When businesses and building owners look to improve energy efficiency, one of the first steps is to conduct an energy audit. These audits help identify opportunities to save energy, reduce operational costs, and improve sustainability. In this blog, we’ll break down the three levels of energy audits as defined by ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), along with an overview of single measure audits, such as those focused on LED lighting. Additionally, we’ll explore how Energy or Power Monitoring can play a vital role in optimizing these audits and enhancing energy efficiency outcomes.
What Are ASHRAE Energy Audits?
ASHRAE sets the industry standards for energy audits, dividing them into three distinct levels based on their complexity and depth of analysis. These levels guide energy professionals in identifying potential improvements and providing actionable insights for building owners.
Level 1: Walk-Through Analysis
This is the most basic and cost-effective audit. It includes a general assessment of how energy is being used in a building and aims to identify quick wins with little to no cost to implement.
- Focus: Identifies low-hanging fruit—measures that are easy and inexpensive to implement, such as upgrading lighting or adjusting thermostat settings.
- Scope: A site visit and a brief review of utility bills.
- Output: A high-level report with recommendations for energy-saving measures, payback estimates, and potential next steps.
In a Level 1 audit, Energy Monitoring systems can provide valuable insights by capturing real-time data on energy consumption patterns. Monitoring data enables auditors to pinpoint inefficiencies in specific areas, even with limited time and resources. This data-driven approach helps building owners quickly identify “low-hanging fruit” opportunities for cost savings, such as equipment that consumes energy during off-hours.
Level 2: Energy Survey and Analysis
The second level involves a more detailed analysis of energy usage and offers a greater depth of recommendations.
- Focus: Not only identifies low-hanging fruit but also looks at more significant energy savings opportunities across various systems within the building, such as HVAC, lighting, and controls.
- Scope: Includes a more thorough building walk-through, a detailed review of utility bills, and additional data gathering.
- Output: A report that provides actionable energy-saving measures, with an estimate of costs, savings, and a payback period. This report typically includes capital investment recommendations, such as upgrading HVAC systems or installing advanced energy controls.
For Level 2 audits, Power Monitoring is an essential tool to gain a granular view of energy consumption across different systems. By using monitoring tools, auditors can analyze specific equipment and system performance, uncovering inefficiencies that may not be visible in a standard walk-through. Monitoring platforms provide valuable data for identifying peak usage times, unexpected energy drains, and potential energy waste from malfunctioning equipment, leading to more accurate recommendations and cost projections.
Level 3: Detailed Analysis of Capital-Intensive Modifications
The third level is the most comprehensive and is often referred to as an “investment-grade audit.”
- Focus: This audit provides a deep dive into specific energy-consuming systems or projects that require significant capital investment. It includes the most precise savings and cost calculations.
- Scope: Comprehensive data gathering and analysis, including building energy models, detailed system analysis, and often simulation tools.
- Output: Detailed engineering recommendations that focus on major equipment replacements or retrofits, along with thorough financial analysis, such as lifecycle cost analysis, to support investment decisions.
In Level 3 audits, Energy Monitoring becomes indispensable. Real-time data is often required to create detailed energy models and simulations that can accurately project savings from capital-intensive upgrades. Continuous monitoring of energy usage before and after the implementation of recommended measures ensures that projected savings are being realized. Additionally, monitoring can help uncover unexpected inefficiencies that were not apparent during the initial audit, allowing for ongoing optimization and fine-tuning of energy systems.
What Are Single Measure Audits?
While ASHRAE energy audits are comprehensive, businesses sometimes focus on one specific energy-saving measure. These are known as single measure audits, and one of the most common examples is an audit focused solely on LED lighting upgrades.
Single Measure Audits: LED Lighting Example
- Focus: Targeting a specific energy-saving opportunity, such as lighting, these audits assess current lighting systems and identify the potential savings of switching to LED lighting.
- Scope: Typically involves a site visit to evaluate current lighting fixtures, energy use, and lighting quality. An analysis follows, determining the potential energy savings, cost savings, and environmental benefits (such as reducing carbon emissions).
- Output: A tailored recommendation for an LED lighting upgrade, including installation costs, projected energy savings, and the ROI timeframe. LED lighting audits often highlight the long lifespan of LEDs and their significant energy savings compared to traditional lighting.
In single measure audits like LED lighting, Energy Monitoring tools provide real-time insights into how much energy the current lighting system consumes and what savings can be expected from an upgrade to LED. Monitoring also enables businesses to track energy consumption before and after the lighting retrofit, validating energy savings and return on investment (ROI). This data-driven verification can be critical when justifying expenditures to stakeholders.
Benefits of Energy or Power Monitoring in Audits
- Real-Time Insights: Continuous energy monitoring offers up-to-the-minute data on energy use, helping auditors quickly identify areas for improvement.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Monitoring data enhances the accuracy of audit recommendations by providing a clearer picture of energy consumption patterns.
- Ongoing Optimization: Beyond the audit itself, energy monitoring allows businesses to track the performance of implemented measures and make adjustments over time, ensuring optimal energy efficiency.
- Investment Validation: For capital-intensive upgrades, monitoring helps validate that expected savings are being realized, offering peace of mind for business owners and investors.
Conclusion
Whether you’re exploring a comprehensive ASHRAE energy audit or focusing on a single measure like LED lighting, these tools provide a roadmap to energy efficiency. Energy or Power Monitoring plays a critical role in each type of audit, enabling real-time, data-driven insights that can improve audit accuracy, guide decision-making, and ensure long-term energy savings. ASHRAE’s tiered audit approach ensures that businesses can select the audit level that fits their goals—whether it’s a quick walk-through for easy wins, a detailed energy analysis for medium-term upgrades, or an investment-grade audit for significant capital improvements.
By leveraging both audits and energy monitoring, businesses can cut costs, improve sustainability, and achieve smarter energy management.
