8.5 Energy Audit (based on ISO 50002)

ISO 50002 is an international standard that defines the minimum requirements to identify opportunities for the improvement of energy performance. It is a systematic and detailed analysis of energy use and energy consumption to identify, quantify and report on the opportunities for improved energy performance.

Note that the standard defines energy use as manner or kind of application of energy like ventilation, lighting, heating, etc. while energy consumption is quantity of application applied.

8.5.1. Energy audits:

  • are part of the identification and prioritization of opportunities to improve energy performance
  • generate outputs that include information on current use and performance
  • provide ranked recommendations for improvement (ranking is based on energy performance and financial benefits)
  • may support the energy review or can used independently
  • facilitate monitoring, measurement and analysis

8.5.2. Principles

  • Energy Auditors

a.) Competent as shown by appropriate education, training, skills, experience; knowledge of relevant legal and other requirements; familiarity of energy uses being audited; knowledge of the auditing process and standards and leadership skills to manage an audit team.
b.) Ability to properly handle confidential information
c.) Objective by acting independently and impartially
d.) Have access to equipment, resources and information

  • Energy Audits

a.) Consistent with audit scope and objectives
b.) Measurements are appropriate to the energy uses and consumption
c.) Data are representative of the activities, processes, equipment and systems and consistent
d.) Process of collecting, validating and analyzing are traceable
e.) Reports provides energy performance improvement opportunities

  • Communication, Roles, Responsibilities and Authority

a.) Clear lines of communication are establish to facilitate the audit in a timely manner
b.) Roles, responsibilities and authorities shall be established by both the auditor and the organization as part of the arrangements before start of audits.

8.5.3. Conducting the Energy Audits

The energy audit process consists of seven (7) stages as shown below:

  • Energy Audit Planning

a.) Essential to define energy audit scope, objectives and gather preliminary information
b.) Agree on: audit scope, boundaries and objectives; time period to complete the audit; criteria for evaluating and ranking for improvement opportunities; time commitments and resources needed from the organization being audited; data to be made available prior to start of audit; expected deliverables; organization’s representative responsible for the audit process and other relevant arrangements
c.) Auditor requests for information that will help establish the audit context such as regulatory requirements, strategic plans, existing management systems and other factors that may affect the audit scope, process and conclusions
d.) Auditor informs about facilities, equipment and services required and other information that could affect the audit conclusions

  • Opening Meeting

a.) Purpose: brief interested parties about the audit objectives, scope, boundaries and methods and review arrangements
b.) Auditor requests organization to assign personnel to assist in the process, inform personnel about the audit and their roles and responsibilities and get their cooperation and confirm unusual conditions that may affect the audit process
c.) Auditor agrees with the organization on arrangements of access to the facility; requirements for safety and health, security and emergency procedures; availability of resources including data; applicable non-disclosure agreements; requirement for special measurements; and procedures for installation of measuring equipment, if needed.

  • Data Collection

a.) Auditor collects, collates and records appropriate energy data to support the audit objectives
b.) Collects the following information:

1List of energy-consuming systems, processes and equipment
2Characteristics of energy uses, including relevant variables
3Historical and current energy performance data including energy consumption and relevant variables
4Monitoring equipment configuration and analysis information
5Future plans that may affect energy performance
6Design, operation and maintenance documents
7Previous energy audits
8Current energy rate schedules/tariffs to be used for financial analysis
9Knowledge on the organization’s energy management practices
10Energy distribution and management system
  • Measurement Plan

Energy audits may conduct on-site data measurement and collection. Main items in the measurement plan are:

a.) List of relevant measurement points with suitable measuring equipment and processes involved
b.) Accuracy, repeatability required and their measurement uncertainty
c.) Measurement duration and frequency
d.) Acquisition frequency for each measurement
e.) Suitable time period where activities are representative
f.) Relevant variables set by the organization
g.) People responsible for measurement
h.) Calibration and traceability of measuring equipment

  • Conducting the Site Visit

Energy auditor to manages activities in the field by:

a.) Observing energy uses and compare with data collected
b.) Understanding the impact of operating routines and user behavior on energy performance
c.) Generate preliminary ideas that can lead to energy performance improvement
d.) Ensure that measurements, observations and past data are representatives of operational practices
e.) Ensure that historical data provided is representative of normal operation
f.) Inform organization of any unexpected difficulties encountered
g.) Identify individuals to provide access and serve as guide
h.) Identify individuals to install data loggers and energy monitoring equipment during site visits

  • Analysis

Energy auditors analyze current energy performance by evaluating improvements, including:

a.) Breakdown of energy consumption by use and source
b.) Energy uses where there is substantial energy consumption
c.) Comparison with reference values of similar processes
d.) Historical pattern of energy performance
e.) Expected improvements of energy performance
f.) Relationships between energy performance and relevant variables
g.) Evaluation of existing energy performance indicators

Energy auditors identify energy performance improvement opportunities based on the analysis of:

a.) Competency and expertise available
b.) Systems design and configuration
c.) Operating lifetime and level of maintenance of the audited objects

Energy auditors evaluate the impact of each opportunity based on:

a.) Energy savings
b.) Financial savings
c.) Investments, if any
d.) Non-energy gains
e.) Ranking of energy performance opportunities

  • Audit Reporting

Energy audits shall include then following:

a.) Executive summary
b.) Background
c.) Energy audit details
d.) Opportunities for improving energy performance
e.) Conclusions and recommendations

  • Closing Meeting

Energy auditors:

a.) Present the results of the energy audit
b.) Explain the results and address questions
c.) Identify items requiring further analysis

Copy of the ISO 50002:2014 is available at https://www.iso.org/standard/60088.html