Energy audits are an important measure of building performance. They determine where, when, why and how energy is used in a building. They also identify areas where changes can be made to lower costs and reduce energy consumption. Additionally, an energy audit can offer ways to improve a building’s environmental footprint. This makes them a necessary part of any green building program.
Here are four tips for conducting effective energy audits.
1. Begin with Benchmarking
Benchmarking is a critical first step. It helps understand your building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint. It compares your building’s performance to other similar buildings in the area. This comparison is based on utility data from the last few years as well as energy use and cost per square foot. By using benchmarks, you’ll know if your energy consumption is below or above average.
2. Select the Right Type of Energy Audit for Your Needs
There are three basic types of energy audits, as defined by ASHRAE. The type you choose will depend on the size of your facility as well as your goals and budget.
Level I: Site Assessment or Preliminary Audits
This type of audit identifies no-cost or low-cost opportunities to save money. It involves a brief site inspection and assessment of energy bills.
Level II: Energy Survey and Engineering Analysis Audits
This is the most common type of audit. It includes an in-depth analysis of energy costs, energy uses and building characteristics. It also provides details on more capital-intensive opportunities to reduce energy use.
Level III: Detailed Analysis of Capital-Intensive Modification Audits
Level III is the most comprehensive audit. It provides recommendations and financial analysis to support major capital investments. It also involves modeling to explore various retrofit scenarios.
Level I is appropriate for small facilities or those with constrained budgets. Level II and III are more expensive. But they’re useful for those who have energy efficiency goals. They’re also useful for facility owners who are undertaking major renovations. The outcomes will result in recommendations for non-capital expense Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) and capital expense Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs).
3. Encourage Participation by Building Staff
Building staff who know the facility well should take part in the assessment. Employees can provide valuable information regarding the building’s equipment, systems and operations to the energy auditor. They’ll also likely be the ones who have to act on the resulting recommendations. Having internal workers involved and engaged from the beginning will encourage ownership. Engaged staff will also understand the important role they have to play in ongoing energy efficiency.
4. Automate the Process
After the energy auditor has collected the data, they’ll begin the energy and cost analysis. This is often done manually, but cloud-based tools, such as 4tell™’s iPlan™ Assessment Solutions platform, can help simplify the process. iPlan™ is configured for all three levels of ASHRAE energy audits. The tool allows you to gather information in a standardized, consistent and methodical manner. This will make it easier to analyze and assess data, update information in future years, and compare your data to industry benchmarks.
The Bottom Line
Taking control of energy use and costs is not only good for the environment but it’s also good for a company’s bottom line. In fact, the cost of an energy audit can often be recovered within the first year by implementing energy saving recommendations from the audits. See what energy and financial savings you can realize by undertaking one.
Photos: Fuyu Liu / Shutterstock.com, Production Perig / Shutterstock.com
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