What is a Commercial Energy Audit?
Frustrated about high energy bills for your business? There are some things you can’t do much about, such as wholesale energy prices or the core energy requirements for running your company.
However, there are some improvements you can make which could save your business money over the year. You can improve energy efficiency, minimise heat loss and make other small changes which add up to real savings on your energy bills.
It all starts with getting a commercial energy audit carried out. This is one of the best ways to identify problems and get recommendations for improvements.
Here, we’ll run through all of the essentials you need to know about energy audits. This includes what they involve, how much they cost and crucially, how much your business could save.
What is an Energy Audit?
A commercial energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of your company’s energy usage. It’s a survey of all energy-using equipment, systems and processes within all the different departments of your building.
This includes:
- Lighting
- Computer and printing equipment, including servers, photocopiers and other appliances
- Heating, ventilation and cooling systems
- Insulation
- Equipment used for manufacturing or other core business processes.
The audit aims to give you a complete picture of energy use within your business. Importantly, this includes identifying areas where energy is being wasted, or where improvements could be made to boost efficiency and save money.
There are a few different types of commercial energy audit, ranging from basic walk-through audits right through to in-depth energy surveys and analysis.
Why do an Energy Audit?
The first and most obvious reason to do a commercial energy audit is to save money. According to uSwitch, the average energy bill for UK small businesses is around £2,889 - but it can be far higher for larger businesses and those which carry out energy-hungry manufacturing processes.
One of the most effective ways to reduce energy bills is to cut heat loss and increase the efficiency of heating systems.
An energy audit can pinpoint weaknesses and suggest improvements. For example, heat being lost at entrances and exits of a temperature-controlled warehouse, which could be improved with the installation of PVC strip curtains. Other examples include heating system upgrades and increased insulation, along with simple measures such as educating employees to switch off lights and equipment when not in use.
All of this can shrink your business energy bills and save you money. This can also help you meet carbon reduction and sustainability targets.
How Much Does an Energy Audit Cost?
There is a cost involved in having a commercial energy audit carried out, although this should be considered as an investment. You’ll pay a small amount now, in order to make larger savings on your energy bills year after year.
You’ll need to get a few quotes from specialists for your energy audit. The total cost may depend on the size of your site, the nature of your business and what type of survey you’re commissioning. But on average, you can expect to pay around 1% of your total energy bills on an audit.
However, according to the Energy Saving Trust, this could result in savings of between 15-25% for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
How to Carry Out an Energy Audit
Carrying out a commercial energy audit requires some preparation. This involves gathering as much data as you can from your company’s energy consumption records - ideally from at least the last 12 to 24 months, or further back if possible.
It’s also a good idea to ask your staff for feedback. They can help you identify issues you might not be aware of, such as equipment being left on, cold or hot spots within a building, draughts and other problems.
When the audit is carried out, it typically involves the following steps:
- Definition of the scope and aims of the audit - for example, you may want to focus on cost savings over sustainability goals
- Gather preliminary data on energy consumption - including carrying out a comparison against similar buildings or industry standards
- On-site walk-through inspection of all building systems
- Detailed data measurement and monitoring - using tools such as infrared cameras and submeters to assess real-time performance
- Analysis - including identifying inefficiencies, unusual consumption patterns and anomalies
- Listing potential improvements
- Compiling findings into a clear, actionable report.
Energy Audit Recommendations: What an Audit Could Highlight
There are lots of things your energy audit report could highlight. The most common recommendations are insulation improvements, such as upgrading roof installation, fitting impact doors in high-traffic areas and properly insulating coldstore areas.
Your report may also recommend simple changes like upgrading to LED lighting or smart heating controls, or it may suggest major improvements such as the installation of sustainable heating systems.
Contact our team today on 01925 63875 to find out how we can help your business save on energy bills and improve efficiency.