Energy audits are way for businesses to understand how and where they use energy. An energy audit requires a detailed survey of a business’s equipment and an analytical understanding of a business’s operating patterns.
Energy audits can be characterised into 4 broad types, they are:
1. Benchmarking
Consisting of a whole building energy use analysis, based on the historic utility use and cost and the comparison of the performances of the buildings to those of similar buildings. Through this audit method buildings performance, whether good or poor, can be assessed at a high level and provide broad evidence for more detailed energy audits.
2. Walkthrough Audit
This involves a visit of the building in order to identify energy conservation measures and energy saving opportunities. This involves analysis of utility billing information, building equipment and operating data.
3. Detailed Audit
This energy audit consists of a detailed site walkover to identify the energy profile of the building by completing surveys in great detail, detailed analysis of energy conservation measures and energy saving opportunities.
4. Investment-grade audit
This type of energy audit involved detailed analysis of capital intensive improvements and require rigorous engineering analysis.
Energy audits are an excellent way for all staff members of an organisation to learn about energy management in their business, understand how their activities impact on the costs of energy and grasp how they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping their business be more environmentally friendly.
Energy audits are also a good way for directors and higher management to engage staff more effectively. Organisations can often be politicised and divided on opinion when it comes to energy management and sustainability.
In detailed audits, experienced lead auditors can facilitate open discussion and explore key relationships and common behaviours in an unbiased and objective approach, developing objective strategies and solutions to benefit the organisation through consultation with all relevant staff members. This avoids the typical top down approach of classical company communication and can reduce internal conflicts, improving energy performance and generating a culture of energy stewardship.
Investment grade audits can sometimes take several months to complete and deliver, in order to record and analyse energy performance aspects of specific processes or business functions. They normally require more dedicated input from on site staff and are usually the outcome of less detailed energy audits recommendations.
The Green Energy Advice Bureau offer all of the audits detailed above and can support your business in improving its energy consumption and reducing its utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions.