Energy audit

Energy audits are undertaken to assess energy use and propose measures that might be taken to reduce consumption and costs.

The Carbon Trust suggest that 20% of business' annual energy costs are wasted by energy inefficient equipment, however, businesses often focus on revenue rather than costs and so 60% of cost-effective, viable, energy efficiency recommendations are not implemented. (Ref Carbon Trust, Mandatory energy efficiency audits for business. December 2013.)

An energy audit might be undertaken for a single building, several buildings, a site or an organisation, and might be carried out for commercial or domestic clients.

An energy audit might provide:

• An assessment of energy consumption and carbon emissions.
• A comparison with previous audits.
• Benchmarking against similar buildings.
• Assessment in relation to corporate energy targets or policies.
• A schedule of energy savings that could be made.
• An Investment appraisal of proposed measures including pay-back periods.
• An assessment of the difficulty of implementation.
• Prioritisation of measures.
• Proposed changes to operations, staff behaviour, communications, training and so on.
• Potential suppliers.
• Financing options.

Typically, savings might be identified through assessment of:

• Whether buildings are being operated properly (in accordance with the intention of the original design). For example, occupants opening windows in air-conditioned buildings.
• Whether changes been made since buildings were completed prevent them from operating properly (such as changes to plant during repairs or servicing).
• The type of lighting.
• Type and management of heating and cooling.
• Thermal comfort.
• Monitoring systems, timers, controls, sensors and other devices.
• Industrial processes, plant, equipment and machinery.
• Building fabric, heat loss, air-tightness and insulation.
• Type of energy used and tariff.
• Potential to use low-carbon or renewable energy.
• Potential for on-site energy generation.
• Possible behavioral changes.
• Assessment of other issues such as; water consumption, waste streams and transport.

Energy audits can be carried out in-house if there is sufficient expertise, or external advisers (such as energy surveyors) may be appointed. Organisations such as the Carbon Trust provide accreditation for energy surveyors.

Article 8 of the European Union (EU) Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU), requires that member states introduce regular energy audits for large enterprises with more than 250 employees or a turnover exceeding €50m (ie enterprises other than small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)). This is intended to encourage the uptake of cost-effective energy efficiency measures. These audits must be undertaken by 5 December 2015, and then every four years after that. The scheme does not extend to public bodies and does not require businesses implement the energy saving recommendations.

In the UK , the government propose that the directive should be implemented through the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). See Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme for more information.

See also: Energy-use audits of buildings.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Air permeability testing.
• Air tightness in buildings
• BREEAM.
• BREEAM Testing and inspecting building fabric.
• Building use studies (BUS).
• Climate Change Act.
• Code for sustainable homes.
• Draughts in buildings.
• Emission rates.
• Energy management in the built environment: A review of best practice.
• Energy performance certificates.
• Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.
• Energy targets.
• Energy-use audits of buildings.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
• Thermographic survey.

[edit] External references

• Department of Energy & Climate Change, Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.
• Energy.gov, Home energy audits. USA.
• Business Green, DECC urges businesses to seize opportunity offered by new energy audit rules.
• Carbon Trust, Mandatory energy efficiency audits for business. December 2013.

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