Audit Energy
| Table Header | Table Header |
|---|---|
|
2 |
Identifies both ‘low-hanging fruit’ and more complex opportunities to implement changes to operations, maintenance, and systems that can improve energy performance in the workplace |
|
1 |
One to two weeks to establish access and audit protocol, one week to perform the audit, and two to four weeks to write a report including recommendations |
|
1 |
External auditor, if qualified auditors are not present at the post |
|
|
FAC, GEN |
Audit
Energy audits identify operational adjustments and retrofit actions that enable sites to improve energy efficiency and comfort, as well as reduce building operating costs. An audit should be performed by someone with training in energy auditing and life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA).
The total electricity consumed by idle electronics in the United States equals the annual output of 12 power plants. Identification of phantom loads is the first step to turning them off. 6
Audits vary in scope, time, and cost. The Practical Application section describes an American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level I audit, also known as a walk-through analysis, which has minimal cost and is typically completed in less than one week.
A Level I audit identifies ‘low-hanging fruit’ as well as major problem areas. Large or complex facilities may realize greater benefit from a more intensive Level II (in-depth) or Level III (investment grade) audit, each of which is described in detail in the Audit strategy resources. Table 1 lists items that are typically included in each type of audit and can be used to assist in determining which audit level is most suitable for a particular building.
Table 1: Energy audit level comparison at a glance
Data Source: U.S Department of Energy
An energy audit should be performed by a qualified auditor:
- The auditor may be a qualified staff member energy auditing experience, engineering consultants, or dedicated energy auditing contractors (Level II or III audit) (Resources: .
- Ensure that the auditor has the required permission and security access to photograph facility equipment, access machine rooms, and collect data from control systems.
A typical energy audit includes the following major components:
- Analysis of utility bills and submetering data to identify consumption trends: Compare energy usage of similar facilities using US EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager, to understand the scale of potential (Resources:
- Site assessment of major building systems: Inspect systems (Resources: ) and interview operations staff to determine schedules and
- Inspection of exterior site lighting (see Energy: Site Lighting): Determine the number of each fixture type, lamp type, and wattage; whether lights are required for security or are decorative; whether lights are controlled manually, by photocells, or by time clocks; and whether each light fixture provides uplight or
- Identification of and recommendations for priority actions.