Every company produces some degree of energy waste. Whether it is due to inefficient equipment, outdated technology, or simply not keeping track of energy usage, this waste can add up and have a big impact on both the environment and a company’s bottom line. To combat this issue, many businesses have turned to energy audits and energy monitoring as ways to identify and reduce their energy waste.
Both practices are important tools in the pursuit of energy efficiency, but each option serves a different purpose and provides different benefits. Explore the differences between energy audits and energy monitoring and learn how these methods can work together to help companies become more sustainable.
What Is an Energy Audit?
An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of a building’s energy usage. This process focuses on identifying areas where energy is going to waste and providing recommendations for ways to improve energy efficiency. This audit typically involves an inspection by a professional auditor, who conducts a thorough analysis of the building’s systems, operations, and energy bills. The auditor may also use specialized tools, such as infrared cameras, to detect any heat loss or air leaks, or they may use a light meter to measure foot candles if they’re conducting a lighting audit.
The goal of an energy audit is to uncover areas of energy waste and recommend solutions that will increase efficiency and reduce costs. These recommendations may include upgrading to more energy-efficient equipment, improving insulation, adding lighting control systems, or upgrading a lighting or HVAC system entirely to reduce energy use.
The Benefits of an Energy Audit
An energy audit can provide a company with valuable insights into their energy usage and help them make decisions about how to reduce waste. Some benefits of an energy audit include:
- Identifying energy inefficiencies: An energy audit can pinpoint areas where a company is wasting energy. This enables the company to implement targeted solutions rather than make general changes that may not be as impactful.
- Saving on costs: By addressing energy use inefficiencies, companies can save on their energy bills in the long term.
- Implementing sustainable practices: Minimizing energy waste also has a positive impact on the environment by reducing carbon emissions and conserving resources.
- Ensuring compliance: In some industries, energy audits are required by law to ensure compliance with energy efficiency regulations.
What Is Energy Monitoring?
While an energy audit is a one-time assessment, energy monitoring is an ongoing process that tracks and analyzes real-time energy usage data. This method involves the use of specialized software or systems that collect and report on energy usage in a building.
By collecting this data on energy usage, companies can gain essential insights into their daily operations and identify patterns of energy waste. This information can also help businesses set specific benchmarks and track their progress toward their energy efficiency goals.
The Benefits of Energy Monitoring
What can energy monitoring do for a company? Here are some of its benefits:
- Real-time data collection: Energy monitoring provides immediate feedback on energy usage, allowing for proactive adjustments to reduce energy waste.
- Trend identification: By tracking long-term data, companies can identify patterns of high and low energy usage and make changes accordingly.
- Progress measurements: Energy monitoring allows companies to see the results of their efforts in real time, providing motivation to continue making energy use improvements.
- Cost savings: By reducing energy waste, companies can save on their energy bills and improve their bottom line.
- Compliance: Just like with energy audits, some industries require ongoing energy monitoring to ensure compliance with efficiency regulations.
How Energy Audits and Energy Monitoring Work Together
As mentioned, while an energy audit focuses on identifying areas for improvement and providing recommendations, energy monitoring is an ongoing process that measures the effectiveness of these changes. By combining these two practices, companies can continuously improve their energy efficiency and reduce their environmental impact.
An energy audit can provide valuable recommendations, but without ongoing energy monitoring, it may be difficult to measure the impact of these changes.
Now that you know the differences between an energy audit and continuous energy monitoring, you can see how both options are essential tools for companies looking to become more sustainable and reduce their energy waste.
Whether you’re just starting on your journey toward sustainability or looking to further improve your efforts, an energy audit and energy monitoring should be at the top of your list. When you combine the two, they provide a comprehensive approach to reducing energy waste.
If you suspect that there is room for improvement in your company’s energy usage practices, Pacific Energy Concepts (PEC) can help you determine the best strategy for reducing waste and improving efficiency. We provide energy monitoring services that assist companies in tracking their energy usage and identifying areas for improvement. We use state-of-the-art technology to continuously monitor and analyze your business’s energy usage. This allows for real-time insights and immediate adjustments to optimize energy efficiency, which can be a cost-effective solution when you want ongoing monitoring and analysis.
Our energy monitoring systems work as follows:
- We attach sensors to the electrical panels that power your equipment.
- These sensors collect real-time data on energy usage for each piece of equipment.
- The data is sent to our cloud-based platform where it is analyzed and presented in easy-to-understand dashboards and reports.
This process allows you to quickly identify areas of high energy usage and make adjustments as needed.
Our team of experts is also available to provide personalized recommendations and support for ongoing energy efficiency efforts. For example, if monitoring shows that your lighting system uses excessive energy, we can perform an LED retrofit to reduce your energy consumption and costs.
PEC is your go-to partner for creating a more sustainable, cost-efficient business. Whether you’re interested in implementing energy monitoring services or making energy-efficient upgrades to your equipment, we can help you lower your company’s energy waste and costs. Reach out to us today to learn more about our services.
