An energy audit is the quickest and easiest way to identify areas where energy is wasted and helps prioritize upgrades based on cost and savings.
An energy audit could uncover small leaks in your compressed air system that could become costly to fix if left unaddressed.
If today’s blog post didn’t answer your question about energy audits, you can learn more here.
Cost
Qualified energy auditors are professionals trained to use equipment that allows for an in-depth inspection of a building’s power systems and provides cost estimates.
The cost of energy audits depends heavily on their scope of work; an energy walkthrough audit with visual inspection may cost significantly less than more comprehensive audits that include diagnostic testing and recommendations for home repairs.
An energy audit typically includes several tests, with the costs naturally falling within $100 and $200 for these procedures.
Upgrades recommended by energy auditors may also cost money upfront but ultimately pay dividends through lower utility bills resulting in savings and making any initial outlay worthwhile.
Benefits
Energy audits can help uncover small ways to save energy and larger patterns of inefficiency that require larger investments; perhaps replacing outdated equipment with more energy-efficient options leads to long-term savings that far outweigh any initial outlay costs.
Energy efficiency upgrades not only cut energy costs, but they may also protect against malfunctions and prolong equipment’s lifespan – something especially helpful for high energy-consuming units like HVAC units or water heaters.
Energy efficiency upgrades can increase the value of your facility by showing customers and employees alike that your organization is environmentally conscious and socially responsible, which could help attract new clients or keep existing ones.
Furthermore, employees may find working more pleasant if there is improved air quality and stable temperature control throughout your building – increasing productivity as well as morale.
Timeline
An energy audit is an excellent investment as it will reduce operating costs and save money, as well as help identify issues within your equipment that might otherwise go undetected – for instance, leaky compressed air systems with small leakages which, left unattended for too long, could become expensive over time.
An energy audit at level 0 involves conducting a walkthrough of your facility and looking for obvious sources of waste, such as lights that remain illuminated 24 hours a day, fans running continuously improperly functioning controls, or leaky air systems. This type of energy audit tends to be the most cost-effective and can often be completed quickly.
Level 1 energy audits involve more thorough investigations that analyze historical energy consumption data as well as profiling energy use across your home or facility, along with in-depth interviews of its operating personnel and comprehensive assessments by an external energy auditor.
Who Performs the Audit?
Energy auditing is an intricate and detailed process. No single template fits all, as every building operates differently; for instance, hospitals typically have different energy needs than commercial offices and warehouses are different from apartments.
An energy auditor will gather information on your building’s energy usage patterns and analyze them using software that generates reports with recommendations. Some recommendations may be minor, such as switching to LED lighting or sealing air leaks; others could involve replacing heating equipment with more energy-efficient devices and insulating your water heater.
Investment in energy-saving measures can boost your building’s value while setting an example for other businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint and demonstrate that you are environmentally conscious.
Many energy-saving methods may even qualify for rebates and low-income subsidies from utility providers – making upgrades more feasible with their reduced costs and more feasible upgrades.