This paper gives a summary of the fundamental features of the methods used to collect and record information on energy use in nondomestic buildings. The influence on these methods of the essential data requirements for creating a national database of energy use in the UK nondomestic building stock is described. The development of suitable techniques for energy surveying, data recording, and subsequent analysis is explained briefly. Detailed descriptions of standard procedures for collecting relevant information, recording data in machine-readable form, and producing results on energy use are provided, by using an appropriate example for illustration.