What is an Energy Audit?

An Energy Audit is an essential component of an organisation’s focus to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. To be most effective an energy audit should be carried out as part of a comprehensive energy management program.

Energy Audits examine an organisation’s past and current energy use with the aim of identifying and quantifying areas of energy wastage within the organisation’s activities.

Tropical Energy Solutions carries out Energy Audits in accordance with the Australian Standard (AS/NZS 3598:2000. According to this standard Energy Audits can be performed at 3 levels complexity depending on the customer’s needs.

Level 1 Audit – An overview of energy use and comparison with accepted benchmarks, may require on site visit. Estimated energy savings have an accuracy range of only +/-40%

Level 2 Audit – A general on site investigation required producing approximate (+/-20%) assessment of costs and savings identified through some measurement and energy monitoring.

Level 3 Audit – A detailed on site investigation required producing accurate (+/-10%) assessment of costs and savings identified through extensive measuring and energy monitoring. It can be site or process specific and may involve energy simulation modelling.

For all levels of Audit, Tropical Energy Solutions aims to deliver cost savings which are sustained in the long term with a relatively short term return on investment.

There are generally 4 phases to an Energy Audit:

1.   Investigation Phase

2.   Monitoring Phase

3.   Analysis & Reporting Phase

4.    Post Audit Phase

The Phases and Levels are discussed in more detail below.

1. Investigation Phase

This phase involves the customer providing making available the relevant data concerning:

·         Reason for the Energy Audit,

·         Level of audit required,

·         Date of required completion,

·         Energy consumption for the past 1 to 2 years,

·         Tariffs and related energy supply contracts,

·         Floor areas, staff numbers, production levels,

·         Occupancy hours,

·         Industry energy use/cost benchmark levels,

·         Sub electrical and gas metering equipment,

·         After-hours power usage,

·         Mechanical plant configuration (e.g. air-conditioning plant rated cooling capacity, pump and fan motor kW ratings and efficiency); as-installed drawings, electrical single line drawings, and operational & maintenance manuals,

·         Lighting configuration (i.e. lamp number & fitting type, Wattage, ballast type), condition and controls,

·         Compressed air system (if present) including rating, presence of air leaks, hours of usage,

·         Steam and hot water boilers,

·         Building Management Systems, control strategies and maintenance schedules,

·         Building envelope, shading, orientation, insulation levels,

·         Asset management plan, if any,

·       Site access restrictions.

2. Monitoring Phase

This phase involves obtaining detailed information pertaining to the overall site as well as the major energy use categories. The operation of key plant and equipment is inspected, and measurement of a range of parameters, is undertaken where appropriate, including:

·        Electrical & gas load profiles,

·        Internal temperature/humidity,

·         Ventilation rate,

·         Light levels,

·         Process specific monitoring.

Feedback is also obtained from maintenance staff on issues concerning building and plant operation and maintenance which could well be impacting on energy efficiency as well as occupant comfort.

3. Analysis & Reporting Phase

This phase involves:

·         Determination of overall energy efficiency of complex; for example kWh/m2 per annum for office buildings, kWh or $/occupied room night per annum for hotels, kWh or $/item per annum for a manufacturing process,

·        Determination of the greenhouse emission index ,

·         Life cycle cost analysis of various energy saving measures,

·         Tariff analysis,

·         Peak demand management including evaluation of power factor correction,

·         Written and if required, verbal report on findings.

4. Post Audit Phase

This phase involves the energy user acting on the Energy Audit Report. They should:

·         Decide if a higher level of Energy Audit is required following a Level 1 Audit,

·         Produce an action plan which prioritises the recommended tasks, allocates roles and contains a timetable for their completion,

·         Consult with and educate staff about the action plan and the reasons for implementing it,

·         Regularly monitor the results of implemented actions and review the plan as required.

To find out more about Energy Audits please Contact Us.