Energy Audits
Levels of energy audits and how to get one done
Energy audits vary from simple reviews of a building's energy using equipment to an in-depth engineering and architectural facility assessment.
Currently there are no official requirements or certification for energy auditors in Alberta. Energy audits can include any of the following:
- Simple walk-through: where a person performs a basic visual inspection of a facility and provides an assessment based on observations and discussions with the facility maintenance staff.
- Detailed audit: where energy bills are reviewed, name plate data and operational hours recorded.
- Technology specific audits: where a building owner may decide the lighting system or furnace is getting old and needs to be assessed. A specialist will be hired to assess a particular electrical or mechanical piece of equipment, may or may not conduct efficiency tests, and make recommendations.
- Full building assessment: completed by a team of engineers and architects, where a complete redesign addresses all aspects of the facility and how they interact.
Energy audits are not an end in themselves, so it is important to act on economic recommendations.
