A power audit is the process of having a professional energy auditor assess your building for energy savings opportunities.  The term power audit also is used to refer to the result of the energy assessment process, the power audit report.  We will try to keep these terms separate by referring to the report as a “power audit report.”

A power audit report is a carefully thought out plan, which, if followed, will lead you to reduced energy costs.  Every building is different, and each contains different opportunities which can reduce energy usage.  This is why every different building requires its own unique power audit.

During the power audit, an power auditor will visit your site and interview your facility manager, inspect your lighting, air conditioning, heating and ventilation equipment, controls, refrigeration, air compressors, water consuming equipment, and anything else that is using energy.  Depending on the type of the audit, the auditor may take measurements of temperatures, pressures, light levels, power draw, and other things.

A power audit report typically contains a description of the building’s existing energy consuming equipment, an energy balance and most importantly, a presentation of feasible energy conservation measures (ECMs).