their utility bills. The
charges that Gryphin Advantage Inc is subject to are as follows:

2.1 Debt Retirement Charge

DRC is a charge on electricity consumed in the province of Ontario. The Ontario Electricity
Financial Corporation (OEFC) takes this money to service and pay-off debt of Ontario Hydro.
The DRC is approximately 0.7 cents per kWh consumed, totaling almost $700, and accounting
for approximately 4% of the total cost of electricity for the office, as seen in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Debt Retirement Charges for 2015.

Month,
2015
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August*
September
October*
November
December
Total ($)

Debt Retirement
Charge ($)
$52.89
$52.10
$53.17
$52.55
$58.67
$61.32
$71.11
$70.70
$64.12
$52.50
$54.40
$49.78
$693.31

2.2 Measured Electricity Usage Charge

This cost is the measured electricity usage during on-, off-, and mid-peak period during the
billing period. Horizon Utilities then sends this payment directly to the electricity supplier. As is
clear from Figure 1 below, the office building currently consumes most energy during off-peak
hours; however, there is a slight increase in on-peak energy consumption compared to mid-peak
consumption which provides an area for improvement. If the Company pushes for employees to
vigilantly use electricity on mid- to off-peak hours they could save costs. For example, if half of
the on-peak consumption were consumed during the mid-peak or off-peak period, they could
save upwards of $20 per month.
60000

Usage (kWh)

50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
0
Off Peak

Mid Peak

On Peak

Figure 1. Comparison of Energy Usage During Peak Periods.

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2.3 Delivery Charge

The delivery charge is the cost of sending electricity from the generating station to the business
location. The charge includes a customer service charge, a distribution charge, and a
transmission charge. Part of the charge is fixed, while the other part varies depending on the
amount of electricity used by the business.

2.4 Regulatory Charge

The regulatory charge is the cost to maintain the provincial grid and control the electricity
system.

2.5 Adjustment Factor

The adjustment factor accounts for the loss or consumption of electricity as heat when it passes
through the power wires and transformers to its destination. The adjustment factor for this period
was 1.0379.

2.6 Ontario Clean Energy Benefit

The OCEB program ran from 2011 December 31, 2015. This program allowed eligible
residential and small-business owners to claim a 10% rebate on electricity charges. In 2015, this
program saved the Company approximately $522 over twelve months.
For additional information, see Appendix B and Horizon Utilities Understanding Your Bill.

3.0 Energy Use Analysis

3.1 Total Energy
Table 2. 2015 Energy Consumption and Cost.
Electricity
Consumption (kWh)
97005.29
*Estimated based on
bills

Cost ($)
$16,417.83

Water
Consumption
(m3)
Cost($)
1138.11

$5588.71

Total Cost ($)

$22,006.54

The following table lists total energy usage for 2015 and relevant costs associated with the usage.
Data was obtained through energy bills acquired through the client. See Appendix B for more
information. As depicted in Table 2, the majority of the costs from the utility bills is associated
with electricity charges.

3.2 Building Energy Performance Index

Table 3. Building Energy Performance Index, 2015.
Office Building
Dundas

Floor Area
(ft2)
11,500

Consumption
(kWh)
97005.29

BEPI (ekWh/ft2)
8.435242609

Table 3 lists floor area, consumption, and the calculated Building Energy Performance Index.
Building size is compared to energy consumption to determine the effective kilowatt hours per
square foot. All information was determined during the site visit and from the energy bills
provided by the Client. The BEPI values are expressed as equivalent kWh (ekWh) on a per
square foot basis. The BEPI takes the electricity consumption and allows for comparisons to be
made to other office buildings regardless of size, which would be beneficial for determining how
the Client compares to other business office buildings in the area.

3.3 Usage from 2014 2015

Table 4. 2014 vs 2015 Energy Usage.

Month, 2015
Total
Change

Historical vs Current Usage

2015
2014
Electricity
Water
Electricity
Water
(kWh/day)
(m3/day)
(kWh/day)
(m3/day)
2707.39
25.79
3073.45
27.27
Electricity
(kWh/day)
-366.06 Water (m3/day)
-1.48

Table 4 compares energy and water consumption data from 2014 against data from 2015. All
information was collected from utility bills obtained through the client. As illustrated in the table,
the Client has reduced in its overall electricity and water consumption between 2014 and 2015
calendar years. For more information on how these numbers were calculated, see Appendix B.

4.0 Identification of Energy Sources

An inventory of all of the appliances and equipment within the building can be found in
Appendix B. As seen in Figure 2, electricity usage is highest during the summer and fall months.
The reason for this increase in electricity use can be due to high use of the air conditioning
system and electric fans.

Total Electricity Usage in kWh per Month, 2015

Consumption (kWh)

12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0

Month, 2015

Figure 2. Total Electricity Usage in kWh per Month, 2015.

As seen from the Appendix B document listing the appliance inventory, majority of the energy
consumption in the office building comes from:
The Refrigerator,
Computers and Monitors,
Ceiling Lights,
Fax Machine,
Canon Image Runner,
Desk Lights,
The Dehumidifiers,
Space Heaters, and
Break System
Many of these sources simply consume larger amounts of electricity because they are always
plugged in and using energy even during the office off-hours. During the site visit, it became
apparent to MGMS that there was little knowledge regarding phantom power as the appliances
were all left on and/or plugged in during afterhours. MGMS faced some limitations during the
site visit, for example, there was no access to the boiler room during the visit which masked one
of the largest consumers of energy the water heater. Fortunately, through an interview with an
employee, MGMS determined that because of the offices new-build status the water heater is a
new model and energy efficient. Based on this information, it is unlikely that the Company will
invest in a new heater as it is less than five years old and not feasible to replace. Furthermore, it
is unlikely that this information is false as it would not benefit the Client to withhold information
that will help them. However, in order to ensure these facts are correct, it is recommended that
the Client documents the year and model. If the Company implements the recommendations
discussed below, they will surely see lower energy consumption and costs on their utility bills in
the future.
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5.0 Recommendations
In an effort to reduce the energy spent in the Gryphin Advantage Inc office building, an energy
assessment was completed to evaluate the usage. There are several ways in which this office
building can reduce its electricity usage. Energy efficiency initiative descriptions are as follows,
Low Cost Measures When looking at energy efficiency measures in an office building,
consider the following:
o Phantom Power While this option may seem rather common sense, unplugging is worth
mentioning because many electronic appliances are left plugged-in in the range of 24 hours
per day despite not being in use. Phantom power is the energy consumed from appliances that
are left plugged in and consume energy (even when turned off). Many appliances consume
energy that is not even considered, for example, the microwave is draining energy to display
that digital clock even though it is only in use for cooking for minutes per day, or a laptop
computer left plugged in while turned off. When conducting the site visit, after regular business
hours, there were many appliances left plugged in and running despite there being no one in
the office. This phantom power is a significant and unnecessary source of energy consumption.
The concept of phantom power ties into the education aspect as described below.
o Education The Company should consider implementing brief energy use educational
outreach into their monthly (or bimonthly) meetings. By creating a schedule for educating
employees on cost effective energy use practices, there will be accountability for monitoring
energy use within the office building. In addition, the employees will become more conscious
of energy use reduction practices, such as knowledge or phantom power and unplugging
appliances when not in use, which will save the Company on utility costs and boost Company
morale. Education will also enforce people to be more diligent with their energy usage, for
example being conscious of using heavy appliances during mid- to off-peak hours where
possible.
o Summer Month Spikes: It is expected that the spikes in energy consumption in the summer
and early fall months are due to the use of air conditioning and fans. The use of fans and
lowering the air conditioning could soften these energy spikes. In addition, the office should
consider installing blinds or shades for the windows to lower the temperature within the
building.
o Internal Audits: Internal annual energy audits could allow the Company to monitor their
consumption, and determine additional energy efficiency initiatives to reduce on associated
costs.
Building Hours of Operation and Scheduled Daily Cleaning While the building currently
implements the use of light sensors, the lights are constantly being switched back on for daily
cleaning after building hours of operation are over.
o Lighting and Hours of Operation While this office building currently implements the use of
32-W T8 LED lighting and motion sensors, an energy efficiency consideration would include
the hours of daily cleaning. The Company currently has cleaning staff come in after hours of
operation; therefore, they are constantly switching the lights back on in the evening. A simple
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fix would be to schedule cleaning during regular hours of operation to reduce the lighting
energy consumption.

6.0 Conclusion
Overall, the Gryphin Advantage Inc office, located in Dundas, Ontario was found to be using
sustainable practices in terms of energy efficiency. However, MGMS conducted an energy
assessment and discovered particular areas for improvement within the office building.
Key findings during the audit include:
Slight increase in on-peak energy consumption compared to mid-peak consumption,
which provided recommendations for educational outreach for employees.
Electricity usage is highest during the summer and beginning fall months, which is likely
due to air conditioning and fans.
Various appliances left plugged in and running with no one in the office, which led to the
recommendation of education regarding phantom energy.
Lights constantly in use for daily operations and afterhours maintenance, which led to the
recommendation that the cleaning staff hours change to blend with office hours, where
possible.
With regards to the key findings discovered throughout the energy audit, MGMS has provided
recommendations in order to improve energy efficiency initiatives which will reduce
consumption and save on costs.
Key Recommendations:
Considering phantom power
Educational outreach practices
Internal audits
Change in maintenance schedule
In conclusion, MGMS conducted this energy audit in order to provide effective solutions in an
effort to reduce energy use spent in the Gryphin Advantage Inc office resulting in improved
energy efficiency and reduced costs. MGMS made reasonable efforts to confirm the information
provide from other parties. The information within this report represent the best knowledge and
judgment of MGMS. It is recommended that feasibility studies be completed on some of the
recommendations, such as investing in energy efficient appliances, to ensure they are the right
option for this office.

Proposal Prepared By:

Victoria Munro
Brendan Graham
Erica Ma
Marta Swiercz