Overview
BuildingSync is a schema developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) that provides a standardized data format for describing the physical and operational characteristics of buildings specifically for the purpose of commercial energy audits. This schema can be exported and imported by many software tools that allow common information to be shared (ie – interoperability). For a list of use cases, click here.
The BuildingSync Schematron tool includes a set of rules that validate data against the BuildingSync schema, helping to ensure that data is consistent and accurate for any specific software tool. In this case, a Schematron file was created solely for validating BuildingSync into ASHRAE BEQ portal.
ASHRAE Building EQ is a web-based tool developed by the ASHRAE that helps building owners and operators evaluate the energy performance of their buildings. The tool allows users to compare their building’s energy use to similar type buildings in the same climate zone and identify areas where energy efficiency improvements can be made. Building EQ includes a set of energy performance metrics that can be used to track improvements over time.
Users can import BuildingSync files into existing ASHRAE Building EQ projects allowing them to pre-populate the project with common energy auditing data.
The integration between BuildingSync and Building EQ also supports interoperability across software tools in the energy benchmarking and audit ecosystem. For example, energy modeling outputs from tools like OpenStudio or EnergyPlus can be exported into BuildingSync, which can then be read directly by Building EQ assessment platforms. This interoperability ensures that stakeholders — whether energy auditors, facility managers, or policy analysts — are working from the same structured dataset. By enabling seamless data flow between modeling, audit, and reporting tools, the integration helps promote consistency in energy performance evaluations across projects and organizations.
The benefits of integrating BuildingSync with ASHRAE Building EQ are significant. First, standardization streamlines assessment workflows, saving time and reducing costs associated with data preparation and reconciliation. Second, the schema’s structured nature enhances data quality and comparability, making it easier to benchmark buildings against peers or track performance over time. Finally, because BuildingSync is extensible and widely supported, its use fosters broader adoption of best practices in energy reporting and supports scalable implementation of sustainability initiatives at the local, national, and international levels.