Cooperatives Information
Walk-Through Energy Audits

Just as there are many types of buildings, there are many types of energy audits.  They range in detail, complexity and time required from a simple or walk-thru audit to a very detailed investment-grade audit that includes extensive investigation and calculation of costs, savings, and economic impact.  Our program focuses on doing the simple things first.  A walk-thru audit can be completed in a couple of hours in most schools.  Auditors look at the general condition of the building envelope as well as the condition and operation of all major energy users in the school including lighting, HVAC systems, food service equipment, water heating systems, and plug loads.  The walk thru audit coupled with a review of utility rates, building energy use and demand can tell a lot about the school and identify many opportunities for energy savings and efficiency improvements.

We understand that school budgets are tight.  We start with energy and cost saving measures that cost little or nothing to implement.  These no-cost and low-cost measures often include operational changes, adjustments in control settings, and increasing awareness of energy use.  Once schools see savings from these “low-hanging fruit” measures, additional projects requiring more capital but with high returns on investment can be examined.

In schools that use some fuel other that electricity for heat, cooling and lighting each represent about 26% of the electricity pie.  Plug loads like computers and office equipment makes up another 20%.  The remaining 28% is divided among a variety of other uses including ventilation, heating, refrigeration, and cooking.  Consequently, many of the energy efficiency opportunities we discuss focus on HVAC, lighting and plug loads. 

Training

To help provide the tools and resources needed to conduct an effective audit and to interpret and present the results, we offer an audit training class that builds on our existing commercial audit training and deals with some of the unique aspects of schools.  While much of conducting an audit is simple observation and common sense, schools are more complex than houses.  Systems, components and controls play a bigger role in energy use.  We provide the background to recognize and understand operation and opportunities and familiarize you with the lingo.

Even if you’ve done lots of commercial and institutional building audits, schools are different.  They combine the features of office, food service, laundry, athletic, and meeting facilities.  Widely varying schedules and occupancies, changing missions, and frequent renovation and expansion as well as use of temporary facilities add to the challenge. 

Because schools vary widely in the types of mechanical and electrical systems used as well as the age of the equipment, training staff to conduct audits is a little complicated.  Our training deals with the most common systems used.  For more specialized applications, it may be necessary to utilize additional resources and professionals.

Resources