Clear answer, explained.
HVAC is typically the highest-value audit target in commercial and industrial facilities — accounting for 40–60% of total electricity consumption in many building types. The audit assesses rooftop units, chillers, cooling towers, boilers, air handling units, and distribution systems. Controls strategies, setpoints, scheduling, and equipment condition are all reviewed.
Building automation and controls systems are assessed for programming accuracy, sensor calibration, and whether the BAS is actually enforcing the schedules and setpoints it was commissioned to follow. In many facilities, the BAS has drifted significantly from its original programming — creating energy waste that shows up in utility data but is invisible without a controls-level review.
Lighting surveys cover fixture type, wattage, control strategies, and hours of operation. Compressed air audits include system pressure, leak rates, and equipment utilisation. Process equipment assessment — where applicable in manufacturing or food and beverage facilities — identifies operating schedules, motor efficiencies, and demand management opportunities. The building envelope review covers insulation, glazing, and air infiltration points that affect both heating and cooling loads.
What this means in practice.
- HVAC is typically the highest-value audit target — covering 40–60% of commercial electricity consumption
- Building automation and controls (BAS) are assessed for programming accuracy and setpoint drift
- Lighting surveys cover fixture type, control strategies, wattage, and operating hours
- Compressed air systems are reviewed for pressure, leak rates, and equipment utilisation
- Process equipment is assessed in manufacturing and food and beverage facilities for scheduling and motor efficiency
- Building envelope review covers insulation, glazing, and air infiltration affecting heating and cooling loads
Best-fit environments.
- You want to understand which systems the audit will cover before engaging
- You are a facility manager preparing for a site visit and need to know what access to arrange
- Your facility has specific systems — compressed air, refrigeration, process equipment — and you want to confirm they will be included
- You are comparing audit scope across potential providers before selecting one
