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Sustainability remains an ongoing challenge and a guiding principle for many companies active in Toronto’s real estate scene. Wyse Meter Solutions is playing its part through submetering technology for utility management. Submetering involves the installation of smart meters that connect directly to the utility lines within a building’s service rooms or individual suites. These meters measure individual consumption in each suite, enabling precise billing based on actual usage rather than estimations.
Wyse Meter Solutions, founded in 2006, carved its niche in the Canadian utility industry by offering an enhanced submetering experience to building developers, owners, managers, and residents. Recognizing early on the need to integrate advanced technology into its operations, Wyse has transformed its market position to become a leader in the industry. UrbanToronto recently spoke with Peter Mills, their CEO, to dive deeper into how this technology plays an important role in sustainable, mixed-income urban communities.
Licensed and regulated by the Ontario Energy Board, Wyse advocates for what the company refers to as a “triple-bottom-line” approach — balancing environmental, social, and financial responsibilities. As Mills tells UrbanToronto, “Wyse has designed its program to ensure it fits needs from market rentals to affordable housing units.”
Ontario requires new multi-residential buildings to submeter for electricity, with Wyse providing an all-in-one service for utilities. Beyond that, it also promotes mixed-income housing, designed to be inclusive, featuring market-rate, affordable, and subsidized housing. Submetering ensures that residents are only billed for the utilities they consume, which is especially beneficial in settings with more pronounced financial disparities.
Mills highlights the evolution of submetering, "Initially about putting the burden of the cost of utilities into the users' hands, it has evolved substantially. We are now using the data to help support our clients and building owners, and helping them take their buildings to the next level in terms of efficiency." This is illustrated through their work at The Well, one of the most talked about mixed-use developments in Toronto, with 1,700 residential units across six buildings. “There are about 1,000 suites that are rental-occupied,” Mills says, “and residents are thrilled to have access to that data.”
Through their work at The Well, Wyse is looking at “the gamification of data,” as Mills puts it. This data can give residents a better understanding of their greenhouse gas emissions impact and encourage them to potentially change their behaviour. Going further, building owners will be able to compare buildings in their portfolio, giving an overview of how developments rank in different neighbourhoods in terms of sustainability.
At The Well, Wyse’s submetering is complemented by the Enwave Deep Lake Water Cooling system which uses cold water piped from far below the surface of Lake Ontario to provide cooling throughout the complex in the summer. In the winter, the system uses warm water stored in the earth beneath the complex to heat it. Wyse integrates submetering solutions with technologies like this, supporting and advancing Toronto's green building standards.
The integration of AI and extensive data analytics allows for deep insights into energy usage patterns. "With about 8 billion rows of energy data in our cloud system, we're looking beyond billing to see how this information can help building owners enhance operational efficiencies and sustainability," Mills shares. This data-driven strategy enables real-time adjustments to building operations, optimizing energy consumption and significantly reducing waste.
Looking to the future, Mills is optimistic about the role of submetering in achieving broader sustainability goals. "The next five years will focus heavily on data-driven decisions to make buildings more efficient," he says. Mills envisions a shift towards buildings that are beyond carbon neutral, generating carbon offsets that can also be financially advantageous, with some buildings generating more energy than they use. “This would be a wonderful place to reach,” Mills shares, “and hopefully we can get there before 2050.”
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