A firm can select the most suitable type of energy audit for its purposes based on the funds available for the audit and the cost and potential of the energy management opportunity.
Fremont, CA: An energy audit systematically investigates energy use and consumption within a specific energy audit scope to identify, quantify, and report on energy efficiency improvements. Therefore, an energy audit is sometimes referred to as an energy assessment.
This assessment looks at how energy flows with a building, process, or system to reduce energy input while maintaining or enhancing human comfort, health, and safety. The sort of audit is determined by the degree of information in the review.
Usually, there are three types of energy audits:
Walk-Through Audit
This audit comprises a walk-through assessment of a facility to detect maintenance, operational, or defective equipment issues and locations that need additional investigation, as the name indicates. A Walk-Through Audit produces various outcomes involving the discovery of energy-saving opportunities, a qualitative study of the implementation of energy-saving measures, and an estimate of the prospective energy savings. In addition, the final audit report frequently includes a basic assessment of a project's feasibility.
Investment Grade Audit
The actual energy demand and an energy balance are among the findings of an Investment Grade Audit. This audit thoroughly examines energy consumption, including a quantitative analysis of the implementation, specific investments, operational and maintenance costs, and an examination of the investment model.
Similarly, the audit proposes several energy-saving strategies, including calculating energy savings and how much it will cost to implement them. Finally, this audit recommends a package of solutions that includes a financing strategy and strategies for implementation and savings verification.
Energy Diagnosis
An energy balance (energy use breakdown) and a list of energy efficiency measures obtained from a performance or building facility are among the outcomes of an Energy Diagnosis. In addition, this audit may include economic calculations and metering equipment to determine energy use and losses. The results also include financial analysis for each identified measure to identify and prioritize implementing these initiatives.
