Energy audits
An energy audit shows where your building’s energy goes and which changes are worth making, with the cost, savings and payback of each.
When you need it
- Energy costs are high compared with similar buildings.
- You’re planning capital work and want to know which upgrades pay back.
- An incentive program, lender or tenant requires an audit.
- Your organization has emissions targets to meet.
What we do
Analyze the bills
We review at least a year of utility data to see how and when the building uses energy, and benchmark it against similar buildings.
Survey the building
We walk the building with your operators and inventory the major equipment, controls and envelope.
Identify measures
We find opportunities from no-cost operating changes to capital upgrades.
Estimate and rank
We estimate the cost, energy savings, payback and emissions reduction of each, so you can plan.
What you receive
- An energy use breakdown and benchmark
- Measures with cost, savings, payback and emissions impact
- A recommended order of work
- Documentation for incentive applications
Questions
What’s the difference between audit levels?
ASHRAE Standard 211 defines three. A Level 1 is a walk-through that finds low-cost measures. A Level 2 adds a detailed survey and savings calculations for each measure. A Level 3 adds detailed engineering analysis and cost estimates for major capital projects.
Which level do I need?
Many owners start with a Level 2, which gives enough detail to make decisions and apply for most incentives. A Level 3 makes sense once you’re committing to a large capital project.
Can an audit help with incentives?
Many utility and government programs fund audits or require one before funding upgrades. We’ll tell you what documentation each program needs.
Further reading
- Internal heat gains from people, lighting and equipment
Learn how people, lights and equipment add heat to a space, how to estimate each with realistic values and schedules, and why overestimating them leads to oversized systems.
- Solar heat gain through glazing and how to control it
Learn how solar radiation enters buildings through glazing, how to read window performance ratings, and which glazing, shading and control strategies reduce cooling loads and glare.
- Steam systems in older Canadian buildings
Learn how the steam systems in older Canadian buildings work, why they often heat unevenly and waste energy, and how to decide between restoring them and converting to hot water.
- Combined heat and power for commercial facilities
Learn how a combined heat and power system generates electricity and useful heat on site, which facilities have the right load profile, and what to check before committing to one in a Canadian context.
- Condensing boilers: getting the efficiency you paid for
Learn how condensing boilers achieve high efficiency, why many installations never condense, and the system design, control and maintenance steps that let them deliver.
- Thermal energy storage: ice and chilled water
Learn how thermal energy storage works, the differences between ice and chilled water systems, and how utility rates, plant size and resilience goals decide whether it makes sense.
Related services
Also in energy and sustainability: Energy modeling, LEED consulting and certification, EnerGuide home evaluations, Solar PV systems, Geothermal heat pump systems.
Get a quote for energy audits
Tell us about the building and what you need. We’ll be in touch within one hour.