In this guide
Define the store boundary
Identify which meters serve the store and which spaces fall inside the chosen floor area. A shopping-centre bill may include common-area allocations, shared cooling or landlord charges. A tenant meter may exclude some of those services.
Record the floor-area definition and source: for example, the measured gross area used for a particular benchmark. Do not switch between sales area and gross area between periods without explaining and, where appropriate, restating the comparison.
ENERGY STAR's EUI guidance distinguishes site and source energy and describes an annual energy-to-area metric. Use the energy basis and property definition required by the benchmark you select. Electricity-only kWh/m² should remain clearly labelled as such.
A fictional store calculation
A store records 270,000 kWh of electricity for a complete year and uses a documented 1,500 m² area for the same boundary.
270,000 ÷ 1,500 = 180 kWh/m² for the year.
Keep the annual total, area and ratio together. If the store added a mezzanine in July or closed for refurbishment, a single year-end floor-area value may not describe the whole period. Decide how to treat the change and preserve the method.
Try the calculation
The starting numbers are fictional. Use matching periods, units and boundaries.
A simple arithmetic check. It does not validate your source records or method.
Combine stores using the underlying totals
| Fictional store | Annual electricity | Comparable floor area | Electricity intensity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store A | 270,000 kWh | 1,500 m² | 180 kWh/m² |
| Store B | 72,000 kWh | 600 m² | 120 kWh/m² |
| Combined | 342,000 kWh | 2,100 m² | 162.86 kWh/m² |
The combined intensity is 342,000 ÷ 2,100. A simple average of 180 and 120 gives 150 and gives the smaller store too much weight for this area-based portfolio measure. Keep each store visible so an aggregate does not conceal missing data or a major operational difference.
Only combine compatible boundaries, periods and energy definitions. If one store has incomplete data, report the coverage rather than quietly treating its missing months as zero.
Explain what changed before claiming savings
Four questions help a reviewer interpret movement:
- Did trading days, opening hours or occupancy change?
- Did the store add refrigeration, food preparation, cooling or another energy-intensive service?
- Did the metering or landlord allocation change?
- Were estimated bills corrected or missing periods added?
A decrease in kWh/m² may be encouraging, but it does not by itself prove that a particular equipment project delivered the reduction. Keep absolute energy use and operating context beside the intensity.
For a proposed project evaluation, agree a suitable baseline and measurement approach with the responsible energy specialist. Do not use the worksheet as a substitute for a savings-verification method.
Build a reviewable annual file
Retain a meter register, bills or interval exports, floor-area evidence, conversion workings and a note explaining exclusions. Match the bill register to the intended year, account for duplicate or corrected invoices and record missing periods.
The Portfolio Manager glossary provides definitions for its property and energy metrics. If you use a named benchmarking system, follow that system's definitions rather than applying a convenient internal label to a different calculation.
For climate disclosure, an energy ratio and an emissions figure remain separate measures. A prepared emissions figure also needs its method and applicable factors. The Scope 2 guide explains the disclosure context; this retail worksheet does not calculate either Scope 2 method.
Questions you might have
What is a good retail kWh/m² value?
A meaningful answer depends on location, store format, equipment, operating hours and the benchmark's definitions. Compare with a relevant peer group and the same energy basis. Do not apply an unlabeled internet average as a universal threshold.
Can I compare one month with an annual benchmark?
Not directly. A month has a different period and may reflect seasonal demand. Use a complete matching period or a clearly documented, appropriate normalisation method.
Does Auditably monitor store meters?
No. Auditably's scope is evidence and review around prepared climate-reporting figures. It does not replace a retail energy-management or metering system. The coverage page states the product limits.
Prepared with AI assistance using the linked sources and original fictional examples. No customer results, field measurements or independent specialist review are claimed.