
Home Energy Audit
ABOUT ENERGY ADUITS
Energy audits can indicate how to better performance and optimize energy costs. Most energy audits have shown they can improve efficiency through implementing changes. These have become a greater priority for homeowners, companies, and institutions due to concerns over rising economic and environmental issues.
How is an energy audit carried out?
1. Study of the
Situation
2. Investigate & Explore
3. Identify Ways
to Improve
4. Energy Audit Report
STEP ONE
Studying the Current Situation
In this first section of the energy audit, you should obtain the most information about the company or home. In summary, the following issues should be investigated:
Documentation on housing construction systems and data on seniority
Weather information of the area
Current energy bill
Know the machines that are used
Hours of use
This is a common, generalized list. However, each site is different, and other aspects of interest must be added.
STEP 2
Site Investigation & Exploration
Once we have obtained the important data, we must visit the place to check the structure, property, and equipment. It is also important to know the energy usage habits of the occupants.
While observing the equipment and the housing situation, we have to focus on the following elements:
Situation of the structure, doors, and windows, among other issues, to know its thermal situation. There may be thermal bridges, deteriorated thermal insulation, air infiltration, etc.
Situation of office machines. In some occasions, the equipment is usually so old as opposed to what is in the market that has many economic and energy losses.
Lighting situation, we can save a lot of money with a good distribution of light or with another type of lighting. A luxometer is used to analyze the illumination.
Situation of the pipes and drains, among other things, can suppose a loss of water or power. The measurement is made by measuring the flow of the pipe or the water pressure.
Situation and distribution of the electrical system, bad management can cause many energy losses.
Situation of boilers, heaters or HVAC. Depending on the temperature of the environment and the situation of structural thermal systems (such as the facade or windows).
STEP THREE
Identify Areas for
Improvement & Sustainability
In regards to the information obtained from the previous points, we will be able to identify which elements can be improved, taking into account the situation (in case there are more advanced technologies) and the cost (in case it is not profitable). Systems or machinery that can be improved energetically are mainly caused by lack of maintenance, problems or breakdowns of the system, and obsolescence.
At this point, it is also necessary to compare the results obtained from the audit with projected data that would be obtained if some improvements were carried out. To know the viability of recommendations, an economic analysis must be done to determine if these changes are profitable over time.