Energy Audits
Gain Valuable Insights Into Building Ineffciency
An energy audit is usually the first step towards getting your building on the right track. By conducting an exhaustive audit of the building, including a thorough investigation of energy consuming equipment, operational control, trend data, and utility data; FES will be able to identify deficiencies and make recommendations for correction. The deliverables include customized recommendations for your building HVAC equipment and controls based on your goals and objectives, along with estimated costs and savings for those recommendations. Some of the areas we audit include…
HVAC Equipment
Energy audits for commercial HVAC units involve a comprehensive evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for energy-saving improvements. These audits can reveal issues like suboptimal performance, outdated equipment, or air leaks, providing actionable insights for businesses to reduce energy costs and carbon footprint.
Central Plant
Energy audits for chillers, pumps, cooling towers, and boilers in commercial and industrial settings aim to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of these systems in providing heating or cooling to a facility. By identifying areas of energy waste or inefficiency, such as poorly maintained pumps or outdated boilers, these audits offer targeted recommendations to improve performance, ultimately saving money and reducing the environmental impact.
Air Side Distribution
Energy audits concerning air handlers, fan coils, and Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems focus on evaluating the energy efficiency and operational effectiveness of these components in a building’s HVAC system. Through such audits, inefficiencies like imbalanced airflow, poorly calibrated VAV boxes, or outdated fan coils can be identified, leading to recommendations for upgrades or adjustments that can significantly reduce energy consumption and costs.
Becoming More Energy Efficient
A complete energy audit of your facility is a critical first step in developing an energy savings strategy.
Gain a comprehensive view of your energy consumption
A thorough energy audit will allow you to gain a comprehensive view of your building, motors, and processes.
Identify areas of weakness and inefficiency
Certain areas of vulnerability will show up in the audit process allowing you to address them before they become costly.
Develop a plan of "to do" items in order of importance
The results of an audit will create a checklist of to do items in order of importance. This becomes your roadmap.
Frequently Asked Questions
By having a clearer understanding through these FAQs, building managers and owners can make informed decisions about energy audits and their benefits.
An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of a building's energy consumption, specifically aimed at identifying inefficiencies and recommending improvements. For HVAC systems, an audit can uncover issues like improper temperature settings, outdated equipment, or air leaks that lead to energy wastage.
During an energy audit of the central plant, the focus is generally on the efficiency of boilers, chillers, cooling towers, and pumps. By assessing these components, energy auditors can recommend upgrades or operational changes that can significantly improve energy efficiency.
An energy audit can identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the air side distribution system. This could include issues like duct leakage, poor airflow balance, or inadequate insulation. Once these are identified, targeted interventions can significantly improve efficiency.
The duration of an energy audit can vary depending on the size and complexity of the building's HVAC and other systems. A smaller building may require only a day, whereas a larger facility with a complex central plant might require several days or even weeks to fully audit.
The Return on Investment (ROI) can vary widely based on the specific improvements implemented. Some changes, like adjusting temperature settings or fixing leaks, provide almost immediate ROI. More significant changes like upgrading to a high-efficiency chiller or boiler may have a longer payback period but offer substantial long-term savings.
While older buildings often have more room for improvement, newer buildings can also benefit from energy audits. Construction practices and regulations change over time, and even new buildings may have systems that can be optimized for better performance.
Why FES?
We’re here to help! FES is a boutique engineering firm offering customized solutions that are specific to the needs of your building and personnel. After a thorough on-site evaluation, FES will provide a list of recommended energy efficiency measures available for implementation with internal resources (at your own pace), or you can choose to let us manage the project from start to finish. Our identified solutions will allow for more efficient building operation with improved reliability while reducing your overall utility costs.
