Energy Audit
Contents
Definition
An Energy Audit is the formal documentation and analysis of energy flows concerning any well-defined economic entity or collection of economic assets (a business, an organization, a household, a facility, a building etc.). The term covers a broad spectrum of energy studies ranging from a quick scans to comprehensive analysis. It is most commonly used in connection to building energy efficiency but applies to all energy consuming activities within an economy.[1]
Energy audits are typically conducted as part of the identification and prioritization of opportunities to improve energy performance, reduce energy waste and obtain related environmental benefits. They may be mandatory for certain entities and types of facilities[2]. Audit services can be provided by public sector entities or utilities, private-sector companies such as energy services companies or specialized energy consultancies.
Methodology
The audit is based on measurement and observation of energy use, energy efficiency and consumption. An energy audit may involve identifying and recording various characteristics and relevant physical circumstances around energy flows (energy inputs, energy mix and volume, usage, losses). For each of these usage components it may involve the assessment of more specific efficiencies.
Data inputs and analysis may involve the following:
- Analysis of utility data (meters), energy bills etc.
- Surveys of equipment and operating conditions
- Models of the energy system and simulations of theoretical performance
- Surveys of environmental context
Outcomes
Energy audits primarily establish the status-quo but may be extended to help identifying potential risks and opportunities. Audit outputs include information on current use and performance, benchmarking versus sectoral statistics. Audits may provide recommendations for improvement in terms of energy performance and potential financial benefits. These may lead to energy transition plans (changing the energy mix or improving energy efficiency via new technologies) as part of maintenance or other activities. For example:
- the provision of electricity from renewable sources.
- improving energy savings and efficiency levels for energy installations using the latest technologies
- reduced environmental impact through different choice of energy mix
- ability to generate local electricity (e.g. from solar panels)
