From Audit to Action: Transforming Energy Use in the Commercial Sector
Introduction The commercial sector is one of the largest consumers of energy worldwide, contributing significantly to global energy demand and environmental impacts through greenhouse gas emissions. This consumption not only affects our planet but also the economic bottom line of businesses. Commercial energy audits offer a solution by providing a systematic approach to identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for energy conservation. Understanding Energy Audits Definition and Purpose An energy audit is a thorough inspection, survey, and analysis of energy flows within a building, process, or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s). The primary goal of an energy audit is to determine ways to reduce energy consumption per unit of product output or to lower operational costs. Types of Energy Audits 1. Preliminary Audits - Quickly identify major energy-saving opportunities and gauge the energy usage pattern.