• Introduction

A few years ago, energy efficiency was a choice but, it has become a necessity today. Businesses are rapidly realizing the importance of energy-efficient systems. Many countries are contributing to renewable energy resources for the betterment of the world. Energy efficiency in buildings is essential for reducing energy consumption and keeping up with benchmarking standards. This effort of businesses toward a sustainable and secure future not only optimizes energy usage but also cuts costs. Two essential tools: Building Energy Audits and Energy Management Systems both work together to provide a unique and powerful purpose. 

Your building can become energy efficient too. The question is, how? Well, energy audits are helping companies achieve their energy efficiency goals. A Building Energy Audit ensures that all the energy management systems work well and efficiently. It is a complete process of analyzing energy systems which includes exploring inefficiencies and suggesting improvements. EMS includes all the necessary tools to monitor, control, and optimize energy usage in the building. All these tools work together to provide significant benefits like sustainability, reduced costs, low environmental impact, and minimized carbon footprint. 

  • Understanding Building Energy Audits

The key purpose of a building energy audit is to enhance energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption without compromising performance. Energy audits usually identify loopholes or systems with loopholes such as old HVAC systems. Old-fashioned systems or lighting usually consume more than the required energy and thus energy audits analyze them to recommend upgrades. 

Energy audits provide all the basics for carrying out energy-efficiency measures. All the necessary data is obtained by reviewing energy bills, identifying inefficiencies, and analyzing energy systems in the building. This is crucial to making further decisions like action plans, hiring the right team, and setting energy-efficient goals and objectives. No matter what scale your business lies on, energy audits are always useful for discovering hidden energy waste areas and enhancing building performance. 

There are several types of energy audits, based on your requirements. 

  1. Walk-Through Audit: The very basic and primary type of audit is the walk-through audit. It includes simply observing the obvious areas for improvement. A walk-through audit is not detailed and thus is not expensive. The auditor provides a general monthly report with the necessary information and the system's performance. Usually, small or new businesses need walk-through audits before planning for a detailed audit. 
  2. Detailed Audit: A detailed audit is known for its thorough analysis and detailed reports with useful insights into energy consumption patterns. The auditors comprehensively analyze every piece of equipment and its performance. All this data is then used to identify areas where improvements can be implemented for energy saving and cost savings. Building owners and managers can use information from detailed audits to apply measures for enhancements and upgrades.  
  3. Investment-Grade Audit: As the name suggests, an investment-grade audit requires a good investment. It is due to its significant benefits like deep analysis of energy systems. These audits provide extensive reports with inefficiencies, suggestions, and high-level upgrades for boosting energy efficiency. The key purpose of these audits is to avoid huge costs and suggestions for future savings through financial analysis. 
  • Exploring Energy Management Systems (EMS)

An EMS is an advanced technological solution that integrates both hardware and software to provide insights into energy usage trends and patterns over time. It has various components to monitor, control, and enhance the energy performance of a building. The primary components are:

Sensors: Sensors are devices installed in various areas of a building to measure energy usage in that particular region. The sensors provide real-time data by monitoring utilities and how they consume energy. 

Software: One of the most useful advancements is the data analytics software. It gets data from sensors and uses it to analyze the patterns in energy consumption. The software aids in identifying areas of waste and suggesting measures to enhance efficiency. 

Automatic Controls: These are automated devices that adjust the energy supply in every area as the software suggests. For instance, an automated EMS can open or close doors by sensing. It can also adjust HVAC controls as needed. 

All of these devices are integrated through Energy Management Systems. The ability of EMS to regulate controls without continuous supervision is making it more valuable around the globe. It reduces energy consumption and also ensures that the building operates at high efficiency at all times.

  • How Energy Audits and EMS Work Together

Energy audits are necessary to uncover hidden areas where energy is being wasted or excessively used. They help managers understand inefficiencies and outdated systems that need replacement. However, the audits are only an assessment. The recommendations suggested by them must be implemented and monitored regularly to achieve the targets of energy-efficient buildings. 

After an energy audit is conducted successfully, it's time for EMS to shine. An EMS implements improvements suggested by energy audits. It also monitors the implemented measures over time to ensure the systems work with peak efficiency. For instance, if an audit endorses an upgrade in lighting, an EMS can adjust the new lighting levels. Modern EMS also tracks the difference between the old and new energy consumption to compare for optimization. Thus, to achieve energy efficiency, an energy audit and an EMS have to work together. 

  • Benefits of Integrating Energy Audits with EMS

The idea of integration of energy audit with EMS might surprise you too. But it is one of the most beneficial technological conllaboration for businesses. Energy audits determine areas for improvements and EMS help you implement measures to make improvements. This side-by-side working optimizes energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption, utility bills, lowering environmental impact, and saving operational expenses. The savings can be reinvested in the business for growth and upgrades. 

Another major advantage you get from energy audit and EMS integration is its enhanced potential to monitor and control energy performance regularly. EMS offers insights into energy usage and helps managers keep track of improvements. This is how building owners and managers have regular updates to identify opportunities and inefficiencies if any. 

EMS is a great technology to make sure the systems operates at highest possible efficiency. The data through EMS aids in generating reports and dashboards to keep stakeholders engaged. 

Besides performance optimizations, EMS integrated with energy audits also helps in sustainability practices. Buildings can grow towards sustainability by reducing energy consumption, carbon footprint, and environmental impact. This is exactly where this collaboration helps you. 

Buildings that are seeking professional certifications often require energy audit and EMS. this is how they can attract more buyers, tenants, and the market that prioritize stability. It is because energy-efficient buildings with certifications have high market value and are usually successful than others. 

  • Case Studies: Successful Integration of Energy Audits and EMS

Many buildings have benefited from the integration of EMS with energy audits. Studies reveal that buildings in various areas of the world have conducted energy audits that have been a great help in identifying inefficiencies. Energy audits uncover loopholes in outdated systems and recommend upgrades that result in high energy efficiency. A building in NYC  conducted an audit and then installed EMS to monitor the implemented measures over time. It was observed that the building had 30% less energy consumption than before and so did the utility bills. 

Another research shows that a hospital building in California invested in a good energy audit to discover areas where energy is excessively used. The audit results were taken into consideration for improvements. The EMS was highly beneficial in implementing those recommendations. The hospital observed a 25-35% decrease in energy consumption and gained ENERGY STAR ratings. 

  • Steps to Implement Energy Audits and EMS in Your Building

These experiences of different buildings around the globe highlight the importance of energy audits and EMS collaboration. The major lessons to learn are:

Conducting an Energy Audit: Choosing the right type of energy audit for your building is the initial step in optimizing energy performance. Knowing about the potential inefficiencies and opportunities is a must before applying any changes. Building managers should arrange professional audits for accurate results. 

Integration of EMS: Integrating the right EMS for your building that perfectly goes with the suggestions of energy audits is crucial. EMS is usually chosen based on the building's size, existing systems, and operational costs. 

Continuous Monitoring: The process of energy audits and integration of EMS is not a one-time task. It needs continuous monitoring and regular audits to avoid any hazards. 

  • Conclusion

Building energy audits and energy management systems (EMS) have a synergistic connection, with both being essential to maximizing energy efficiency in buildings. Energy audits give the fundamental analysis required to pinpoint inefficiencies and potential improvement areas, along with practical suggestions that can result in considerable energy savings. However, EMS takes these suggestions and turns them into continuous, real-time energy management, making sure that energy use is always maximized.

By integrating these two powerful tools, building managers can achieve a level of energy efficiency that goes beyond simple cost savings. The combination of a thorough energy audit and a well-implemented EMS enables continuous monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and a proactive approach to managing energy use. This not only helps reduce operational costs but also contributes to broader sustainability goals, enhancing the building's environmental performance and reputation.