Businesses are under pressure today to use less energy, both to save money and to comply with environmental rules. A professional energy auditor will undertake a thorough analysis of a company’s energy use and efficiency known as a business energy audit. The audit reveals opportunities for firms to save money and energy, eventually enhancing their bottom line.
A walk-through, a detailed audit, and a comprehensive audit are the three different kinds of energy audits. The simplest kind of audit is a walk-through, which entails examining a building’s energy use visually. A thorough audit, which may take several days to complete, looks at a building’s energy use in greater detail. The most thorough audit is a comprehensive audit, which includes an in-depth examination of a building’s energy consumption, including the use of energy modeling tools.
Depending on the type of audit and the size of the facility being examined, the cost of a professional energy audit can change. An audit can cost between $0.15 and $0.25 per square foot for a walk-through, between $0.20 and $0.30 for a detailed audit, and between $0.30 and $0.50 for a comprehensive audit. However, the cost of an energy audit typically represents a negligible portion of the potential savings that can be realized by following the audit report’s recommendations.
How does one become a licensed energy auditor? You must first earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a similar field in order to become a certified energy auditor. After that, to become certified, you’ll need to obtain experience in energy auditing and pass a test. Usually, trade associations like the Association of Energy Engineers or the Building Performance Institute offer the accreditation.
You must be knowledgeable in energy management, renewable energy, and energy efficiency if you want to work as an energy consultant. By earning a degree in a related subject—such as energy engineering or environmental science—and working in the sector, you can develop this competence. To strengthen your qualifications as an energy consultant, you can also pursue accreditation as an energy manager or auditor.
In conclusion, a corporate energy audit is a crucial tool for companies trying to cut expenditures and energy usage. There are three different kinds of energy audits, each with a different price and level of detail. Education, work experience, and certification from industry organizations are necessary to become a qualified energy auditor or energy consultant. Businesses can save a lot of money and perform better environmentally by following the advice given in the result of an energy audit.