Clear answer, explained.
For facilities with a clear consumption profile, stable operations, and no obvious efficiency opportunities, solar can be sized and installed without a prior audit. The system will perform as modelled. But for facilities where demand charges are high, HVAC is aging, or operations have changed significantly, addressing efficiency first means the solar system is sized to a lower, more accurate baseline — which typically means a smaller, better-returning system.
The audit also produces documentation that has value independent of solar. NRCan incentive applications and IESO saveONenergy Retrofit Incentive funding both require an approved energy study as the qualifying step. If incentive funding is part of the financial model, the audit is a prerequisite — not just a recommendation.
The question is not whether an audit is required before solar, but whether the facility has efficiency opportunities large enough to change the solar system size. We assess this during initial project scoping — before recommending any specific scope of work.
What this means in practice.
- Solar can be installed without a prior audit when the consumption profile is stable and well-understood
- An audit improves solar ROI when the facility has addressable efficiency opportunities
- Solar is sized against a facility's annual electricity consumption — efficiency measures that reduce that baseline change the optimal system size
- IESO saveONenergy incentive applications require an approved energy study as a qualifying step
- The audit produces BEPS compliance documentation that has value independent of any solar project
- Initial project scoping identifies whether an audit will meaningfully change the solar recommendation
Best-fit environments.
- Your facility has aging HVAC or lighting systems that are likely consuming more energy than necessary
- You are applying for IESO saveONenergy incentives and need the audit as a qualifying document
- You want to offset close to 100% of annual electricity consumption and need an accurate baseline
- You are preparing BEPS compliance documentation alongside a solar investment
