ur comprehensive energy surveys and audits provide advice on where the main energy management opportunities lie, and identify the need for more detailed investigations, if required. We also assess the feasibility of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies, in order to reduce a building’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.
What are energy surveys and audits?
A building energy survey is a practical step to identify, quantify and prioritise tangible opportunities to reduce energy use, costs and carbon emissions in a building or on a site. It can also evaluate the feasibility of renewable energy opportunities. We can provide a detailed feasibility study to help you identify the most appropriate low carbon solution and help you take advantage of any Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) and Renewable Heat Incentives (RHIs). We can also provide business case development, technical evaluations, CIBSE TM22 analysis and reporting and DomEARM assessments.
Why you might need energy surveys
Typically, buildings offer many opportunities to reduce energy use and costs. An energy survey enables these opportunities to be specifically identified, quantified and prioritised. This can provide a business case for action and lead to investment on energy efficiency and renewable technology.
How are energy surveys and audits undertaken?
We start by discussing the project with you in detail; in particular: the project scope, what you’re looking to achieve (energy or carbon reduction, profile-raising, etc), the budget available, and your time schedule.
Our experienced energy surveyors examine the energy use on-site.
We carry out an audit of consumption and review the building's services and its fabric.
We also review operatoinal and energy management practices.
Our approach is in line with guidance developed by CIBSE and the Carbon Trust.An energy survey will typically:
Estimate the breakdown of energy use on-site, in terms of the main energy users.
Aim to benchmark the site energy performance against similar premises, based on available energy use and building data.
Examine the energy supply and the distribution arrangements, including the main metering points and the site metering strategy.
Identify the building occupancy profile, the building's use and any environmental conditions and requirements.
Examine the building's fabric, services and controls.
Review the energy management procedures and policy on-site, including staff resources, monitoring, targeting, procurement and maintenance.
Identify a range of energy and cost-saving opportunities, including the most cost-effective, any costs, payback periods and carbon savings. Typically, energy savings can be up to 20%.
Provide recommendations to save energy and costs, ranging from the no and low-cost opportunities to those that require capital investment.
Include a prioritised plan of action and basis for investment.Energy Saving Opportunities Scheme (ESOS)
ESOS is a Government scheme – backed by legislation – that requires UK organisations (with over 250 employees) to undertake energy efficiency assessments and identify potential energy savings. It also has the potential to be the first step down the route towards improved energy efficiency.
Over the course of the first tranche of ESOS compliance, we worked with a number of organisations and identified hundreds of energy-saving opportunities, the potential value of which was millions of pounds of savings. Using half-hourly energy data, utility bills, finance records and mileage claims, we identified energy savings equivalent to £2.9 million per year off fuel and utility bills.