Energy Use Intensity: not just a benchmark, but your building’s unique fingerprint

Energy Use Intensity (EUI) is often seen as a benchmark—a way to compare performance across different buildings. But that’s only half the picture. When you dig deeper, Energy Use Intensity isn’t a generic metric. It’s a dynamic, building-specific indicator that tells you how your space actually behaves over time.

The problem with relying on averages

Benchmarking can be a helpful starting point. It tells you how your building compares to others like it. But averages only get you so far. Every building has its own rhythm—its own usage patterns, inefficiencies, and operational quirks. Two buildings with identical Energy Use Intensity scores on paper could be running at very different levels of waste or performance under the surface.

That’s why tracking your building’s Energy Use Intensity over time matters far more than comparing it to an industry average. Because what you’re really measuring is your own operational potential—and where you’re falling short.

Getting from actual to possible

So how do you find out what your Energy Use Intensity should be? This is where structured assessments like ISO 50001 come in. They don’t just measure what’s happening—they reveal what’s possible.

Let’s say an ISO 50001 process identifies 20% energy waste. That means your current Energy Use Intensity is 120% of where it needs to be. Your target isn’t some abstract number—it’s 80% of your current use. That’s your real benchmark. Not the building down the road. Not the sector average. Your building. Your potential.

The case for longitudinal tracking

If you’re only using Energy Use Intensity for comparison, you’re missing the point. The real value is in watching it shift. When you make a change—like adjusting controls or optimising plant runtime—you’ll see whether it works. If the number doesn’t budge, you’ll know it’s not delivering. That feedback loop is what drives real efficiency. And it’s what protects you from wasted investment.

Energy Use Intensity isn’t just a benchmark. It’s your operational truth. And if you measure it like it matters, you’ll start to uncover just how much is possible.