Energy Management and Audits

In order to come up with energy cost saving solutions its vital to design an energy management
program, the first step in the program is to conduct an energy audit. Also called an energy
survey, energy analysis, or energy evaluation, the energy audit examines the ways energy is
currently used in that facility and identifies some alternatives for reducing energy costs. The
goals of the audit usually include:

To clearly identify the types and costs of energy use.

To understand how that energy is being used.

To identify and analyze alternatives such as improved operational techniques that could
substantially reduce energy costs.

To perform an economic analysis on those alternatives.

It is important to note that top management of any facility must be fully committed to Energy
Conservation if Energy Management practice is to be fruitful.
Benefits of Improved Energy Efficiency in Buildings
The implementation of Energy Efficiency measures in the buildings and educational institutions
may result to benefits at three distinct levels:

Financial benefits which contribute to a reduction in operating costs or an increase in

the profits of the institution. These must be assessed against the cost of implementation
of the energy efficiency measures.

Operational benefits that assist the management of the university improve the comfort,
safety and productivity of its occupants or, otherwise, improve its general operation.

Environmental benefits; these concern mainly the reduction of CO 2 emissions, the

reduction of national energy demand and the conservation of natural resources.

Each of the benefits is likely to be realized progressively and to have a cumulative

effect. The principal benefits may become available immediately from no-cost
measures, or could involve some period before a return on investment is achieved.
Others may only be realized when long-term plans are implemented.

Types of Energy Audits

Depending on the level of detail on the collected information, energy audits might be
distinguished into two types, the walkthrough and the extended audits.
1. Walk-through Energy Audits assess site energy consumption and relevant costs on
the basis of energy bills-invoices and a short on-site autopsy. Housekeeping or/and
minimum capital investment energy saving options of direct economic return are
determined and a further list of other energy saving opportunities involving often
considerable capital are proposed on a cost benefit basis.
2. Detailed - diagnostic Energy Audits request a more detailed recording and analysis of
energy and other site data. The energy consumption is disaggregated in different enduses (e.g. heating, cooling, different processes, lighting, etc.) And the different factors
that affect that end-use are presented and analyzed (e.g. production or services
capacity, climatic conditions, raw material data, etc.). All the cost and benefits for the
energy saving opportunities that meet the criteria and requirements of the end-energy
site administration are determined. A list for potential capital-intensive energy
investments requiring more detailed data acquisition and processing is also provided
together with an estimation of the associated costs and benefits.

Energy Audit Equipment

Lux-meter (measures illumination levels)

Three phase Power Quality Analyzer (measures quality of power in a facility and
includes parameters such as voltage & currents per phase, Harmonic content, Power

factor, etc.
Flue meter (measures flue gases in industries)
Single phase meters
Anemometers (measures wind speeds)

Procedure of Carrying out Energy Audits

Effective Energy Auditing usually entails three phases as detailed below.
Phase I Pre Audit Phase
This involves an initial study (walk through audit) of the facility in preparation for the detailed
auditing and key components will include;

Discussions with the facilitys senior management and key operating personnel about
the aims of the energy audit.

Identification of the main energy consuming areas/facility items to be surveyed during

the audit.

Identification of existing/additional instrumentation and metering required for carrying out

the audit.

Analyzing the major energy consumption data with relevant personnel.

Obtaining site drawings where possible (building lay out and electricity distribution)

Review of the facilitys operation and maintenance procedures and logs, and utility bills
for the previous three years if available, otherwise 12 months are considered.

Sensitization about energy efficiency and presentation of preliminary findings to senior

management and facility personnel in charge of energy management (half-day
workshop). This usually officially kick-offs the project.

Acquisition of a proper baseline for identifying and evaluating energy conservation

opportunities.

Finalizing the Energy Audit team and time frame for project implementation.

Phase II Audit Phase

This involves a detailed study to establish, and investigate energy balances for specific facility
departments or equipment. Checks on facility operations are carried out over 1 to 2 weeks, at
nights and at weekends as well as during normal daytime working hours, to ensure that nothing
is overlooked. Information to be collected during the detailed energy audit includes;

Energy consumption by type of energy, by department, by major items or facility

equipment, by end use including analysis of start-up schedules for the various
equipment.

Energy cost and tariff data

Sources of energy supply

Measurement of lux levels (amount of lighting) within the facility and match with standard
levels.

Installation of a 3-phase power quality analyzer to capture electrical parameters (current,

voltage, real and reactive power, harmonic content as well as power factor on a per
phase basis)

Phase III Post Audit Phase (Key Outputs)

Data collected during the audit is processed and analyzed. Models and simulations are
built with software to reproduce the audit findings and observations so as to develop a
baseline against which to measure the energy savings potential of Energy Conservation
Measures, ECMs identified. The implementation cost, energy savings and simple
payback for each of the ECMs being investigated are calculated.

The results of the audit findings and recommendations will be summarized in a final
report. The report will include a description of the facility and its operation, a discussion
of all major energy consuming systems, a description of all recommended ECMs with
their specific energy impact, implementation costs, benefits and payback. The report
incorporates a summary of all the activities and effort performed throughout the project
with specific conclusions and recommendations.

Formal presentation of the final recommendations to top management highlighting

sufficient data on benefits and costs to make decisions on which ECMs to be
implemented.

Training program within the facility (all staff) regarding Energy management procedures
and energy efficiency awareness.

Pursuing management to implement key recommendations especially the low cost

high return ECMs.

Monitoring and evaluation of the implemented recommendations to match the

anticipated energy saving.

Rolling out the Energy Audits to other facilities.

Top management must be committed to implementing the recommended strategies which can
result to up to 30% reduction in energy bills.
Assignment
Read about setting of tariffs, electricity tariffs in Uganda and power factor correction in an
industrial setting