Business Energy Audits Explained

What is an energy audit?

Essentially, a business energy audit is a comprehensive analysis of energy consumption within your business. This allows you to pinpoint where energy is being wasted and implement measures that can help you become more energy efficient and, thus, save money.

Conducting an energy audit at your own business premises can be as simple as walking around your site and examining building systems, equipment, and other processes to uncover opportunities for improvement.

It may help to create a checklist of items to investigate, including the following things:

• Lighting

• Heating

• Ventilation

• Insulation

• Electrical appliances

Remember, the goal of an energy audit is to provide actionable insights into how your business can become more energy efficient and achieve cost savings while meeting sustainability targets.

What are the different types of energy audits?

Business energy audits are generally carried out in a few different ways. Some you can carry out yourself, while others will require the services of an external auditor. No way is better than another – it all depends on your circumstances.

The three primary types of energy audits are as follows:

Does my business need an energy audit?

All businesses can benefit from regular energy audits. Here are some of the primary reasons your business would benefit from an energy audit:

• Improved efficiency

  By pinpointing opportunities for improvement in energy usage, equipment, and processes, an energy audit helps you ensure everything is working optimally to maximise productivity and efficiency.

• Cost-saving opportunities

  Perhaps the most obvious benefit, a commercial energy audit empowers your business to implement energy conservation measures that reduce your utility bills over time.

• Reduce your environmental impact

  Implementing energy-saving measures identified in the audit can reduce your business's carbon emissions and environmental impact, demonstrating your commitment to sustainability.^[3]

• Brand image

  Making your business more energy efficient can enhance your business's reputation and brand image among customers, investors, and other stakeholders.^[4]

• More attractive workplace for employees

  Improvements in lighting, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems identified through the audit can create a more comfortable and productive work environment for employees.

How to conduct a business energy audit

If you are considering conducting your own business energy audit but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place.

If you follow these steps, you’ll be well-placed to identify energy-saving opportunities across your business.

1. Analyse your past and present energy consumption patterns

Before getting started, you need to understand how your business uses energy. Looking at your daily energy usage patterns can help you identify areas for improvement. If you have a smart meter, you should be able to access a breadth of energy data through your provider.

Take note of periods where you regularly use large amounts of energy. Write down all the reasons you think these periods are particularly energy-intensive.

Make a checklist of every way your business uses energy, being sure to include lighting, heating, broadband, air conditioning, office equipment, kitchen appliances and bathroom facilities.

2. Conduct a physical inspection

Walk through your business premises, systematically examining each area of energy usage that you noted in your checklist.

Here are some common areas where energy efficiency improvements can be made:

• Heating

  Check your schedules to make sure heating systems are turned off when the workspace is not in use.

• Lighting

  Energy efficient lighting, such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), are cheaper to run than traditional lighting.^[5]

• Building insulation

  Check your business premises for leaks, draughts, cracks in the wall, and any other crevices through which heat could be lost. Cavity wall insulation and double glazing are worthwhile long-term investments in heat retention if you don’t already have them.

• Equipment maintenance

  Regularly cleaning vents and filters of machinery can decrease their energy consumption.^[6]

• Employee education

  Educating employees about energy-saving practices, encouraging behaviour changes such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use, and fostering a culture of energy conservation.

When you’ve documented your observations from your walkthrough, you can cross-reference them with your energy usage data and make a plan for your business to become more energy-efficient.

3. Create an action plan

Develop a structured action plan, including short-term and long-term measures to increase your energy efficiency.

Short-term measures can be implemented immediately. These include setting timers to ensure your heating isn’t on during out-of-office hours, encouraging employees to turn their equipment off after the workday is finished, and switching off lights when rooms aren’t in use.

However, long-term measures, such as double-glazing installation, require planning, research, and budgeting.

Writing up your findings in a clear, structured manner is important, as they will become a reference point for you going forward. Include an overview, introduction, your audit’s findings, and recommendations for improvements. Also include any cost projections for projects you hope to complete in both the short and long term.

How much does an energy audit cost?

The answer to this question depends on both how you choose to conduct your energy audit and how you interpret cost.

For example, conducting an internal energy audit is cheaper than getting an external auditor. However, the external auditor may do a more thorough job, saving you more money in the long term than if you had done a DIY job.