How to Conduct Energy Audits During Surveys and Inspections

Businesses and homeowners are both concerned about the skyrocketing costs of energy in the US. The need to identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption is critical in maintaining profitability and affordability. This is where the energy audit process comes in.

This post explores practical strategies for conducting energy audits in routine surveys and inspections, an effective way of uncovering hidden energy savings and improving building performance.

What is an Energy Audit?

It is an analytical study of energy consumption in a building or facility. This includes data gathering and identifying where energy is being wasted. The concept is to offer economical measures for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing energy costs.

Keep an eye on the later section or check out the Energy Saver 101 infographic to get an idea of what professionals look at.

Why Conduct Energy Audits During Surveys and Inspections?

Conducting energy surveys and combining them with audits and inspections offers several advantages:

Efficiency : Combining energy audits with surveys and inspections streamlines the entire process. Instead of scheduling separate visits for each activity, personnel can collect energy-related data during a routine inspection or survey.

Cost-effectiveness : Conducting energy audits separately incurs additional costs associated with travel, labor, and administrative overhead. All these costs are minimized through the integration of energy assessments with existing surveys and inspections.

Comprehensive data collection : These activities help in an integrative approach to understanding a building's performance. Combining these undertakings gives an overall scope for collecting more diverse data to get a holistic idea of the building's condition and overall performance.

Proactive Approach : By conducting survey-based energy audits and inspections, you can implement preventative measures in building management. Instead of reacting to high energy bills, possible energy issues can be identified and even addressed before they escalate into major problems.

The process

Here's an elaborate guide to conducting energy audits:

1. Planning and Preparation:

Following this step correctly is fundamental to a successful energy audit. It starts by defining the process's scope in detail, identifying its objectives and areas of coverage within the building or facility. This includes determining which aspects of energy use will be assessed.

Then, gathering existing information involves collecting historical utility bills to analyze consumption patterns, building plans, and specifications to establish the building's layout. Additionally, the construction specifications and studying the maintenance records to identify past issues and repairs related to energy systems are also followed.

Besides this, the preparation of necessary equipment is also important. This includes collecting tools such as thermal cameras, light meters, and any other specialized equipment relevant to the scope of the audit.

Finally, developing a comprehensive checklist ensures a systematic and thorough building energy assessment. The checklist should outline items to be inspected and measurements to be taken. It ensures consistency and completeness throughout the audit process. Such detailed preparation is a foundation for proper data collection and analysis.

2. On-Site Assessment:

The on-site assessment encompasses the following activities:

A comprehensive visual inspection for energy savings of the building.

Consider elements such as insulation for proper installation and condition.

Windows and doors are looking for air leaks and weather stripping.

An assessment of HVAC systems with respect to their condition and efficiency.

At the same time, data collection occurs through gathering information related to past energy consumption through utility bills, efficiency ratings of equipment from manufacturer labels, and relevant building characteristics such as square footage and construction materials. Precise measurements also include tools used to determine lighting levels, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and the extent of air leakage.

Finally, interviews with building occupants provide valuable qualitative data about their energy use habits, comfort levels, and any perceived issues with the building's energy systems.

3. Data Analysis and Reporting:

It is the final stage of the energy audit when collected data, measurements, visual observations, and information gathered during interviews are critically analyzed to establish waste areas in energy consumption and identify opportunities for improvement.

Recommendations for upgrading energy efficiency are developed in SMART terms—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. These suggestions are practical and actionable, stating the proposed change, the likely impact, and a realistic timeframe for the implementation.

In order to make an impact, recommendations are prioritized based on their cost-effectiveness and energy-saving potential. Thus, those that are more impactful and economical should be addressed first. Ultimately, all findings, analyses, and recommendations are placed into a concise and clear report. This report is a valuable document, helping the owners or managers make decisions to support improvements toward energy efficiency in buildings. Here is a tabular representation: