For any business looking to cut their energy costs, a professional energy audit is a great place to start. An energy audit assesses the energy needs of a particular building by using professional testing instruments to measure how efficient the facility is.

Unfortunately, professional energy audits can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, making them undesirable for many business owners. Luckily, you can conduct your own walkthrough and locate many of the same problems as a professional service.

While the DIY approach will not be as thorough or complete as a professional energy audit, you can still pinpoint common problems and greatly improve your energy efficiency. Here is a simple checklist for performing your very own energy audit:

  • Check for air leaks. Finding and sealing air leaks around your facility could cut your heating and cooling costs by 20% or more. Check for leaks by closely examining problem areas, such as windows, doors, baseboards, and light switches. Most leaks can be quickly sealed using weatherstripping or a caulking gun.

  • Evaluate insulation. Your building, and some of the fixtures inside of it, should be well-insulated in order to maximize energy efficiency. Check that you have adequate insulation levels in your walls, ceiling, floors, pipes, and water heater.

  • Inspect your HVAC equipment. Heating and cooling is the #1 energy expense in most offices, so taking a close look at your HVAC equipment could significantly lower your bills. Ensure that your air filters are kept clean, your air ducts don’t have any leaks, and your thermostat is kept away from vents, windows, and heat sources.

  • Examine your electronics. Make a list of your electronic devices and calculate their estimated energy usage. Some easy ways to reduce this number include unplugging an item when it is not in use or upgrading to a more efficient model.

  • Analyze your lighting. What kind of light bulbs are you utilizing around your facility? If you are using old, incandescent light bulbs, you could cut your lighting costs by up to 80% by simply switching to LED bulbs.

A smart alternative to energy audits is investing in an energy management system. Using a series of connected meters and software, an EMS can monitor your energy consumption in real time and allow you to identify areas of inefficiency.

Electro Industries has been manufacturing energy management systems for more than 40 years. With hundreds of thousands of meters installed across the globe, don’t trust anyone else with your power monitoring needs. Visit our website to learn what we can do for you, or give us a call at 866-928-7908.