Energy Auditing

An energy audit is one tool used in the overall management of energy expenditures for a building.  The management of energy expenditures considers four factors:

1. The energy needed to achieve the building function and maintain staff comfort
2. The maintenance and asset renewal plan for the building
3. Reducing the unit cost of purchased energy
4. Reducing energy consumption, which is the focus of an energy audit.

An energy audit is due diligence effort that should come before making significant energy conservation investments in buildings.

A systems approach is used in conducting an energy audit, progressing from functional needs, to operating practices, to energy end uses and then to primary equipment.  For example once the needs and operating practices for a hot water heating system have been documented, the end uses such as baseboard perimeter heaters, unit heaters and heating coils would be examined for waste before the boilers were examined for operating savings.

ASHRAE Handbook - Applications discusses three levels of energy audits; 1) WalkThrough Assessment, 2) Energy Survey and Analysis and 3) Detailed Analysis of Capital Intensive Modifications, often called an Investment Grade Energy Audit.  The WalkThrough Assessment analyzes the energy bills and briefly surveys the building. The analysis focuses on savings and cost analysis of low-cost/no-cost measures and listing potential capital improvements which merit further investigation.  The Energy Survey and Analysis undertake a detailed breakdown of the building energy use and a detailed survey of the building.  This audit lists all practical measures that are consistent with owners economic, maintenance and renovation criteria.  Further, preliminary investigations are made of potential capital intensive projects.  The third level of energy audits, Detailed Analysis of Capital Intensive Modifications, undertakes field monitoring and engineering design which would lead to significant capital investments.

ManagingEnergy provides a powerful process for maintaining the information base, streamlining the analysis and coordinating the energy audit team, then delivering the results to spur action.  It helps building owners progress from WalkThrough Assessments to Detailed Analysis, Design, and Project Implementation in a systematic way without losing anything on the way.  Because it is online, users can plug in skill sets as need to complement in-house staff.

Managing Energy Inc. would be happy to put you in touch with a skilled energy auditing partner to scope your needs and suggest options for moving ahead.  Call us today!