The following information is from the City of Jackson "Municipal Utilities Questline Newsletter". It may be useful to you and your business. Check it out.
Key Points
·
Conduct a walk-through audit to learn more about your facility
and energy-use patterns.
·
Low-cost, portable instruments are available to measure energy
use and spot inefficiencies.
An energy audit is a great way to learn
more about your consumption patterns and look for cost-saving opportunities.
However, many facilities may be reluctant to hire a pricey consultant armed
with an array of expensive equipment and software analysis tools. While outside
expertise is necessary in certain situations, it is possible to conduct a
thorough assessment on your own. After all, you know your processes and your
facility better than anyone. This kind of inside knowledge can be helpful in
spotting inefficiencies and finding better ways to manage your energy use.
Getting
started
The
following are the key steps for conducting your own energy audit:
·
Assign responsibility—the
business owner or facility manager should take the lead in conducting the
assessment. Larger operations may need to form a committee representing
different departments.
* Gather
data—review
utility bills over the past year or a typical 12-month period to gain
insight into your total energy consumption and usage patterns.
- Benchmark—compare your
energy use against that of similar facilities. Use the Commercial or Industrial benchmark
tools to find energy-use data for your business segment.
- Evaluate—review manuals and specifications of building equipment and mechanical systems to determine their type, size and age. Examine architectural drawings and look at your operational schedule to gain a deeper insight of your building condition and energy-use patterns.
Now you are ready to begin your audit. Start
by examining your building envelope (walls, windows and roof), and then move on
to lighting, mechanical systems as well as other building and operating
equipment.
Energy
audit tools
While
you may not have access to the kind of high-tech measurement and analysis
equipment available to a professional auditor, there are a variety of low-cost
instruments available to help you measure energy consumption throughout your
facility and look for ways to improve efficiency.
Watt meter—measures
the power consumption and demand of individual motors, appliances or mechanical
equipment. This can help you better assess how you are using
energy across your facility.
Light meter—quantifies
the illumination levels in various areas of your facility and displays them as
lux or foot candles. These measurements allow you to evaluate your lighting
design and spot opportunities to reduce lighting energy use, such as lighting
controls, daylighting and dimming. Check illumination levels against those
recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Source: www.energy.gov
Society of North America (IESNA).
Infrared thermometer—senses
the infrared energy emitted by any material and converts it to a temperature
reading. They are useful for illustrating thermal losses in walls and windows
and act as a guide for sealing air leaks and adding insulation.
Flue gas analyzer—measures
the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as the temperature, in the
flue (exhaust) gas of boilers and other fuel-burning equipment. Armed with
this information, you can determine whether excess air needs to be controlled,
thus reducing heat loss and lowering harmful emissions.
Wireless thermometer—portable
and easy to use, these devices can be carried throughout your facility to
measure the surrounding air temperature. They are used for detecting
temperature differences in individual rooms or areas, which indicate poor air
flow or building air leaks.
Tachometer—speed
measurements can indicate belt slippage or improper loading in fans, blowers
and other motors. A digital tachometer, another simple device, measures
rotational speed in revolutions per minute (RPM). With this information, you
can make adjustments to improve equipment efficiency.
If you do not have the time to conduct a
walk-through energy audit, the online Facility Assessment Wizard can be a helpful
short cut. Just answer a few simple questions and receive a report filled with
energy-saving recommendations tailored specifically to your facility. The
entire process will only take five to 10 minutes.
Whatever method you choose, an energy audit
can increase your knowledge about your facility and energy use, thereby finding
ways to better utilize this critical resource.
