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Engineering

Energy Audit

Building owners and facility managers often face tough decisions with limited budgets when operating their facilities. Budgets are often reduced year over year even as costs continue to climb. Energy costs increase each year not only in real costs, but as an increasing percentage of the overall facility budget. MZA evaluates and identifies the areas where energy savings can immediately impact the bottom line and reduce long-term costs.

The Process

MZA will conduct an on-site survey by certified personnel to obtain information on energy saving measures. Prior to the site visit, MZA will collect data and background information concerning the facilities operation and energy use.

A brief walk around audit is performed to identify no-cost to very low-cost opportunities for energy savings that are apparent without detailed analysis. The next level involves a more detailed investigation of the building and its energy-consuming equipment to arrive at a sophisticated analysis of savings and payback periods. Further detailed analysis of energy conservation measures with high capital cost or complexity is performed.

• Interview individuals with knowledge of the facility such as the facility manager, maintenance staff, subcontractors and occupants.
• Survey major energy-using equipment, including indoor and outdoor lighting, heat distribution systems, cooling systems, automatic temperature control systems, air distribution systems, outdoor ventilation systems, exhaust systems, hot water systems, electric motors, transmission and drive systems, special systems such as kitchen / dining equipment and swimming pools, renewable energy systems, other energy using systems, water consuming systems such as restroom fixtures and more.
• Review existing operating and maintenance problems.
• Measure key operating parameters such as temperature, humidity and flow as compared to design levels.
• Perform surveys outside of normal business hours to confirm building system and occupancy schedules, if necessary.
• Review calculated loads based upon monthly and annual utility consumption values and reconcile differences.
• Develop a preliminary comprehensive list of potential energy and water saving measures.

MZA's report provides recommended energy and water saving measures, including a listings of major equipment and an overall description of the building with typical layouts.

The measures selected will be prioritized in order of overall cost savings. Each measure will only include the incremental savings based on doing all the higher priority items prior to it.

• All cost savings will be based upon net operating costs for energy and non-energy related costs and savings (maintenance, operational, tax credits and utility incentive programs).
• Measures that were considered but not selected will be listed with a brief explanation on why they were not utilized.

The American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) publication Procedures for Commercial Building Energy Audits provides a basis for all MZA Energy Audits.