How to prepare for a business energy audit
The rise in energy prices in the UK, especially over the last few years, has concerned many small to medium enterprises. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for them to keep up with these costs, which go up and down like the energy meter in peak hours. With little or no support from the government, business owners have started looking for ways to cut down expenses and regain control over their energy usage.
One highly effective solution that instantly helps is conducting a professional energy audit. An energy audit allows businesses to understand energy waste and improve efficiency. You might have a few questions right away, like what exactly an energy audit is. How can it help you save on energy bills? And how do you get it done the right way? In this blog, we cover everything you need to know related to an energy audit.
What is a business energy audit?
Any audit means “an inspection of something.” Here, an energy audit refers to the inspection of energy, be it electricity and gas, and how your business uses it. These energy audits are very detailed and aim to find out where energy is being used well and where it’s being wasted.
Technically, it means looking closely at how energy flows through your business, from the lighting in your offices to the machines on your production floor, everything. When you understand how your business uses energy, cutting costs and saving power becomes easier.
Some common things included in an energy audit are:
- Lighting systems
- Electricity and gas usage
- Machinery and equipment
- Building insulation and fabric
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC)
Another important thing is the types of energy audits. There are two main types of energy audits: internal and external. An internal audit is done by someone inside your business who knows how you use energy, while an external audit is carried out by a professional from outside your company.
In the UK, the government requires many businesses to have an energy audit at least once every four years. It helps companies check their energy use regularly, find ways to save money, and follow the rules set by schemes like ESOS (Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme).
How to prepare for an energy audit?
Now that we understand the basics of an energy audit, let’s look at how to prepare for one. Preparing for an audit is not the same as doing the audit itself; that part comes later. But getting ready is just as important. Good preparation helps the audit give better results.
Before the audit, take time to note any energy-related issues you’ve already noticed. For example, this could be anything like rooms that are always too hot or cold, equipment that seems to use too much power, or lights that stay on when they shouldn’t. Also, ask your staff if they’ve noticed anything too.
Next, gather your energy bills from the last 12 months, including electricity, gas, and water. These bills show how much energy your business uses and how your usage changes during the year. Having these documents ready helps the auditor be internal or external, spot patterns, compare different seasons, and find areas where you might be wasting energy.
Step-by-step guide to conducting an energy audit
- Build your audit team
Suppose you are going for an internal energy audit, which is also recommended as it won’t incur extra costs. You can choose a small group of people to help with the audit. You don’t need experts, just staff who understand your building or equipment. Facility managers or operations staff are ideal. The goal is to have a few people who can answer questions, collect information, and walk through the building with a keen eye.
- Set clear goals for the audit
Next, decide what you want to get out of the audit. We wrote this article assuming you want to save money, so the goal would be reducing energy costs. But sometimes the goals can differ too, like improving sustainability, meeting legal requirements, or maybe all three. So, before you start the audit, you can write a short summary explaining the goal to your employees who are part of the audit. They will be better aligned in this way.
- Collect your energy data
The goal is decided, and the teams are locked. What’s next? Start by looking back at your energy use over the past year. Gather bills, meter readings, and any reports you have. These will show where you’re spending most and help spot odd patterns, like high usage in months when business was slow. Mark any unusual spikes in energy usage so you can look into them during the audit.
- Check your HVAC systems
Heating and cooling typically consume a significant portion of your energy, so they’re a great place to begin your audit. First, look at your boiler. How old is it, and is it running efficiently? Then move on to air conditioners, radiators, and heaters.
Walk through your building and check if the airflow feels even or if some rooms are too hot or cold. Sometimes, blocked vents or old filters can be the cause. These checks may seem small, but they can help you find big ways to reduce energy waste.
- Review your lighting setup
Lighting can be a hidden energy drain. Check which bulbs your business uses. Are they energy-efficient LEDs or older models? Are lights often left on in empty rooms? Look around for areas that could use motion sensors or timers. See if windows are clean and natural light is used as much as possible.
Even something simple, like removing a dusty light cover, can make a difference. Small lighting improvements can quickly reduce energy bills without a big investment.
- List your equipment and appliances
Now, make a list of everything in your business that uses electricity. Computers, printers, kitchen gadgets, machinery, even vending machines. Ask yourself: Are these switched off when not in use? Are they energy-efficient models or old ones that eat up power?
Talk to staff about how they use the equipment. Are they mindful of saving energy? Even small habits, like filling the kettle only with what’s needed or switching off monitors at night, can significantly save time.
- Inspect the building itself
Your building could be losing energy without you even noticing. Walk around and check if doors and windows close properly. Is there a draft? Are some rooms colder than others? Look at insulation in walls, ceilings, and around pipes. Also, watch for dampness or mold.
It could mean poor insulation or leaks. You don’t need to be an expert here, but if anything looks serious or unsafe, call a professional. Fixing basic building issues often leads to immediate savings on heating and cooling bills.
- Identify energy saving opportunities
Now that you’ve collected all the information, it’s time to spot the opportunities. Go through your notes and highlight anything that could lead to energy savings. Divide them into “quick fixes” and “long-term improvements.” Quick fixes could be changing bulbs, sealing gaps, or adjusting thermostats.
Bigger ones might include upgrading machines or improving insulation. Prioritise ideas based on cost, ease, and how much energy they can save. This step turns your audit findings into actions you can actually take.
- Create and share your action plan
Turn your audit into a simple plan. List what needs to be done, who will do it, how much it might cost, and when it should be done. Break it into short-term and long-term actions, and share it with your team or leadership so everyone is on the same page.
Include deadlines and tracking methods to stay organized. This is the moment when your audit turns into real, practical improvements. With a plan in place, you’re not just talking about saving energy. You’re making it happen.
- Monitor, measure, improve
Lastly, once your action plan is live, keep a close eye on how things go. Compare new energy bills with your old ones. Is usage going down? Are the changes making a difference? Some things may need tweaking, and that’s okay.
Set a reminder to check in after six months and again in a year. Use what you learn to make more improvements and plan your next audit. Energy-saving isn’t a one-time thing. It’s an ongoing habit that keeps paying off.
Taking control of your business energy
Energy costs in the UK are rising; everyone, especially business owners, knows it. The price will keep growing, so that is not in your hands. What is in your hands is how your business uses energy.
When closely examining how your business uses energy and carrying out a well-planned audit, you can uncover hidden waste, cut unnecessary expenses, and boost efficiency. The key is to treat energy saving as an ongoing process. With the right mindset and a clear action plan, your business can stay ahead, efficient, and in control.