Without an energy audit, how do you know where you are spending your energy dollars? As a commercial building owner or manager you should know what the major energy consuming components of your building are and what you can do about it. Consider performing an ASHRAE level energy audit. ASHRAE defines three standard levels of commercial building energy audits. Levels 1 and 2 are the most common assessments, ranging from a quick, high-level walk-through to an exhaustive, data-driven engineering analysis designed to pinpoint specific energy efficiency measures (EEMs) and their financial returns. Level 3, often called and investment grade audit.
ASHRAE Level 1 Audit:
Through an ASHRAE Level 1 energy audit, often called a “Walk-Through Audit”, building owners can know where energy savings investment dollars would be best spent. A-AE can assist the owner in determining the building’s highest energy consuming offenders by completing an onsite energy audit using various auditing methodology.
The auditor may complete onsite investigation of lighting system consumption, efficiency of the building enclosure (walls, roofs, windows, doors), efficiency of current Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) equipment, operation of systems, and occupancy schedule to evaluate the estimated energy consumed. This is a high-level view of savings potential from the energy consuming components of your building. A limited savings calculation summary is provided in your summary report to provide direction on where to spend your hard earned dollars.
The Level 1 audit acts as a preliminary, high-level assessment designed to establish a building’s energy baseline and identify low-cost or no-cost operational adjustments. Is the building needs worth pursuing efficiency further or is it already very efficient. The auditor interviews facility staff, reviews 12 to 36 months of utility bills, and performs an abbreviated walk-through of the building. A high-level overview of energy insufficiency and a preliminary list of EEMs. Savings estimates for upgrades are categorized generally (e.g., high, medium, or low) rather than through detailed calculations. Upon request the building can be benchmarked against similar facilities based on location and size.
ASHRAE Level 2 Audit:
With ASHRAE Level 2 audits, A-AE can assist you in determining the building’s highest energy consuming offenders using various methods, similar to a Level 1 audit, but more in depth. With a Level 2 audit, in-depth calculations are used based on the findings on total energy consumption and specific recommendations are given based on the calculations. Future costs and payback periods can be determined based on recommended improvements. This will help determine which recommendations will give you the quickest return on investment or greatest energy savings based on costs.
A Level 2 audit is one of the more common commercial energy audits, without going to the extreme expense of a Level 3 audit. It builds upon Level 1 findings by conducting an in-depth breakdown of energy use and producing highly specific engineering and financial metrics. The audit includes a detailed on-site inspection of all major energy consuming systems, expanded data collection, spot measurements, staff interviews, and potential temporary installation of data loggers depending upon discussion with customer. Auditors may perform energy modeling, calculations, or simulations to understand system interactions. A comprehensive energy use breakdown, an energy balance, site-specific EEMs, and high-level economic analysis. Estimated implementation costs, energy savings, and payback periods or returns on investment (ROI) are provided for each measure.
