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.
Featured articles and news
A transformative shift in the design, construction and management of built assets.
Apprenticeship announcement by the Prime Minister
Welcomed but with call for more actionable detail.
Heat pump announcements, what homeowners need to know
An 'ultimate guide to heat pumps' from a heating company.
Construction contract awards reach 7.1bn in February
Their highest level in seven months.
The journey to sustainability in heritage
Research is the key to better understanding.
Heritage approaches to adaptation, mitigation and loss.
Bridging the gap between policy, finance and installation.
Development on brownfield land
Definition, background, policy and the latest consultation.
With the Design Framework for Building Services.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Pertinent technical issues, measures and the roles involved.
ECA joins HSE campaign to support mental health
Working Minds’ five simple steps based on risk assessment.
Mental health in the construction industry
Mental health issues in brief with related articles.
Transitional arrangements, Building Control and the BSR.
For pre-October buildings with substantial progress by April.
Why quality counts in domestic ventilation systems
From products, to systems to the installation.
Empowering the Future with CIOB Academy
Lifelong learning, upscaling, and reskilling for the built environment.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, or to suggest changes, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.