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Investment Grade Energy Efficiency Audit

Green Consultancy “Investment Grade” Energy Efficiency Audits are more sophisticated and detailed than traditional “Walkthrough” energy surveys which rely largely on the visual identification of opportunities and do not measure the energy efficiency of systems.

The energy consumption or efficiency of a piece of equipment or a process cannot be measured by simply looking at it.  Major opportunities with short payback periods are usually missed completely by Walkthrough surveys because they do not establish the inputs and outputs from the system or piece of equipment in order to reveal the extent of inefficiencies.

Thus, even after implementing a valuable energy saving opportunity identified in a Walkthrough survey, a process or plant could still be less than 10% efficient.  Energy consumption within specific processes can be reduced by up to 90%, sometimes without major capital investment.

The Green Consultancy’s Energy Efficiency Audits differs from Walkthrough Surveys as follows

• Extensive use of energy analysers and other measuring and metering equipment – for example temperature probes and flue gas analysers.
• More detailed analysis of all energy consumption data relating to the systems and processes that use the most significant amounts of energy.
• Measurement of the true efficiency with which energy is being used in those systems and processes.
• Identifies, quantifies and prioritises remedial measures to improve efficiency.  The aim being to raise the efficiency of a process to as close as possible to the theoretical maximum.
• Provides sufficient information for either site staff or competent contractors to be able to complete the necessary remedial works.  (In some cases, additional investigative or design work may be required for solution development.)
• More time spent on site, analysing data and report writing.

Benefits

The Green Consultancy’s Energy Efficiency Audits provide:

• Sound business case for implementation by accurately quantifying savings and identifying remedial measures that are significantly more cost-effective than those identifiable through a Walkthrough Survey.
• Better opportunity identification and improved savings and payback potential leads to a more compelling case for management attention and capital investment.
• Identification of major energy saving opportunities that could not otherwise have been found, in systems such as: space and water heating, ventilation and air conditioning, compressed air, refrigeration, steam systems and boiler plant, industrial processes.  For examples see: Energy Saving Examples.
• The only sound basis for Carbon Management Plans which otherwise usually fall into the twin traps of being based on Walkthrough Surveys and/or a shopping list of projects that disregard the true priorities of the site and so cannot possibly be cost-effective or deliver the projected carbon savings.

The output from an investment grade Energy Efficiency Audit will often allow a building operator to completely revise both investment plant and carbon/energy targets, which are often unrealistically conservative compared with the available potential.  Savings of 30% within two years are not unknown provided that some investment is available, but absolute savings of the order of 5% per annum are often achievable without significant investment. 

This often allows the development of a “virtuous circle” in energy efficiency, with reductions in building demands allowing the replacement of plant with smaller and more modern equipment that results in additional savings. 

Scope & Methodology 

1. Investigate all areas of energy and water use.
2. Identify systems (processes and/or buildings) with sufficient consumption to make significant savings possible.
3. Use all available information – such as half-hourly data, gas/fossil fuel use profile, degree-day data (heating and cooling), water consumption, building structure, occupancy, location, ventilation and internal dissipation, natural light, and production data – to determine the theoretical energy requirement and actual energy consumptions of those systems.
4. Determine the energy efficiency of each system dividing the theoretical energy requirement by the actual energy consumption.
5. Identify all significant viable energy/carbon reduction opportunities within the inefficient systems by more detailed investigations which may require the use of energy analysers, data-loggers and other measuring equipment.  This may involve investigation such as:
   a) checking combustion efficiency of all significant combustion plant;
   b) assessing standing and other losses;
   c) investigating the operation and capabilities of any Building Energy Management Systems (Full BMS Audits are an optional extra.)
   d) considering the scope for building fabric improvements and the resulting opportunities for the specification of smaller and thus more cost-effective plant;
   e) identifying where beneficial additional management effort should be directed, the measures necessary for improving staff performance, and additional sub-metering and other related matters.
6. Analyse the potential of renewable energy opportunities and technologies such as CHP and heat-pumps. 
7. Report on all of the above, providing an accurate assessment of the potential energy/carbon reductions along with details of the specific measures required for implementation, illustrative costs and payback periods.  (Actual quotations or tendering support are optional extras – as is full project management.)

    If other services are required such as those mentioned above, condition surveys or others, it is possible that they can be carried out more cost-effectively by delivering them simultaneously with an Investment Grade Energy Efficiency Audit.  In particular, the value of an EPBD Air Conditioning Inspection can be increased if it is carried out in parallel with an Energy Efficiency Audit

For examples of savings resulting from our Investment Grade Energy Efficiency Audit please follow these links:

Investment Grade Energy Efficiency Audit - Energy Saving Examples

Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

The Daily Mail & General Trust

For your no obligation quote, or to discuss your requirements, please contact Michael Webb or phone him on 08450 176299.