DIY Energy Audit Tips from the Department Of Energy Doing an energy audit yourself won’t be as comprehensive as a professionally-done audit, but you can get a good idea of how energy in your business is used and where there are energy saving opportunities. Steps: 1. Trace any air leaks. If you feel a draft coming in anywhere, this is a leak. Applying caulk or weather stripping to seal these leaks will yield energy savings of 5-30%! Walk around the outside of your business as well and seal any cracks in foundation, siding, mortar, around doors and windows, etc. However!!! Make sure you have proper ventilation around any area where fuel is burned for heating. You want to avoid backdrafts from combustion gases being pulled into working space from exhaust fans. 2. Ensure that you’re not losing heat through the ceiling and walls of your business because of poor insulation levels. Adequate insulation levels change over time, so make sure they are up to date in your business. Make sure any vents are not blocked. 3. Heating and cooling equipment should be inspected annually. Clean or replace filters every month or two depending on usage. Maintenance for your HVAC system Purchase a semi-annual service maintenance agreement (SMA) with a licensed HVAC contractor to ensure your system lasts and performs well. It’s as important as an oil change for your car! The SMA should include:
Checking the system’s connections Adjusting temperature and humidity set points Inspecting and oiling fan motors Checking for proper airflow at the unit and each zone Checking for proper control settings and safety shut-down functions Inspecting and repairing duct leaks and insulation gaps Inspecting and repairing economizer operation and recommending upgrade options depending on your weather zone Inspecting and cleaning dirty heat transfer coils in heat pumps, air conditioners and chillers and straightening any bent coils
Testing and repairing any leaks in the refrigerant lines and checking for proper refrigerant charge using charts specific to your system’s make and model Based on your input, adjusting programmable thermostats and time clocks to that heating and air runs only when your building is normally occupied
Source: http://www.asbdc-us.org/Resources/Energy_Efficiency_Pays.pdf
4. Make energy efficient lighting choices. Install CFLs or LEDs and minimize lighting in low-occupancy areas. How will I know which lamp I should purchase?
Incandescent lamps: inefficient and short-lived bulbs. Only 5% of all electricity consumed by these lamps yields usable light. These should only be installed in spaces like a closet Halogen lamps: twice as efficient as incandescent lamps and live up to four times longer. Good in jewelry shops (gives off a slight sparkle that showcases merchandise well). Compact Fluorescent lamps: 4x as efficient as incandescents and last 10x as long. Tubular fluorescent lamps: standard option for office lighting. At least 4x more efficient and last 8-20 times longer than incandescents Metal halide lamps: best in high-ceiling areas and for spot lighting in retail. As efficient as fluorescent lamps but are slightly pricier High-pressure sodium lamps: 5-6x more efficient than incandescents. Good for parking lots or exterior building walls because of the yellow light it gives off.
Wattage levels from Energy STAR: Current incandescent 40 watts 60 watts 75 watts 100 watts
Replacement compact fluorescent 7 watts 13 watts 22 watts 27 watts
Light Output from incandescent 450 800 1,100 1,600
Light Output from Compact Fluorescent 450 800 1,100 1,600
Halogen replacements:
150 watt flood light 35- or 60-watt halogen lamp Costs about $7, which is quite a bit more expensive than $1 incandescent lamps, but you’ll buy them much less frequently and save $25 in energy costs per lamp. Halogen lamps pay for themselves in about 3 years if used 2 hrs./day for screw-in retrofits or 8 hrs./day for fixture replacement
Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Exit Signs
Exit signs with 15-watt incandescent bulbs cost $30/yr. and need replacement lamps every year while LED exit signs cost $5/yr. and won’t need a replacement for 25 years DIY upgrade kits cost $15-$75 and are easy to install because they don’t require wiring. New fixtures cost under $100. Use 95% less energy than incandescent signs and last 10-20x longer
Fluorescent Lamps
Fluorescent lamps have a range of efficiency: the most efficient lamps will reduce your energy use by 66% over the least efficient or “worst” fluorescent lamps Standard fluorescent tubes are T-12s (40W, 4 feet long) that use 10% more energy than 32W T-8s. Ballasts for T-12s use 30% more energy than ballasts for T-8s. T-8s cost $50$100 per fixture so consider local electricity costs and how often these lamps are in use. Upgrading will be worth it if the lamps are on 60+ hours per week. Do a free lighting analysis before deciding to upgrade. Look into proper disposal methods in your region. Some pre-1979 ballasts contain PCBs and some lamps contain mercury as well.
Removing lamps
Remove some lamps and see if there’s still sufficient light in your facility. Remove lamps in pairs. If you have a 4-lamp fluorescent fixture, try using only 2. People working at computers may prefer less surrounding light Reduce lighting in over lit hallways/corridors
Recommended levels for various activities (by the Illuminating Engineering Society) Graphics studio Kitchen, work bench, handwriting, cutting Conference room, cashier, reading Auditorium seating, halls, restrooms Restaurant dining, social hall, storage Public areas, dark surroundings 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
Recommended Overal Ambient Light Levels (in footcandles)
120
Installing occupancy sensors Application Offices (private) Offices (open spaces) Restrooms Corridors Storage areas Meeting rooms Conference rooms Warehouses
Energy savings 25-50% 20-25% 30-75% 30-40% 45-65% 45-65% 45-65% 50-75%
Sensors cost $25-$80 and are good for areas that are unoccupied for long periods of time. Good spots for these are private offices, conference rooms, restrooms, storage area Energy-savings potential with occupancy sensors from the CA Energy Commission and US DOE
Improving Sales and Productivity with Better Lighting
Energy efficient lighting generates less heat and produces better color, preventing people from getting headaches from excessive flickering. People are more productive when they’re comfortable If you’re in retail, better color will showcase your merchandise better. Customers will feel more welcome and comfortable, which could increase sales especially if they stay in your store longer. Source: www.asbdc-us.org/Resources/Energy_Efficiency_Pays.pdf
5. Inspect all appliances and electronics in your business and estimate their energy use. Unplug equipment when not in use, take advantage of energy saving settings and purchase energy star or other efficient products when you need to replace equipment.
For More Information Please Visit: http://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/do-it-yourself-home-energy-audits