Energy Audits for Businesses
Is your business running as efficiently as possible? One aspect you may not have considered is the energy efficiency of your building or buildings. Poorly-sealed windows, out-of-date heating systems and more can lead you to pay higher utility bills than you need to. Find out how well your buildings are really performing with an energy audit from Cromwell. Using the latest technology, our energy audit team assesses your property and presents practical, affordable ways to reduce energy bills.
WHAT IS A COMMERCIAL ENERGY AUDIT?
An energy audit is a comprehensive inspection and analysis of the way energy is being used in a building. Energy audits, also called energy efficiency assessments, can be an inexpensive way to find opportunities for real savings and efficiency improvements for a business.
Cromwell uses industry-leading technology to perform commercial energy audits.
Federal tax credits available now can significantly lower the costs of an energy audit for business owners in Kansas and Missouri. A good energy audit will assess your electricity use and will also examine the building for health and safety concerns like ventilation issues, water leaks/mold, carbon monoxide, and leaking gas. The goal of an energy audit is to identify cost-effective ways of reducing the energy use of a commercial building while preserving or improving the health, safety, and comfort of the building’s occupants. The experts at Cromwell can conduct an ASHRAE Level 1, 2, or 3 energy audit.
One important consideration in an energy audit or energy retrofit is balancing energy efficiency and air quality. Sealing a building completely would lead to air quality issues for the people inside. The experts at Cromwell Environmental are uniquely qualified to give meaningful advice about energy efficiency and air quality as we have over four decades of experience working in both fields in Kansas and Missouri. Our experience has given us a deep understanding of the balance between energy efficiency and indoor air quality, and we know how to achieve efficiency while actually improving indoor air quality. Cromwell Environmental performs commercial energy audits throughout Kansas and Missouri which are designed to identify building improvements that can increase energy efficiency and comfort.
After an energy audit identifies opportunities for improvement, the next step is an energy retrofit. Cromwell’s commercial energy assessments find not only retrofit work to be done, but more importantly ranks the work by cost effectiveness. That allows you to choose the energy upgrades that make the most sense for your budget. We will provide a free proposal for any work recommended.
Want to learn more? Download Cromwell’s FREE Guide to Energy Audits.
Find the Guide here
COMPONENTS OF A COMMERCIAL ENERGY AUDIT
An energy audit has two main components: the onsite energy assessment that gathers data about your building’s energy components, and an analysis of that data using energy modeling software combined with our experienced energy auditor’s notes, photos, and experience.
Before going onsite we will assess your energy bills and basic information about your property. Onsite we will spend a few hours looking at your property from attic to basement. Here are some of the things an energy audit assesses:
Attic:
Insulation type is noted, measured, and inspected for uninsulated areas such as near can lights or where contractors worked.
Penetrations through the ceiling and roof are inspected for air leakage as well as water leaks which can cause unhealthy mold growths.
Utility Room:
The model, age, and efficiency of heating and cooling systems and water heaters are noted.
HVAC ducts are inspected and tested for leaks.
Gas appliances are tested for dangerous fuel leaks and carbon monoxide.
Vents for combustion appliances and clothes dryers are inspected.
Framing and insulation type are noted.
Electrical panel is inspected and details noted.
Living Spaces:
Electrical appliances are tested with a watt meter and potential electrical hazards are noted.
A blower door test looks for air leakage between conditioned and unconditioned spaces.
An infrared camera is used to “see” inside walls to identify poorly insulated areas.
Window and door models, efficiency, and condition are assessed and examined for air or water leaks.
Thermostat type(s) and settings are noted.
Lighting types are recorded and recessed lighting fixtures are inspected.
Vent fans in kitchen and bathrooms are inspected.
TOOLS USED IN COMMERCIAL ENERGY AUDITS
Cromwell uses the latest technologies to perform energy audits.
Infrared Camera: An infrared camera is used to show the relative temperatures of areas, with warmer colors representing warmer temperatures. In an energy audit we use the infrared camera to show areas in your building that are leaking heat, such as areas with poor insulation.
Blower Door Tester: A blower door is used to measure the amount of air entering or leaving to determine how airtight your building is. In an energy audit the fan blows air out of your building and the air pressure drop is measured — the tighter the building the larger the pressure drop. While the test is being done we look for the points of air infiltration that could be better sealed.
After the onsite portion of the energy audit, we compile the data and notes and input them into computer models that reveal potential energy efficiency gains. Then, the auditor will work to write a comprehensive yet understandable picture of your building’s energy use detailing any health and safety concerns that may need to be addressed. Cromwell makes recommendations for energy retrofit projects in order of expense to you, and we create a free proposal to complete recommended energy retrofit work using our licensed and bonded construction services team at Cromwell.
Cost of a Commercial Energy Audit
A comprehensive energy audit done by the certified professionals at Cromwell involves over five hours of professional time, a drive to your property, and many thousands of dollars in specialized equipment. The cost of an energy audit depends on the size of the property, number of HVAC units, and distance from our offices. Contact us today for a quote — we will design a scope of work that meets your specific needs and give you a proposal.
Beware of bargain energy audits as you might not get a report that means much, and you might not qualify for the federal tax credit if the report you get or the auditor you use don’t conform to government requirements. Additionally, unscrupulous scammers are posing as energy auditors and not delivering after being paid. With over four decades in the business, you can trust the professionals at Cromwell Environmental to provide a quality energy audit report with meaningful recommendations for energy retrofit projects designed to increase your comfort and lower your energy bills.
Please contact us for information about energy audits and efficiency upgrades for your business. Call us at 785-248-5001, or contact us here.