Clear answer, explained.
Audit costs vary primarily by facility floor area and system complexity. A smaller commercial building under 5,000 m² with straightforward HVAC and lighting typically falls at the lower end of the range. A large industrial facility with process equipment, compressed air systems, multiple HVAC zones, and complex metering requires more time on site and in analysis — pushing toward the higher end.
The net cost is often lower than the gross fee when incentive programs are applied. NRCan's Industrial Energy Management program provides funding support for eligible audits across all provinces. In Ontario, the IESO saveONenergy program also supports qualifying assessments. We confirm current program eligibility and available funding as part of every initial scoping conversation — before any engagement is signed.
The return on the audit investment is generally immediate: identified ECMs on a distribution facility audit returned $311,823 in modelled annual savings across five measures. The audit cost represents a fraction of the first year of savings from even one implemented measure.
What this means in practice.
- ASHRAE Level 2 audits for C&I facilities in Ontario typically range from $5,000 to $25,000
- Facility floor area and system complexity are the primary cost drivers
- NRCan's Industrial Energy Management program covers a portion of eligible audit costs
- IESO saveONenergy also supports qualifying commercial energy assessments in Ontario
- Net cost after incentive funding is often significantly lower than the gross fee
- Audit cost is typically recovered many times over by savings from implemented ECMs
Best-fit environments.
- You are budgeting for a commercial energy audit and need a realistic cost range
- You want to understand whether NRCan or IESO funding can offset the audit cost
- You are comparing the cost of an audit against the savings it is likely to identify
- You are preparing a capital plan that includes energy assessment as a first step
