The Energy Audit 161BASIC COMPONENTS OF AN ENERGY AUDIT
An initial summary of the basic steps involved in conducting a
successful energy audit is provided here, and these steps are explained
more fully in the sections that follow. This audit description primarily
addresses the steps in an industrial or large-scale commercial audit;
however, not all of the procedures described in this section are required
for every type of audit.
The audit process starts by collecting information about a facility’s
operation and about its past record of utility bills. These data are
then analyzed to get a picture of how the facility uses—and possibly
wastes—energy, as well as to help the auditor learn what areas to exam-
ine to reduce energy costs. Specific changes—called energy conservation
opportunities (ECOs)—are identified and evaluated to determine their
benefits and their cost-effectiveness. These ECOs are assessed in terms
of their costs and benefits, and an economic comparison is made to
rank the various ECOs. Finally, an action plan is created where certain
ECOs are selected for implementation, and the actual process of saving
energy and saving money begins.
The Auditor ’s Toolbox
To obtain the best information for a successful energy cost con-
trol program, the auditor must make some measurements during the
audit visit. The amount of equipment needed depends on the type of
energy-consuming equipment used at the facility, as well as the range
of potential ECOs that might be considered. For example, if waste heat
recovery is being considered, then the auditor must take substantial
temperature measurement data from potential heat sources. Tools com-
monly needed for energy audits are listed below:
Tape Measures
The most basic measuring device needed is the tape measure. A
25-foot tape measure (1” wide) and a 100-foot tape measure are used to
check the dimensions of walls, ceilings, windows and distances between
pieces of equipment for purposes such as determining the length of a pipe
for transferring waste heat from one piece of equipment to the other.
Lightmeter
One simple and useful instrument is the lightmeter, which is used