As a building owner or manager, it is important to think about how to keep your building running efficiently. This is where an energy audit can be useful. An energy audit is an analysis that provides an overview of energy usage in a building and outlines recommended areas of improvement. They begin with an overview of the building and are typically aimed at improving the overall energy efficiency of a building through review and improvement recommendations.
At the outset, energy audits begin with a review of the building. The individual or team reviewing the building must take a full inventory of all the energy inputs in the building and the relative output. For example, the energy consumption of an HVAC unit produces output to heat or cool a building.
An energy audit will then include an analysis of how one can decrease the amount of electrical energy input without decreasing the amount of energy output. In our HVAC unit example, this may mean improving building insulation so that an HVAC unit is able to maintain temperatures while requiring less electrical energy. With proper building insulation, the HVAC unit needs to do less work to maintain the same temperatures, resulting in a lower electrical input and a consistent or increased output. This may result in a lower energy bill though the more efficient running of the HVAC system.
Energy audits are conducted by a contractor who is familiar with the many interconnected elements that impact the energy usage of a building. You can contact us at Belanger Engineering to learn more about how we conduct energy audits.