ENERGY AUDIT

TECHNIQUES
 DEFINITION OF ENERGY AUDIT
 ENERGY AUDIT TECHNIQUES
 LEVELS OF ENERGY AUDIT
- PRELIMINARY ENERGY USE ANALYSIS
- WALK THROUGH AUDIT
- INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT
 ENERGY AUDIT 3500
Monthly Bill
TECHNIQUES 3000

2500
ENERGY AUDITS ARE ASSESSMENTS 2000
CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY ENERGY 1500
1000
USAGE PATTERNS IN BUILDINGS, 500 20222 2023 2024

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, OR 0
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UNCOVER INEFFICIENCIES AND
SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS TO
ENHANCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
REDUCE COSTS.
 TECHNIQUES USED IN ENERGY AUDITS

• ON SITE INSPECTION
• DATA COLLECTION
• ENERGY MODELING
• EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY TESTING
• OCCUPANT BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
ON SITE INSPECTION

- ENERGY AUDITORS
PHYSICALLY INSPECT THE
PREMISES TO OBSERVE
ENERGY USAGE PATTERNS,
IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT, AND
ASSESS BUILDING
CONDITIONS. THEY LOOK
FOR AREAS OF POTENTIAL
ENERGY WASTE, SUCH AS
POORLY INSULATED AREAS,
INEFFICIENT LIGHTING, OR
OUTDATED EQUIPMENT.
 Click icon to add picture
DATA COLLECTION
- AUDITORS GATHER DATA ON
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
THROUGH UTILITY BILLS,
METER READINGS, AND
MONITORING EQUIPMENT.
THEY ANALYZE HISTORICAL
ENERGY USAGE TO IDENTIFY
TRENDS AND ANOMALIES.
 ENERGY MODELING

- USING SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE,

AUDITORS CREATE MODELS TO
SIMULATE ENERGY USAGE
UNDER DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
THESE MODELS HELP PREDICT
THE IMPACT OF ENERGY-SAVING
MEASURES AND PRIORITIZE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY
TESTING

- AUDITORS MAY CONDUCT TESTS

ON HVAC SYSTEMS, LIGHTING
FIXTURES, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
TO MEASURE THEIR EFFICIENCY.
THIS MAY INVOLVE AIRFLOW
MEASUREMENTS, THERMOGRAPHIC
INSPECTIONS, OR METERING
DEVICES TO QUANTIFY ENERGY
USAGE.
 OCCUPANT BEHAVIOR
ANALYSIS
- UNDERSTANDING HOW
OCCUPANTS USE ENERGY WITHIN A
BUILDING IS CRUCIAL. AUDITORS
MAY SURVEY OCCUPANTS OR
ANALYZE OCCUPANCY PATTERNS TO
IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR
BEHAVIORAL CHANGES THAT CAN
LEAD TO ENERGY SAVINGS.
LIGHTING ASSESSMENT
- AUDITORS ANALYZE LIGHTING
SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE IF
THEY ARE ENERGY-EFFICIENT.
THIS INCLUDES EVALUATING
LAMP TYPES, FIXTURES,
CONTROLS, AND NATURAL
LIGHTING OPPORTUNITIES.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
POTENTIAL
- AUDITORS EVALUATE THE
FEASIBILITY OF INTEGRATING
RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOURCES SUCH AS SOLAR
PANELS, WIND TURBINES, OR
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS INTO
THE FACILITY'S ENERGY MIX.
 LIFE CYCLE COST
ANALYSIS
- AUDITORS CALCULATE THE LIFE
CYCLE COSTS OF PROPOSED
ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES,
CONSIDERING INITIAL INVESTMENT,
OPERATIONAL COSTS, MAINTENANCE
EXPENSES, AND POTENTIAL SAVINGS
OVER THE EQUIPMENT'S LIFESPAN.
 EMPLOYEE TRAINING
AND AWARENESS
PROGRAMS

- RECOMMENDATIONS MAY INCLUDE

EDUCATING BUILDING OCCUPANTS
ABOUT ENERGY-EFFICIENT
PRACTICES AND PROVIDING
TRAINING ON EQUIPMENT
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.
 Click icon to add picture

LEVELS OF ENERGY AUDIT

- PRELIMINARY ENERGY USE ANALYSIS
- WALK THROUGH AUDIT
- INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT
 PRELIMINARY ENERGY
AUDIT
- OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A LEVEL
0 AUDIT, IS A BASIC ASSESSMENT
CONDUCTED TO PROVIDE AN
INITIAL OVERVIEW OF A FACILITY'S
ENERGY USAGE AND IDENTIFY
POTENTIAL AREAS FOR
IMPROVEMENT. THIS TYPE OF AUDIT
SERVES AS AN INITIAL STEP IN THE
ENERGY AUDIT PROCESS, HELPING
TO DETERMINE IF A MORE
DETAILED AND COMPREHENSIVE
 Click icon to add picture
THE KEY CHARACTERISTIC
FOR PRELIMINARY ENERGY
AUDIT
- INITIAL ASSESSMENT
- DATA COLLECTION
- ANALYSIS
-IDENTIFICATIONS OF OPPORTUNITIES
 Click icon to add picture

INITIAL ASSESSMENT
•A PRELIMINARY ENERGY AUDIT IS TYPICALLY THE FIRST
STEP IN UNDERSTANDING A FACILITY'S ENERGY USAGE
AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.

•IT BEGINS WITH GATHERING BASIC INFORMATION

ABOUT THE FACILITY, SUCH AS ITS SIZE, LAYOUT, AND
MAJOR ENERGY-CONSUMING SYSTEMS.
 Click icon to add picture

DATA COLLECTION
•THE AUDIT TEAM REVIEWS AVAILABLE DATA, PRIMARILY
FOCUSING ON UTILITY BILLS TO UNDERSTAND
HISTORICAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION PATTERNS.

•THEY MAY ALSO CONDUCT A BASIC WALKTHROUGH OF

THE FACILITY TO OBSERVE ENERGY-USING EQUIPMENT,
LIGHTING SYSTEMS, AND BUILDING ENVELOPE
CONDITIONS.

•WHILE THE DATA COLLECTED DURING THIS PHASE IS

LIMITED, IT PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR IDENTIFYING
POTENTIAL ENERGY-SAVING OPPORTUNITIES.
 Click icon to add picture

ANALYSIS
•THE ANALYSIS IN A PRELIMINARY ENERGY AUDIT IS
RELATIVELY SIMPLE AND AIMED AT IDENTIFYING LOW-
COST AND NO-COST MEASURES.

•BASIC CALCULATIONS MAY BE PERFORMED TO

ESTIMATE ENERGY USE BY DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OR
PROCESSES WITHIN THE FACILITY.

•THE AUDIT TEAM MAY ALSO IDENTIFY OBVIOUS

INEFFICIENCIES, SUCH AS EQUIPMENT RUNNING WHEN
IT'S NOT NEEDED OR AREAS WITH POOR INSULATION.
 Click icon to add picture

IDENTIFICATION OF
OPPORTUNITIES
•THE ANALYSIS IN A PRELIMINARY ENERGY AUDIT IS
RELATIVELY SIMPLE AND AIMED AT IDENTIFYING LOW-
COST AND NO-COST MEASURES.

•BASIC CALCULATIONS MAY BE PERFORMED TO

ESTIMATE ENERGY USE BY DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OR
PROCESSES WITHIN THE FACILITY.

•THE AUDIT TEAM MAY ALSO IDENTIFY OBVIOUS

INEFFICIENCIES, SUCH AS EQUIPMENT RUNNING WHEN
IT'S NOT NEEDED OR AREAS WITH POOR INSULATION.
 Click icon to add picture

RECOMMENDATION
•THE ANALYSIS IN A PRELIMINARY ENERGY AUDIT IS
RELATIVELY SIMPLE AND AIMED AT IDENTIFYING LOW-
COST AND NO-COST MEASURES.

•BASIC CALCULATIONS MAY BE PERFORMED TO

ESTIMATE ENERGY USE BY DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OR
PROCESSES WITHIN THE FACILITY.

•THE AUDIT TEAM MAY ALSO IDENTIFY OBVIOUS

INEFFICIENCIES, SUCH AS EQUIPMENT RUNNING WHEN
IT'S NOT NEEDED OR AREAS WITH POOR INSULATION.
 Click icon to add picture

DECISION MAKING
•THE REPORT FROM THE PRELIMINARY ENERGY AUDIT
SERVES AS A BASIS FOR DECISION-MAKING REGARDING
FURTHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY EFFORTS.

•IT HELPS FACILITY OWNERS OR MANAGERS

UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF INVESTING
IN MORE DETAILED ENERGY AUDITS OR IMPLEMENTING
ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES.

•IN SOME CASES, THE FINDINGS OF THE PRELIMINARY

AUDIT MAY BE SUFFICIENT TO GUIDE INITIAL ENERGY
EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A
MORE COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT.
 WALK THROUGH ENERGY Click icon to add picture
AUDIT
- ALSO KNOWN AS A LEVEL 1 AUDIT, IS A
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED TO
IDENTIFY OBVIOUS ENERGY INEFFICIENCIES
AND POTENTIAL AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
WITHIN A FACILITY. THIS TYPE OF AUDIT
INVOLVES PHYSICALLY INSPECTING THE
FACILITY AND ITS ENERGY SYSTEMS TO GAIN
A BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF ENERGY
USAGE PATTERNS AND IDENTIFY LOW-COST
OR NO-COST MEASURES THAT CAN LEAD TO
IMMEDIATE ENERGY SAVINGS.
 Click icon to add picture
THE KEY CHARACTERISTIC
FOR WALK THROUGH
ENERGY AUDIT
- PREPARATION
- SITE VISIT
- DATA COLLECTION
- ANALYSIS
-IDENTIFICATIONS OF OPPORTUNITIES
- RECOMMENDATION
- DECISION MAKING
 Click icon to add picture

PREPARATION
•BEFORE CONDUCTING THE AUDIT, THE AUDIT TEAM
GATHERS BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACILITY,
SUCH AS ITS SIZE, LAYOUT, AND PRIMARY ENERGY-
CONSUMING SYSTEMS.

•THEY MAY REVIEW UTILITY BILLS AND OTHER

AVAILABLE DATA TO UNDERSTAND HISTORICAL ENERGY
CONSUMPTION PATTERNS AND IDENTIFY AREAS OF
CONCERN.
 SITE VISIT
•THE AUDIT TEAM VISITS THE FACILITY TO CONDUCT A PHYSICAL WALKTHROUGH.
DURING THIS VISIT, THEY OBSERVE THE BUILDING'S LAYOUT, ENERGY SYSTEMS,
AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES.
•THEY MAY START BY EXAMINING THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING TO ASSESS ITS
OVERALL CONDITION, INCLUDING INSULATION, WINDOWS, DOORS, AND ROOFING
MATERIALS.
•INSIDE THE FACILITY, THE TEAM INSPECTS ENERGY-CONSUMING EQUIPMENT SUCH
AS HVAC SYSTEMS, LIGHTING FIXTURES, REFRIGERATION UNITS, AND OTHER
RELEVANT SYSTEMS.
•THEY PAY ATTENTION TO EQUIPMENT OPERATION, MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, AND
ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF ENERGY INEFFICIENCIES OR WASTE.
 DATA COLLECTION

•WHILE CONDUCTING THE WALKTHROUGH, THE AUDIT TEAM COLLECTS

RELEVANT DATA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ENERGY USAGE PATTERNS AND
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
•THIS MAY INCLUDE RECORDING EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS, NOTING
OPERATING SCHEDULES, AND INTERVIEWING FACILITY PERSONNEL TO
GATHER INSIGHTS INTO ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND OPERATIONAL
PRACTICES.
•THE TEAM MAY ALSO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOS TO DOCUMENT
ENERGY-RELATED ISSUES AND OBSERVATIONS.
 ANALYSIS
•THE ANALYSIS DURING A WALKTHROUGH ENERGY AUDIT IS
QUALITATIVE AND FOCUSES ON IDENTIFYING OBVIOUS
INEFFICIENCIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.
•THE AUDIT TEAM USES THEIR OBSERVATIONS AND COLLECTED
DATA TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES THAT
CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITH MINIMAL INVESTMENT.
•THEY LOOK FOR LOW-COST OR NO-COST OPPORTUNITIES TO
OPTIMIZE ENERGY USE, IMPROVE EQUIPMENT EFFICIENCY, AND
REDUCE ENERGY WASTE.
 IDENTIFICATION OF
OPPORTUNITIES
•BASED ON THEIR OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS, THE AUDIT TEAM IDENTIFIES
SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY SAVINGS WITHIN THE FACILITY.
•THIS MAY INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADJUST EQUIPMENT SETTINGS,
OPTIMIZE LIGHTING SYSTEMS, UPGRADE TO MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT
EQUIPMENT, OR IMPLEMENT ENERGY-SAVING OPERATIONAL PRACTICES.
•THE FOCUS IS ON IDENTIFYING MEASURES THAT CAN LEAD TO IMMEDIATE
ENERGY SAVINGS OR IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH MINIMAL INVESTMENT.
 RECOMMENDATION
•THE FINDINGS OF THE WALKTHROUGH ENERGY AUDIT ARE COMPILED
INTO A REPORT THAT OUTLINES THE IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES AND
PROVIDES INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES.
•RECOMMENDATIONS TYPICALLY FOCUS ON LOW-COST OR NO-COST
MEASURES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY TO ACHIEVE ENERGY
SAVINGS.
•THE REPORT MAY INCLUDE SUGGESTED ACTIONS, ESTIMATED ENERGY
SAVINGS, AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING THE
RECOMMENDED MEASURES.
 DECISION MAKING

•THE REPORT FROM THE WALKTHROUGH ENERGY AUDIT

HELPS FACILITY OWNERS OR MANAGERS PRIORITIZE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY EFFORTS AND DECIDE ON NEXT STEPS.
•IT PROVIDES VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO THE FACILITY'S
ENERGY USAGE AND IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUICK
WINS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
•DEPENDING ON THE FINDINGS OF THE WALKTHROUGH,
STAKEHOLDERS MAY DECIDE TO PURSUE FURTHER ANALYSIS
THROUGH A MORE DETAILED AUDIT OR IMPLEMENT ENERGY-
SAVING MEASURES BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS
PROVIDED.
 INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT
(IGA)
- IS A COMPREHENSIVE AND DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF A
FACILITY'S ENERGY USAGE, SYSTEMS, AND EQUIPMENT.
UNLIKE PRELIMINARY OR WALKTHROUGH AUDITS, WHICH
FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING LOW-COST OR NO-COST ENERGY-
SAVING OPPORTUNITIES, AN INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT IS
PRIMARILY CONDUCTED TO SUPPORT MAJOR ENERGY-RELATED
INVESTMENT DECISIONS. IT PROVIDES DETAILED FINANCIAL
ANALYSIS, PERFORMANCE PROJECTIONS, AND RISK
ASSESSMENTS TO HELP STAKEHOLDERS EVALUATE THE
FEASIBILITY AND POTENTIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)
OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.
 PURPOSE

- THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF AN INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT IS

TO PROVIDE STAKEHOLDERS WITH THE INFORMATION NEEDED
TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT MAJOR ENERGY-
RELATED INVESTMENTS.
- THESE INVESTMENTS MAY INCLUDE LARGE-SCALE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY UPGRADES, EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS, OR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS SUCH AS
SOLAR PANELS OR WIND
 SCOPE
•AN INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT INVOLVES A COMPREHENSIVE
ASSESSMENT OF THE FACILITY'S ENERGY SYSTEMS,
EQUIPMENT, AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES.
•IT EXAMINES ALL ASPECTS OF ENERGY USAGE, INCLUDING
HVAC SYSTEMS, LIGHTING, BUILDING ENVELOPE, PROCESS
EQUIPMENT, AND RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL.
DATA COLLECTION:
- DATA COLLECTION DURING AN INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT
IS EXTENSIVE AND INVOLVES GATHERING DETAILED
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACILITY'S ENERGY
CONSUMPTION, SYSTEMS, AND OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS.
- THIS MAY INCLUDE REVIEWING UTILITY BILLS,
CONDUCTING ENERGY METERING AND MONITORING,
ANALYZING EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS, AND
INTERVIEWING KEY PERSONNEL.
 ANALYSIS:
1. THE ANALYSIS IN AN INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT IS RIGOROUS AND
INCLUDES BOTH TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSESSMENTS.
2. TECHNICAL ANALYSIS INVOLVES EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF
EXISTING ENERGY SYSTEMS, CONDUCTING ENERGY SIMULATIONS
AND MODELING, AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENERGY
SAVINGS.
3. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FOCUSES ON ASSESSING THE COSTS, SAVINGS,
AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF PROPOSED ENERGY EFFICIENCY
MEASURES OR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.
4. LIFE CYCLE COST ANALYSIS (LCCA) IS OFTEN USED TO COMPARE THE
TOTAL COSTS AND BENEFITS OF DIFFERENT INVESTMENT OPTIONS
OVER THEIR EXPECTED LIFETIMES.
 IDENTIFICATION OF
OPPORTUNITIES:
1. BASED ON THE DATA COLLECTED AND ANALYSIS PERFORMED,
THE AUDIT TEAM IDENTIFIES SPECIFIC ENERGY EFFICIENCY
MEASURES OR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS THAT HAVE THE
POTENTIAL TO DELIVER SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS OR OTHER
BENEFITS.
2. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE EVALUATED BASED ON THEIR
TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY, FINANCIAL ATTRACTIVENESS, AND
ALIGNMENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT ARE COMPILED INTO A
DETAILED REPORT THAT INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY MEASURES OR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS TYPICALLY INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF EACH
PROPOSED MEASURE OR PROJECT, ESTIMATED COSTS AND SAVINGS,
PAYBACK PERIODS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL METRICS.
3. THE REPORT MAY ALSO INCLUDE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS, RISK
ASSESSMENTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FINANCING OPTIONS OR
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS.
 DECISION MAKING:
1. THE REPORT FROM THE INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT PROVIDES
STAKEHOLDERS WITH THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE
INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH ENERGY-
RELATED INVESTMENTS.
2. IT HELPS STAKEHOLDERS EVALUATE THE FINANCIAL RISKS AND
BENEFITS OF DIFFERENT INVESTMENT OPTIONS AND PRIORITIZE
PROJECTS BASED ON THEIR POTENTIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
3. IN SOME CASES, THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT MAY
ALSO BE USED TO SECURE FINANCING OR SUPPORT GRANT
APPLICATIONS FOR ENERGY-RELATED PROJECTS.