
ASHRAE 90.1, the gold standard for energy efficiency in building design, sets the benchmark for reducing energy consumption across residential, commercial, and multi-residential properties. While the standard covers HVAC systems, lighting, and building envelopes, one often-overlooked area is submetering—a critical component for energy accountability and operational efficiency.
Submetering, the process of measuring individual tenant or system-level energy consumption, aligns seamlessly with ASHRAE 90.1’s goals. By enabling detailed utility tracking, submetering not only supports compliance with ASHRAE 90.1 but also empowers property managers and tenants to reduce waste and optimize usage. In this blog, we’ll explore how submetering hardware and technology fit into the ASHRAE 90.1 framework, offering contractors, developers, and distributors actionable insights into achieving compliance and operational success.
The Role of Submetering in ASHRAE 90.1 Compliance

ASHRAE 90.1 sets a high bar for energy efficiency by requiring detailed tracking and management of energy consumption across building systems. Submetering enhances this accountability by allowing property managers and building owners to break down energy use to its source. In residential and multi-residential buildings, submetering provides visibility into individual tenant or system-level energy consumption, a crucial element for promoting fairness and sustainability.
Specifically in ASHRAE 90.1 (2016), submetering requirements are as follows:
- Electrical Energy Monitoring
- Requirement: Electrical energy monitoring systems must separately monitor electricity use for major categories, including the whole building, HVAC systems, interior lighting, exterior lighting, and receptacle circuits.
- Details: In multi-tenant buildings, these systems must separately monitor each tenant’s usage. Data must be recorded at intervals no longer than 15 minutes and stored for a minimum of 36 months. Systems should provide stakeholders with hourly, daily, monthly, and annual usage data.
- Whole Building Energy Monitoring
- Requirement: All major energy sources, such as natural gas, steam, and hot water, must be monitored separately. If energy meters are not provided by the energy supplier, the building owner must install compliant energy meters.
- Details: Monitoring data must be accessible to tenants, stored for at least 36 months, and available for retrieval for operational adjustments.
- Submittals and Documentation
- Requirement: Record documents, including operation and maintenance manuals, must be provided to the building owner or operator. These documents ensure continued high performance and compliance.
- Details: The submittals must be delivered within 90 days of system acceptance and include all compliance documentation necessary under ASHRAE 90.1.
- Integration with Building Automation Systems (BAS)
- Requirement: Energy monitoring systems must integrate with digital control systems to record and graphically display data. This ensures that building operators can manage energy use effectively and meet ASHRAE requirements.
- Details: BAS integration supports tenant billing and operational management while meeting compliance verification needs.
With submeters installed, property owners can monitor which systems or tenants are consuming the most energy, uncover inefficiencies, and implement targeted improvements. For tenants, the ability to see their exact energy usage fosters energy-conscious behaviors, such as turning off unused appliances or adjusting HVAC settings. This aligns perfectly with ASHRAE 90.1’s goals, as it incentivizes both property managers and residents to work together toward reducing overall consumption.
Beyond promoting efficiency, submetering introduces financial transparency. By enabling direct billing based on actual consumption, submetering eliminates the common frustration of shared utility costs in multi-residential settings. Tenants are charged only for what they use, fostering goodwill while reducing unnecessary energy waste. This dual benefit—financial fairness and increased accountability—makes submetering a cornerstone for achieving and exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 standards.
Simplifying Compliance with Data Driven Management
ASHRAE 90.1 compliance depends on accurate data to ensure energy efficiency and optimal system performance. Submetering provides real-time insights into energy, water, and gas usage, helping property managers identify inefficiencies and optimize operations.By monitoring key systems like HVAC units, water heaters, and lighting, submeters detect issues such as outdated equipment or improper settings early. This allows for timely interventions, ensuring ongoing compliance and operational efficiency. Submetering also verifies the effectiveness of energy upgrades, confirming whether projected savings are achieved. This precision supports ASHRAE 90.1 goals while equipping developers and managers with actionable insights to continually improve building performance.
Proving ASHRAE 90.1 compliance can be challenging, but submetering simplifies the process by automating data collection and generating compliance-ready reports. Modern systems continuously monitor energy use, integrating with software to produce accurate documentation while reducing manual effort and errors. Submetering also creates a historical data log, valuable for audits and certifications like LEED, which often reference ASHRAE 90.1. By streamlining tracking and reporting, submetering ensures compliance while improving operational efficiency and giving developers a market advantage.
Key Benefits of Submetering Hardware
Granular Energy Monitoring
Submetering hardware offers unparalleled granularity when it comes to tracking energy consumption. Unlike traditional metering systems that measure energy use at the building level, submeters provide detailed insights into how energy is used by specific tenants, systems, or zones within a property. This level of monitoring is particularly valuable for multi-residential buildings, where energy use can vary significantly from one unit to another. For example, submetering can pinpoint inefficiencies in individual units or shared systems, such as HVAC equipment or common area lighting, allowing property managers to address issues proactively. By delivering precision insights, submetering helps ensure compliance with ASHRAE 90.1 requirements for energy efficiency while also fostering accountability among tenants.Submeters break down energy use by tenant or system, enabling property managers to identify inefficiencies and optimize consumption.
For example:
- HVAC Zoning: Measure energy used by specific zones or units, ensuring compliance with ASHRAE’s HVAC efficiency standards.
- Tenant Billing: Fairly allocate energy costs based on usage, promoting accountability and conservation among tenants.
Streamlined Compliance with ASHRAE 90.1 Standards
Meeting ASHRAE 90.1 compliance often requires extensive documentation of energy performance, which can be a challenge without the right tools in place. Submetering systems simplify this process by automating the collection of energy consumption data and presenting it in a format that aligns with the standard’s requirements. For instance, submetering hardware can integrate with energy reporting software to generate compliance-ready reports, reducing the administrative burden on developers and property managers. Additionally, the continuous monitoring provided by submeters ensures that buildings remain compliant over time, offering peace of mind for stakeholders and supporting long-term operational efficiency.
Real-Time Data and Actionable Insights
One of the most compelling advantages of modern submetering hardware is its ability to provide real-time data. With continuous monitoring, property managers can identify and respond to inefficiencies as they arise, rather than waiting for issues to become evident through monthly utility bills. For example, a sudden spike in energy use in a common area could indicate malfunctioning equipment or improper settings. Real-time data allows managers to act immediately, minimizing waste and avoiding potential compliance issues with ASHRAE 90.1. Moreover, the integration of submetering systems with Building Automation Systems (BAS) enables automated adjustments to optimize energy use, further enhancing the building’s efficiency.
Lower Operating Costs
Submetering not only facilitates compliance with energy standards but also delivers tangible financial benefits. By providing visibility into energy consumption patterns, submetering enables property managers to implement targeted energy-saving measures. This might include optimizing HVAC schedules, upgrading inefficient equipment, or encouraging tenants to adopt energy-conscious behaviors. Over time, these adjustments can significantly reduce utility costs, improving the building’s net operating income (NOI). Additionally, by shifting utility costs to tenants based on their actual usage, submetering ensures fair billing and promotes a culture of accountability. Tenants who are directly responsible for their energy consumption are more likely to conserve, further reducing overall costs.
Futureproofing for Evolving Energy Codes
Submetering not only facilitates compliance with energy standards but also delivers tangible financial benefits. By providing visibility into energy consumption patterns, submetering enables property managers to implement targeted energy-saving measures. This might include optimizing HVAC schedules, upgrading inefficient equipment, or encouraging tenants to adopt energy-conscious behaviors. Over time, these adjustments can significantly reduce utility costs, improving the building’s net operating income (NOI). Additionally, by shifting utility costs to tenants based on their actual usage, submetering ensures fair billing and promotes a culture of accountability. Tenants who are directly responsible for their energy consumption are more likely to conserve, further reducing overall costs.
Take the Next Step Toward Smarter Compliance
Ready to simplify ASHRAE 90.1 compliance and unlock the benefits of advanced submetering? QMC is here to help. With industry-leading hardware and innovative solutions like MeterConnex, we provide everything you need to monitor, manage, and optimize energy use effectively.
Contact us today to explore our submetering solutions or schedule a consultation with our experts. Let’s work together to build energy-efficient, future-ready buildings that exceed expectations.