With advancements in technology, everything around us needs electricity now. The energy produced causes greenhouse gas emissions in the environment. We can make a mark in the world by reducing environmental impact and striving to become energy efficient. Most energy-consuming buildings include either commercial buildings or industrial buildings and that is where energy audits pop in. Energy audits are conducted to improve the overall energy efficiency of the system which mainly includes HVAC, air conditioning, lighting, and heating systems. One of the best ways to reduce operational costs and improve the condition of the system is an energy audit. 

Understanding Energy Audits

An energy audit is a process that helps buildings analyze their energy consumption patterns and identify inefficient systems. Energy audits also suggest improvements for better performance of the systems in place. There are different types of energy audits defined by the ASHRAE. The types are as follows:

• Walk-Through Audit:

A walk-through audit is a basic-level energy audit. It is the simplest of all, and it is conducted to identify obvious or major energy improvements such as HVAC, lighting, or insulation. It is used to identify such areas for improvement that require low cost and can give almost immediate results. 

• Energy Survey and Analysis:

The Energy survey and analysis audit is a more detailed audit than the walk-through audit. It aims to conduct a detailed inspection of the building’s energy systems to improve consumption patterns, system efficiencies, and energy costs. After the inspection, the auditor also provides a list of prioritized or recommended upgrades, their costs, and potential return on investment. 

• Investment-Grade Audit:

This is the last and most detailed energy audit that can be conducted. Large businesses and rental buildings usually go for investment-grade audits for major upgrades. It provides a detailed report of the energy consumption patterns, potential upgrades, their costs, and how the upgrades will impact energy efficiency. It involves analyzing every bit of the building systems, utility bills, and any other factors that might add to energy wastage. 

It is important to have a professional person conduct the energy audit because of their expertise. They know what they are doing and can give you accurate and optimal results. For commercial buildings, complex systems also require the expertise of a professional.

The Role of HVAC in Energy Consumption

HVAC systems are the major operating systems of a building and thus can consume a lot of energy if not adjusted. They use up about half of the total energy consumption of a building. According to the Department of Science of the United States, upgrading the HVAC can reduce its energy consumption by up to 40%.

HVAC systems are a must for a commercial building. They are essential for a comfortable daily life as they control different daily life factors like humidity or air conditioning. Regular monitoring and maintenance of energy systems can help avoid excessive energy consumption which ultimately reduces utility bills. 

Investing in modern HVAC systems helps minimize energy usage and lowers harmful emissions. The latest HVAC systems have little to no environmental impact and thus help attract eco-friendly consumers. 

Benefits of Conducting Energy Audits

Conducting energy audits comes with many benefits. Especially for commercial buildings, the following are a few major benefits:

• Cost Reduction
  

Energy audits allow you to identify inefficiencies and suggest useful improvements. Such as insulation or lighting issues; by resolving them, you can cut back on your energy consumption, and your operational costs will be greatly reduced.

• Comfortable Life

In commercial buildings, it is important to have a proper HVAC system running for a convenient life. With improved services, the occupants or residents will also have a comfortable daily life, which can improve productivity. Your building will also have a great reputation for the great services provided.

• Environmental Impact

The greenhouse gases are produced in abundance due to the production of energy to meet the needs of the masses. The energy audits mainly focus on reducing energy consumption which can help us maintain the energy standards and also reduce the environmental impact due to the harmful emissions of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

• Financial Incentives and Rebates

Many countries and states have policies that promote energy efficiency. They provide financial rebates, incentives, and more facilities to help you become energy efficient, such as low-interest loans for energy-efficiency upgrades or federal tax credits for meeting certain efficiency standards. These policies can reduce your upgrading costs, allowing you to conduct energy audits and the recommended upgrades with ease. 

• Market Appeal

Becoming energy efficient is a great move. It allows you to reduce your operation costs while marketing yourself as eco-friendly. Energy-efficient buildings also have greater property value. 

Key Components to Evaluate During the Audit

During an energy audit, it is important to focus on some important key areas for improvement. Focusing on these key aspects allows auditors to analyze without much difficulty. These key areas are as follows:

• Ductwork and Insulation

Ducts with poor insulation cause much energy loss as the conditioned air keeps leaking and does not reach the required places. So, the auditor needs to give some attention to the ductwork and potential leaks.

• HVAC Controls

Old, outdated, and incompatible HVAC systems can cause huge losses of energy. For example, the system may keep running when it is not required, or they can over-condition or under-condition some areas.

• Building Envelop

It is important to pay due attention to the insulation of the building as a whole. If the heat or cold air keeps dissipating from the specific room or area, then you are in for big energy losses.

• Performance Benchmarking

Comparing your HVAC system’s performance with the industry’s standard allows you to pinpoint the systems running below the ideal level. Older systems are usually less energy efficient than newer ones. Professional auditors can tell if an upgrade is needed or replacement by evaluating the system’s age, maintenance record, and condition.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

Data gathered during audits are used to identify where improvements and upgrades are required. The data gathered is analyzed by the following metrics:

• Energy Use Intensity

EUI, or energy use intensity, is the energy used per square foot of the building. Low EUI can clearly tell that there are inefficiencies in the system.

• Operational hours

You can save greatly on energy consumption by running the systems only when they are needed. It is a waste of energy when the systems are run when it is not required, such as running AC when no one has occupied a room. 

• Compared with similar facilities

By comparing your HVAC system’s performance with similar other buildings, you can easily pinpoint the areas that are energy inefficient and require upgrades. 

Implementing Recommendations

Conducting an energy audit is not the only step in the process. You also have to implement the recommended upgrades according to the prioritized list. The recommendations should be implemented in order according to the following criteria:

• Cost

You should first prioritize the upgrades that require little to no capital. For example, addressing minor leaks or setting the thermostats. 

• High Impact

Your second priority should be the upgrades that will have the biggest impact on your energy consumption, such as replacing an outdated HVAC system or insulating the building.

• Fast ROI

Your other priority should be upgrades that will give you the fastest return on your investment so that you can spend your returns on further upgrades of the building sooner rather than later.

• HVAC professionals

Hiring professional HVAC contractors can help you implement the upgrades. They can ensure that the upgrades are done in the correct order and done correctly, leaving little to no space for errors or further complications.

Continuous Monitoring and Improvement

Conducting an energy audit and implementing upgrades is not a one-time thing. You have to continuously monitor the HVAC system for any potential irregularities and identify problems before they turn into costly repairs. 

There are many tools you can use to monitor your systems, such as smart thermostats and energy management systems (EMS). Smart thermostats can be used to program the temperature settings depending on the occupancy patterns. They also provide you with energy consumption data.

EMS is another popular tool that people prefer. They collect data from multiple systems in the building to identify inefficiencies. They usually have analytical capabilities that allow you to make timely adjustments. 

It is also important to conduct periodic re-evaluations through follow-up energy audits. They allow your systems to be sustainable. It is better to have small periodic upgrades than having to spend huge amounts in one go. You can also use the documentation from follow-up audits to show the legal bodies your commitment to being energy efficient. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, HVAC systems are best for commercial buildings as they provide a comfortable daily life, but they are one of the largest consumers of energy in a building. It is important to keep monitoring them and looking for inefficiencies in the system so we can stay energy efficient. Becoming energy efficient will also significantly reduce environmental impact. We can conduct energy audits to achieve this goal. We conduct different types of audits depending on our situation. Last but not least, regular check-ups, maintenance, and periodic audits allow us to save ourselves from potential problems that could turn into expensive repairs.