A detailed or investment-grade energy audit (IGA) should include realistic assumptions. When an IGA is performed properly, its results should be thorough, and provide a clear guide for implementing energy conservation measures and a strategy for using energy and reducing costs in a facility.

A previous post about audit deficiencies described some circumstances that can lead to low-quality IGAs. The post also detailed how these deficiencies can result in unrealistic savings analysis, duplicate work in the engineering design process, and potential problems in energy savings performance contract (ESPC) agreements.

Preliminary Checklist

The following list can serve as a checklist during a preliminary screening of a detailed or investment-grade energy audit. Does the audit:

  • Base the energy rates on historical or projected energy consumption and energy rates?

  • Balance energy usage (and demand, in the case of large electricity users) across at least one full year of energy data, factored separately according to different fuels, and preferably, recorded at each meter? The preferred means of presenting this sort of data are in graphs (e.g., pie charts) or tables.

  • Clearly identify and consider operating hours for different areas in the facility?

  • Clearly identify and consider major energy consumers in the energy balance?

  • Clearly identify the bases for implementation costs?

  • Clearly identify the inputs and outputs in the modeling software—if used—so that another expert can repeat the work?

  • Explain why energy will be saved for the proposed measures?

  • Specify what retrofit is proposed and what its advantages will be?

  • Specify where the retrofits should occur?

  • Address all potential energy efficiency measures?

While an IGA is supposed to provide a clear picture of a facility’s total energy supply and consumption, too often it lacks several key components that prevent it from fully improving overall energy utilization and cost reduction. Using the above checklist to verify that an IGA covers these essential details will help ensure a more accurate energy savings analysis.

For questions regarding IGAs and/or energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), please comment to this post or submit a request through the Technical Assistance Center.

Content for this Blog post courtesy of Sentech-SRA/ICF International