This is a recommendation for all building owners looking for different ways to identify key points in energy consumption and thus improve their use.
by Lennox
At a time when many companies are striving to keep operating costs to a minimum, the priority for many of their clients is to keep unnecessary expenses in check. A considerable part of these expenses is associated with commercial heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which typically account for 35-50% of a building's total energy consumption. And many companies may overpay their utilities for energy supply.
Nonetheless, there's some great news for building owners: A commercial energy audit can help reduce your utility costs by 10 to 40%. For large organizations this can mean the difference between staying afloat or sinking.
The commercial energy audit is a study of the equipment in a building that consumes energy. This analysis can help identify areas of facilities where energy is being wasted. Early in the process an auditor interviews facility managers, inspects lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, air compressors, water-consuming equipment, and any other energy-consuming equipment. He then meets with the building owner to determine ways to save energy to reduce operating expenses.
The following are the aspects that must be taken into account during the inspection:
- Lighting systems.
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and controls.
- Compressed air systems.
- Renewable energy applications.
- Electric motors and drives.
- Process systems.
- Steam systems.
- Heat recovery systems.
- Roof systems and components.
- Improvements to the enclosure of the building (walls, windows, doors).
- Utility rates (including options other than utility providers).
Once the sources of energy consumption have been identified, an energy analysis report should be drafted containing a list of energy preservation measures that help building owners reduce energy use and the costs associated with it. This primarily involves the conditioning of existing energy systems to increase energy efficiency, such as the installation of high-efficiency lighting, the replacement and redesign of old HVAC systems, and the installation of a computer-controlled building management system.
This assessment may also include a calculation of the potential savings that will be realized with the implementation of each of the recommended measures, along with a projection of implementation costs. The time to cancel the cost of each option varies, some are canceled in a few months and others are paid off over decades. With this information in mind, the building owner can develop a cost-effective action plan to improve the energy efficiency of the building in a given period of time.
While the above measures are taken into account in a comprehensive commercial energy audit, all audits are not.
ASHRAE has developed three levels of commercial energy audits:
ASHRAE Level 1: Visual Assessment
The ASHRAE Level 1 audit comprises low- or no-cost energy conservation measures. It also includes a report on how energy costs can be reduced through conservation, and recommends the use of more expensive strategies to achieve long-term savings.
ASHRAE Level 2: Survey and Analysis
ASHRAE's Level 2 audit provides a more detailed analysis of energy uses and includes financial projections. It identifies the full spectrum of energy conservation measures and includes a comparison of implementation cost savings and operating costs.
ASHRAE Level 3: Detailed analysis of capital-intensive modifications
ASHRAE's Level 3 audit addresses capital-intensive options and offers a higher degree of oversight, data collection, and engineering analysis. The report contains detailed information on costs and savings, with a high level of reliability, from which important capital investment decisions can be made. It may include a reasonable time frame for the implementation of each recommendation.
With this information, you can help building owners get the most out of the money they invest in energy. You can also provide them with the type of audit that best fits their budget. If you are interested in becoming a Building Energy Assessment Professional, please visit the ASHRAE website and check out the requirements.
