Energy Audits for Commercial Buildings
AWSM can perform an energy audit of your building’s overall energy usage and recommend energy-saving measures. This energy assessment is then utilized to design customized energy management solutions, allowing your business to save a significant amount in terms of costs.
Energy audits provide building owners with useful information and help them identify the best cost-effective and energy-saving options. However, energy use is not reduced solely by evaluations; to see results, energy-saving efforts must be adopted. Depending on the savings tactics implemented, these cost-effective options could have a payback period ranging from 6 months to 4 years.
Any existing structure, but especially those that use a lot of energy and need to be improved, or have never been evaluated before, is a candidate for an energy audit.
The AWSM energy audit method can be separated into two parts: –
Walk-Through Analysis & Assessment
Multiple tests, as well as surveys, will be undertaken to identify the energy-saving measures required. Typically, it takes 2 to 4 hours to execute walk-through analysis.
Energy Survey and Analysis (Summary and Action Plan)
Following the initial analysis, we will provide a detailed report of any energy-related problem, as well as recommendations for energy solutions based in part on user preferences.
What we do in a Commercial Energy Audit?
Our energy assessment experts can help you conduct energy audits in line with EN 16247 or ISO 50002 standards to increase transparency and identify energy-saving potential. AWSM Services include:
- Initial communication to agree on the location, scope, and resources needed
- Kick-off meetings to inform all stakeholders about the process, schedule, and methodology.
- Measurement plans
- Site visits
- Performing any additional measurements required
- Data collection to determine total energy consumption, relevant consumer energy usage, and energy performance indicators.
- Analysis of the existing energy performance situation.
- Development of possible energy-saving actions (e.g., by reducing and recovering energy losses, promoting energy awareness, changing behaviors)
- Final meeting; preparation of an energy audit report
- In-depth advice on energy performance and efficiency, including detailed advice from an expert team on technical and economic viability and the break-even point of proposed actions.
Energy Audit Tests:
As part of our energy audit, we use a variety of approaches and technologies to evaluate a facility’s energy efficiency. A few of the most common tests are listed here:
Blower Door Test
This test determines how airtight a structure is, as well as how many air leakages and hot spots it has.
Infrared Scan or Thermographic Inspection
Special cameras and videos monitors depict surface temperatures, showing troublesome areas of air penetration and insulation inadequacies.
Duct Blaster/Air Distribution System Test
It detects duct leaks that could cause inefficiency during forced-air heating and cooling. Duct leakage wastes 20% to 40% of the energy required for heating and cooling in typical homes.
Heating System Inspection:
Examines and evaluates the efficiency of heating systems to conserve energy and improve performance and safety.
PFT Technique for Measuring Air Infiltration:
Like a blower door test, this monitors air leaks and hot surfaces in structures over time. Unlike the blower door test, the PFT method considers air pressure, weather, wind velocity, and other factors that could affect air penetration rates. During a house ventilation inspection, the inside and outdoor air fluxes are analysed.
It also includes a detailed study of previous utility bills, light assessment and preparing a checklist of each room separately.
Benefits of Energy Audits:
Cost-cutting
Saving energy and money are intricately linked. Finding and adhering to methods that help limit energy usage can significantly reduce a facility’s energy costs.
Energy Savings
Recognizing and repairing energy flaws quickly reduces total energy consumption. An energy audit enhances the building owner’s understanding of operating systems and their proper maintenance, resulting in reduced energy use.
Sound Investment
Furthermore, adopting energy efficiency measures raises the resale value of a building because buyers choose high-efficiency homes and structures. According to a report, every 1% reduction in annual energy costs increases a property’s market price by 20%.
Increased Occupant Satisfaction
You can increase the quality of the indoor environment and overall comfort by simply regulating few systems in a facility.
What building owners should do?
The following is a list of things that building owners should do before an energy audit:
- Make a list of any energy-related issues you find in the building.
- Do not use a fireplace 48 hours before testing.
- Clean the ashes from the fireplace and close the flue damper.
- For building envelope testing, close and lock all windows and doors.
- Gather previous gas and electric bills of 12 to 24 months at least.
Why choose AWSM?
AWSM has a proven track record of impartiality, assuring that all major structural, technical, and administrative features of your building are inspected objectively. Our comprehensive approach to corporate energy audits adds value to your firm at every stage of the building’s life cycle, from design and construction to maintenance and operation.
Our diverse team includes electrical, construction, and plant engineering experts with decades of accumulated experience working on various major projects. Our experts are also familiar with the relevant international energy regulatory standards.