Wyse Meter solutions drive sustainability through submetering technology

Sustainability remains an ongoing challenge and a guiding principle for many companies operating in Toronto’s real estate space. Wyse Meter Solutions plays a role through submetering technology for utility management. Submetering involves the installation of smart meters that connect directly to utility lines in a building’s service areas or individual suites. These meters measure individual consumption in each suite, allowing for accurate billing based on actual usage rather than estimates.

Founded in 2006, Wyse Meter Solutions has carved out its niche in the Canadian utility industry by offering an enhanced submetering experience to building developers, owners, managers and occupants. Wyse recognized early on the need to integrate advanced technology into its operations and has transformed its market position to become an industry leader. UrbanToronto recently spoke with Peter Mills, their CEO, to delve deeper into how this technology plays an important role in sustainable mixed-income urban communities.

Wyse, recognized and regulated by the Ontario Energy Board, advocates what the company calls a “triple-bottom-line” approach: a balance between environmental, social and financial responsibilities. As Mills tells UrbanToronto: “Wyse has designed its program to ensure it meets the needs of market rental to affordable housing.”

Ontario needs new multi-use buildings that will need to sub-meter electricity supplies, with Wyse offering an all-in-one utility service. In addition, it also promotes mixed-income housing designed to be inclusive, with market-rate, affordable and subsidized housing. Submetering ensures that residents are billed only for the utilities they consume, which is especially beneficial in environments with more pronounced financial disparities.

Looking south-east at The Well’s rental buildings, part of Wyse’s portfolio, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor AHK

Mills highlights the evolution of submetering: “Initially it was about putting the burden of utility costs in the hands of users, but it has evolved substantially. We now use the data to help our customers and building owners, and helping them take their buildings into use to the next level in terms of efficiency.” This is exemplified by their work at The Well, one of Toronto’s most talked about mixed-use developments, with 1,700 residential units across six buildings “There are about a thousand suites that are being rented,” says Mills, “and the residents are happy that they 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 the impact of their greenhouse gas emissions and encourage them to potentially change their behavior. Going even further, building owners can compare buildings in their portfolio, giving them an overview of how developments in different neighborhoods score in terms of sustainability.

Looking east towards The Well from street level, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor Karledice

At The Well, Wyse’s submetering is complemented by the Enwave Deep Lake Water Cooling system, which uses cold water flowing from well below the surface of Lake Ontario to provide cooling throughout the complex in the summer. In winter, the system uses hot water stored in the ground beneath the complex to heat it. Wyse integrates submetering solutions with technologies like these, supporting and advancing Toronto’s green building standards.

The integration of AI and extensive data analysis provides deep insights into energy consumption patterns. “With approximately 8 billion rows of energy data in our cloud system, we look beyond billing to see how this information can help building owners improve operational efficiency and sustainability,” Mills shares. This data-driven strategy enables real-time adjustments to building operations, optimizing energy consumption and significantly reducing waste.

The Well Hall and canopy, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor rdaner

Looking to the future, Mills is optimistic about the role of submetering in achieving broader sustainability goals. “The next five years will be heavily focused on data-driven decisions to make buildings more efficient,” he says. Mills foresees a shift to buildings that are beyond carbon neutral, generating carbon offsets that could also be financially beneficial, with some buildings generating more energy than they consume. “This would be a beautiful place to get to,” Mills says, “and hopefully we can get there before 2050.”

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