Business Energy Audits

A business energy audit is a great way to identify areas to save energy and improve your company’s bottom line.They can be done in new or existing spaces. As in the home, you can do your own energy audit or you can hire a professional.

An audit can be a complex process, depending on the size of your business and the type of facility. You’ll want to begin by collecting information including:

• Average number of business hours per day and business days per week
• Year building was constructed and occupied
• Number of employees (full-time and part-time)
• Structural details
  • Number of floors
  • Ceiling height
  • Total square footage and percent used regularly
  • Percentage of exposed walls, shared walls, walls with windows
  • Window types (e.g. single-, double-, or triple-paned, tinted, solar coatings)
  • Roof and outside wall material type (e.g. concrete, wood, etc.) including R-values
  • Energy inputs (natural gas, electricity, etc.)
• System types, including age and efficiency
  • Central air, window air conditioners, hot water, boiler, furnace, unit heaters, baseboard heaters, radiant heaters
  • Thermostat settings including variable temperatures by time periods if using a programmable thermostat
  • Water heating system type, age, settings and condition
  • Details on interior and exterior lights including number, type, wattage, and average operational time
  • Details on automatic doors, elevators and escalators including number, type, age and use-patterns
  • Details on any seasonal equipment, like dehumidifiers and irrigation systems
• Listing of all tools, equipment and appliances including number, type, location, age, condition, efficiency, use-patterns and size
  • Dishwashers, laundry equipment, microwaves, refrigerators and freezers and stoves/ovens
  • Computers, printers, copiers, monitors and servers

How to Find an Energy Auditor

Professional auditors can be a good option for many businesses. They should at a minimum conduct a blower door test, a thermographic scan, and a PFT air infiltration measurement as part of the assessment.

Your first call should be to your utility as they may provide free or low-cost energy audits, and offer financing, incentives and rebates if their recommendations are implemented.

If you prefer to find a Professional Auditor, you can check the phone book, yellowpages.com, or online including, Proenergy Consultants and RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network). Many of these auditors are primarily home auditors but are also qualified to conduct business audits.