Each facility, whether it's a home or a business, must undergo an energy audit to discover how efficient it is. Making better use of available energy involves reducing the amount of power needed to accomplish a task. The audit provides complete data on power usage and efficiency in energy use that can assist in reducing carbon footprints. In order to reduce electricity expenses, the energy audit report can be used to find and fix any problems with energy usage. Before switching to renewable energy, it's smart to have an energy audit done.

How to conduct an energy audit

A home or business energy audit can be carried out by a certified energy auditor or advisor. Furthermore, business and non-commercial buildings must undergo energy efficiency assessments, which are carried out by certified energy auditors. There are three distinct parts to an audit: preparation, the actual audit and the analysis that follows.

1. Preparation

The audit process's preparation is the primary emphasis of the preparation phase. In order to make sure everything runs smoothly during the audit; an energy audit team is formed at this point. In order to encompass all facilities in the audit, their specifics are meticulously documented. The first step is to have a kickoff meeting to go over any observations or evaluations of the current operation levels and established procedures at specific sites.

2. Preliminary assessment (Walk-through)

i) Visual inspection: Conduct a basic walk-through of the facility to identify obvious energy inefficiencies such as lights left on, air leaks, outdated or inefficient equipment and poor insulation

ii) Interview facility personnel: Speak with employees or managers who work in or maintain the building. They can provide insights into operational schedules, equipment usage, and any known inefficiencies.

3. Audit

i) Collecting main data sets: Facilities' energy consumption data will be collected. Building plans, electrical service, meter readings, energy usage and manufacturing specifics are all examples of data that could be included. The auditor may choose to administer questionnaires or surveys to the operational team in order to gather qualitative data. That way, the auditor can learn more about how well the facilities are working.

ii) Perform site survey, measuring and monitoring: The location of the facilities' supply point will be determined by a site survey. The loads and their condition are part of the supply facilities. This includes things like lighting, motors, compressors and so on. The loads' power consumption measurements (i.e., nominal current) are compiled for analysis.

iii) Research on energy consumption: Data collected from primary sources and the outcomes of the site survey will form the backbone of the energy consumption study. Finding problem areas is the goal of this phase. An energy analysis or an investigation of energy waste or loss can provide some sample results.

4. Develop recommendations

The auditor provides low-cost/no-cost solutions, which focus first on behavioral changes or minor adjustments, such as turning off lights, setting thermostats properly or improving maintenance schedules. Areas where upgrading equipment or systems (e.g., replacing old lighting with LEDs, upgrading HVAC systems) would yield substantial savings are identified, considering the cost of implementation, maintenance and lifespan. Also, the feasibility of renewable energy systems, like solar panels or wind turbines, depending on the location and facility needs, is evaluated.

5. Presentation and reporting

The energy auditing report is often presented in the following format:

• Summary
• Overview details of the building energy consumption in the past and present of the building
• Methods for reducing energy use (including the application of cost-benefit analysis)
• Implementation strategy (suggested energy savings program/action plan)
• Anticipation (realized savings following action plan execution, along with estimated profitability)

6. Implementation and follow-up

i) Prioritize actions: Based on the audit report, prioritize actions based on ease of implementation, cost and potential energy savings. After implementing changes, monitor energy consumption to assess whether savings are being realized.

ii) Continuous improvement and adjustments: Energy auditing should be part of an ongoing energy management strategy to keep improving energy efficiency over time. Set up a system to continuously monitor energy use after changes are implemented. Based on monitoring, make adjustments as needed to fine-tune energy-saving measures.

Various forms of energy audits

There are two distinct kinds of energy audits: preliminary and detailed. User requirements will dictate the type selected.

An energy audit that is just preliminary is an exercise in data collection that provides an overview of the project. This kind of audit is typically carried out by the auditor by means of a walk-through investigation. For a preliminary energy audit, a professional will use publicly available data and a restricted set of diagnostic tools.

Professional auditors conduct detailed energy audits by tracking, analyzing and verifying energy use to identify inefficiencies and propose solutions. In an extensive technical report, they will lay out their results and recommendations. An expert energy auditor will also employ scanners, flow meters and flue gas analyzers during a comprehensive audit of a building's energy usage.

Conclusion

Conducting an energy audit can help identify inefficiencies in homes or businesses and implement solutions. Following the auditor's recommendations can reduce energy costs by 5% to 30%. Make a positive difference to the environment and cut down on carbon emissions by implementing these improvements.