How an Electrical Energy Audit Can Save You Thousands on Energy Bills
As utility rates continue to increase, saving money on energy costs becomes a priority. One of the first steps in determining how to improve the efficiency of an electrical system is conducting an electrical energy audit. The energy audit identifies ways to consume and use electricity more efficiently while identifying potential safety issues with wiring and electrical systems.
There are four main elements of the energy audit.
- The inspection includes looking at attics, crawlspaces, and areas typically insulated
- The electrical system is reviewed, which includes wiring, ventilation, and the energy demand of appliances and equipment
- Energy bills are analyzed to glean information about current costs and ways to reduce expenses
- Energy use behaviors are reviewed
The electrical energy audit can save homeowners and commercial operations thousands of dollars yearly on energy bills.
What Does the Energy Audit Identify?
The energy audit is basically a calculation of the amount of electricity used and how that electricity is used. The auditor uses tools to spot air leaks and assess the energy demands of anything pulling electricity for operation. The electrical energy audit can identify the following:
- Energy waste or losses
- Energy inefficiencies
- Electrical hazards due to wiring and electrical systems
- Ventilation issues, including air leaks
- Recommended lightning protection system
- Energy consumption patterns, i.e., time or days when energy is consumed at its highest rate
- Appliance and equipment consumption rates, i.e., air conditioners or HVAC systems, refrigerators, boilers, kitchen appliances, washers, and dryers, etc.
- Compliance with electrical codes
Benefits of the Electrical Energy Audit
The benefits of the electrical energy audit go beyond finding ways to reduce energy bills. Improving energy efficiency:
- Supports environmental sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint
- Improves safety when electrical hazards are corrected and a lightning protection system is installed
- Increases the comfort of building occupants
- Supports the move towards utilizing energy-efficient equipment and appliances
- Increases equipment lifespan
- Increases property value when recommendations are implemented
The electrical energy audit is a process that all homes and commercial operations should conduct. The U.S. site energy.gov says that a home energy audit could save 5-30 percent on energy bills just by making the improvements recommended on a home energy audit.
The same process is used for small—to medium-sized commercial operations. The commercial energy audit for large facilities is more complex than the home audit but just as essential and often required by local regulations.
