An energy audit helps business owners who are considering installing solar panels understand their building’s energy efficiency before making the switch.

Switching to solar energy generation within your business requires special planning to ensure a successful implementation. A common mistake made by many business owners is thinking that all there is to making the conversion is throw a couple of solar panels on the roof and call it a day. In truth, it should always start with an energy audit.

By having a professional inspection survey, you get a wealth of information about how your business consumes energy, and how to improve upon that. This one-time assessment can pay off for years by helping you execute a highly-effective alternative energy strategy in your business. 

What is an energy audit?

An energy audit is simply an on-site visit from an energy expert to examine the cost and efficiency of energy usage within a company. The process entails an in-depth, outside to inside, room-by-room walk-through of your business during which the assessor will check for ways your business can keep energy waste to a minimum and make energy improvements.

The benefits of an energy audit for your business

There are three main advantages that you will realise by having an energy audit carried out: 

• Decrease energy costs
• Identify energy efficiencies which will reduce energy consumption 
• Find out how much solar energy your business needs
• Identify health and safety risks
• Create a comfortable working environment
• Get a reputation for sustainability

Decrease energy costs 

A significant benefit of an energy audit is that it helps lower your electricity consumption which, in turn, save money used on electricity bills. Curious to know by how much you can lower your energy costs? According to the experts, you can cut your usage by up to 30% simply by adopting energy efficient technologies and practices in your business.

Find out how much solar energy your business needs

Only an energy audit can tell you how much solar energy is required to power your business. During the assessment, the auditor will take into account the electricity consumption within your premises, local daylight hours, roof size, and panel size to create a customised solution.

Identify health and safety risks

When you implement an energy audit, the assessment can help uncover risks that may cause harm to people and equipment. For example, there might be small leaks in your compressed air system or carbon monoxide emissions from improperly ventilated equipment. If these hazards go unnoticed, they can result in a costly and undesirable outcome. 

Create a comfortable working environment

An energy audit can give you insights into potential insulation and air sealing issues your business might have. This is important because it affects how energy-efficient your business is. By optimising your working environment to the proper heating and cooling levels, you’ll set up your business for some energy cost savings while ensuring employees feel comfortable enough to be at their most productive.

Get a reputation for sustainability

Having an energy audit is a great start to adopt an environmentally-conscious mindset within your company and creating sustainable goals. This may help you attract those customers who are looking to work with an environmentally conscious business.

• RELATED POST: Solar has become the most affordable form of electricity to implement

Final word

Before your business can benefit from an alternative energy solution such as an off-grid solar solution or grid-tied solar solution, you have to first have a solid understanding of your business’ unique energy needs. An energy audit is the best way to gain this information, because it will show you how much solar power you need and reveal areas of energy waste.