Amount of purchased energy consumed by the organization during the reporting period.
Organizations should footnote all assumptions used.
This metric is intended to capture the amount of energy (both renewable and non-renewable) purchased for use by the organization itself. Adding Energy Generated for Use: Total (OI9624) to this metric should equal the total energy consumed by the organization during the reporting period.
To disaggregate this total by the type of energy purchased—for example, non-renewable vs. renewable sources—report this metric disaggregated by the relevant options from Primary Energy Source (OI3781).
In some contexts, this metric can serve as an indicator of whether the outcome being sought by an investor or organization is occurring (the WHAT dimension of impact). For more on the alignment of IRIS metrics to the five dimensions of impact, see IRIS+ and the Five Dimensions of Impact (https://iris.thegiin.org/document/iris-and-the-five-dimensions/). No single metric is sufficient to understand an impact; rather, metrics are selected as a set across all dimensions of impact. When possible, the selection of metrics to measure and describe the five dimensions should be based on best practice and evidence.
This metric has 2 related submetrics.
Metrics identified as "cross-category" are those that are relevant to any IRIS+ Impact Category or Impact Theme (i.e., these metrics are not specific to any particular industry/category or theme).
Energy Purchased: Total (OI8825) and Energy Generated for Use: Total (OI9624) are both required for Joint Impact Indicator: Energy Consumption.
Alignment comments: To calculate overall Energy Consumption, organizations should use both Energy Generated for Use: Total (OI9624) and Energy Purchased: Total (OI8825).
JII definition: Energy consumption measured in kilowatt-hours or megajoules of energy consumed during the reporting period. Distinguishing heat and electricity consumption is recommended. This indicator may be used to measure performance (e.g. kWh/m2 for a green building) or could be an absolute measure (e.g. before and after comparison).
JII unit of measurement: kWh or MJ (energy)
June 2022 - IRIS v5.3 Released (current version)
Immaterial change. Minor revision to usage guidance for clarity.
January 2020 - IRIS v5.1 Released
No change.
May 2019 - IRIS v5.0 Released
No change.
March 2016 - IRIS v4.0 Released
No change.
March 2014 - IRIS v3.0 Released
Immaterial change. Minor revision to metric name and definition language for clarity.
November 2011 - IRIS v2.2 Released
No change.
February 2011 - IRIS v2.1 Released
No change.
September 2010 - IRIS v2.0 Released
Material change. Energy Purchased (OI8825) and Energy Produced On-site (OI9624) replaced Energy Consumption (OEN35). Metric bifurcated to increase specificity by differentiating between energy purchased and energy produced on-site.
September 2009 - IRIS v1.0 Released
New metric. Energy Consumption (OEM35) was developed via the Original IRIS Working Group.
IRIS Metrics Work Better in Sets
To use IRIS metrics—and the resulting data—to understand impact performance, IRIS metrics should be used and analyzed in generally accepted sets and according to well-defined objectives. IRIS+ gives you access to generally accepted Core Metrics Sets aligned to common Impact Themes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).