An energy audit give you a detailed analysis of how you can use your home or business resources in a better way. These audits are performed to make the building more energy-efficient. That means, the bulbs, electric appliances, and other products fitted in the building work more efficiently using lesser resources.
They are highly recommended for different reasons. With lesser and more efficient energy consumption, energy audits can help homeowners save a lot of money in the long run. It not only enhances living comfort but also promotes environmental sustainability.
In this blog, we will have a look at the common areas of focus during an energy audit. We will explore the evaluation of the building envelope, windows & doors, air sealing, renewable energy potential, and building automation, along with the occupant’s behaviour. Understanding these key areas will provide a clearer picture of how energy audits can significantly benefit both residential and commercial buildings.
A building envelope includes the outer covering of any building. It basically separates the indoor space from the outer environment and maintains the energy consumption. A reliable and well-designed building envelope minimizes energy loss while maintaining the temperature.
When it comes to the building envelope, an auditor assesses walls, roofs and floors to make sure they are properly insulated. Along with these, they also check windows and doors for any air or heat leakages.
The most common issues during this assessment are normally air leakages, thermal bridging, and inadequate insulation. Gaps around windows or doors can easily cause air leakages. Thermal bridging happens when a conductive material is used as a structural element as it allows heat to pass through. Poorly installed insulation in the building envelope can also make it harder for the heating or cooling systems to work properly.
An auditor can perform a blower door test in which they use a powerful fan to depressurize the building. Another common energy audit test is infrared thermography in which infrared cameras are used to identify leakages and temperature differences on the surface.
2. Windows and Doors
Windows and doors are the main entrances for air, heat, and cold. That is why they have the most impact on energy usage too. Auditors make sure to properly check them for any escapes, gaps, or losses.
The most common issues auditors usually come across are the drafts/gaps that occur around windows and doors. Plus, single-pane windows and poor seals are also known for resulting in higher heat transfers and energy loss.
One should usually opt for double/triple pane glazed windows to minimize this loss. You can also add weatherstripping around the windows and doors to seal the gaps. Other than these, applying caulk to seal the cracks/gaps, installing storm windows or doors, and using curtains or blinds in front of them can also be helpful.
You will experience a shift in energy consumption only by using better windows and doors in your building. With the improved insulation, you will also be saving on your energy bills. Your living style and comfort will be enhanced. There will be less noise, and so much more.
3. Air Sealing
Air sealing is a process of locating gaps or holes in the building envelope during an energy audit. This is done to avoid unwanted passing of air through the building. With proper air sealing, you can maintain your indoor temperature easily and for a longer period. That automatically helps in reducing energy consumption.
The auditors look around in plumbing vents, electrical penetrations, attics, basement wiring, and in electrical outlets to make sure everything is properly sealed shut. If any leakage is found, there are techniques that can be used to get rid of them. For example, calking is best known for sealing gaps and cracks around any penetrations in the building. Similarly, your auditor can also choose foam sealants to fill these gaps. Then there is also weatherstripping is best known to seal the gaps for all movable things.
During energy audits, proper air sealing is given utmost importance. It significantly helps in reducing your bills by preventing moisture infiltration inside your building. It also makes your HVAC equipment work for a longer time, reducing maintenance costs.
4. Renewable Energy Opportunities
This is no hidden truth about how renewable energy resources can significantly enhance the energy efficiency of any building. Preferring renewable sources for energy production is far better than relying upon all other sources. These energy opportunities include installing solar panels in your houses. In case you have a commercial building, you can also opt for small wind turbines or go for geothermal heat pumps or power plants.
All these options are preferable rather than depending upon fossil fuels completely. It goes without saying how renewable energy sources can significantly impact your environment too. Moreover, producing your own energy will give you a sense of independence. Investing in your property in this way also increases its value and makes you entitled to various incentives from the government.
If you’re inclined towards installing these, must get your auditor to do a complete energy analysis for you. They can tell you your current energy consumption and then the difference after you install any renewable energy source. Plus, they can also recommend the best source depending on your finances, property’s location, environment, and characteristics.
5. Building Automation and Smart Technologies
It has been a long time since smart technologies and homes have been introduced. People are now getting used to controlling everything remotely. New tech comes with smart features and sensors that have the ability to work on their own. That means they can automatically set their working speeds depending on the environment. Similarly, you can also turn it off if not needed.
If you do not want to invest in a completely smart home for now, you can ask the auditor to suggest you some good energy-efficient devices. You can simply install them in your home and save energy up to a greater extent. For example, you can get your hands on smart thermostats, lighting controls, smart plugs and energy monitoring systems, etc.
Smart thermostats can help you maintain your building’s temperature perfectly while reducing energy consumption by up to 10-15%. Similarly, lighting controls can help you use fewer bulbs as they automatically turn on/off according to the need through their sensors.
6. Occupant Behavior
There comes a point when everything in your house is just perfect. No extra energy loss, no over-consumption of electricity, but still you face more bills than your auditor has suggested. The main reason, in that case, is your behavior when you use energy in your house. If you do not take care of your energy usage, there is no use for an energy audit.
To avoid this type of loss, you can adopt simple daily habits. For instance, turning off lights whenever you leave a room. Adjusting the thermostat as per your needs. Regularly reading about how you can update and save energy in your house. Be mindful of when you enter or leave the house.
If you are well-aware of all the occupant’s behaviors that can help save energy, you should educate others too. Make people learn about the proper use of alliances, thermostat management, saving fresh water, etc. You can initiate different educational programs, challenges, or competitions to highlight the importance of energy consumption in today’s world. We are already relying on fossil fuels more than we can afford to. If there’s any chance we can change that, we should definitely take it!
All these points above are the main areas of focus when it comes to auditing any building for energy consumption. An auditor makes sure to take notes of all the things that can help you save energy in any way. Whether they are gaps or cracks in your windows, or installing new solar panels in your house, an energy audit can guide you through everything in the perfect way.
You can yourself check out various things for energy consumption that are mentioned above. Other than using the best devices, you need to set your behaviors in a way that your house uses the least energy possible.
