Begin Boosting Efficiency with an Energy Audit

Not everyone can take advantage of the many renewable-energy technologies out there. Solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric resources are not practical in all regions during different seasons.

Energy-efficient upgrades, however, offer all of us the opportunity to cut both energy related emissions and energy bills, without the fuss of installing and learning to operate a new technology. An energy audit is an important first step to understanding which of these upgrades will pack the biggest energy-savings punch.

While the word “audit” may spark some unpleasant Internal Revenue Service memories, in this case, it simply refers to the process required to gain a big-picture understanding of your facility’s energy use.

“It’s looking at all the equipment and the building envelope, and anything else that affects energy usage,” says Terry Niehus, owner of New Port Richey, Fla.-based Lakeshore Consulting, and an instructor in the Association of Energy Engineers’ energy auditor training program.

Facility managers can begin the energy-audit process by gathering all energy bills—both gas and electricity—for at least the last two years, Niehus says. Then you or a professional energy auditor can start walking through the facility to identify areas of potential savings. The process can take anywhere from a few hours to a week or more.

“Hospitals take more time than, say, doing a warehouse,” Niehus says. “The timeline depends on the complexity of the building.”

An audit results in a detailed report that identifies areas for improvement. These may be prioritized, so owners can see easily which improvements will result in the biggest savings.

“Lighting is the first thing most people tackle,” Niehus says. “Then you move onto air conditioning and motors and other equipment.”

Sealing and insulating ductwork is another improvement auditors often suggest, according to Doug Walter, president of Manhattan, Kan.-based Kansas Building Science Institute. His company trains and certifies auditors according to standards developed by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). He says attic insulation also can provide opportunities for boosting building performance.

“There are a lot of openings that allow heat and air to escape” he says, citing openings for electrical fixtures and wiring as possible escape points for conditioned air. “If there’s less than five to six inches of insulation in the ceiling, then that’s a cost-effective improvement.”

Properly trained maintenance staff might be able to do their own basic energy audits, Niehus says. This could involve, for example, a simple tally of the facility’s lighting fixtures along with an investigation of more efficient alternatives and some calculations on resulting payback periods such an investment would provide.

However, more detailed reports likely will require a trained professional, Niehus says. He suggests starting a search for professional help by contacting your local electric or gas utility. These companies often offer auditing services as part of their demand-reduction efforts. Walter also recommends searching for auditors through RESNET.

If you are hiring an energy auditor on your own, check for certification from one of the professional organizations offering credentialing services to energy auditors. These include the Association of Energy Engineers, which offers the Certified Energy Auditors (CEA) certification for larger-scale facilities and RESNET, for residential buildings up to three stories tall.

In any case, you may find a line ahead of you when you call for information. Niehus and Walter agree that demand for energy audits is rising along with environmental and fuel-cost concerns. And if you’re also considering new employment options, Walter says energy auditing offers some great opportunities.

“We can’t export our buildings to improve efficiency,” he says. “This is work that has to be done right here.”