How long should we measure the energy baseline before handover?

Two weeks of seasonally-representative operation is the working minimum. A month is the comfortable answer. The mistake is starting the baseline at the same moment as handover and then realising the seasonal envelope is wrong by the time anyone is paying attention.

Two practical disciplines

• Start baseline measurement at Practical Completion, not at handover. The seasonal window matters more than the contract milestone.
• Capture three reference loads: lighting at evening peak, cooling at warm-day peak, total-building consumption over a representative week. Anything richer is upside.