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Energy Audit is beneficial for companies that
have complex energy needs, an extensive range of
equipment, large facilities, or rigorous
financial decision-making. The goal in this
phase is to create an accurate energy
performance model for your business so that the
various energy saving alternatives can be
explored in detail. The end result of this phase
is a detailed report that will provide an
overview of your energy use, as well as a
detailed list of specific energy saving
alternatives you can implement accompanied by
the specific financial benefits of each
alternative. In virtually every single case the
Energy Audit turns out to be worth its weight in
gold. Energy saving opportunities that are not
apparent on the surface can be tremendous money
savers, frequently without major expenditures.
Why are energy-saving measures required?
Energy Audit of offers a systematic, engineering
approach to a wide range of measures and
opportunities for saving energy and reducing
operating costs in both residential and
commercial buildings. It is useful to provide
your building and its occupants with a
comfortable, cost-effective environment; you
need more than qualitative descriptions of
energy conservation measures. Energy Audit
incorporates the latest energy efficiency
technologies & amp; precise calculation procedures.
One of the current numbers of environmental
treaties is the Framework Convention on Climate
Change, which establishes a legal basis for
optimization of thermal and electrical energy.
Therefore, in order to obtain ISO 14001
approval, the institution must take
energy-saving measures, and there will be
concern over the method of managing this.
Initial Feasibility Evaluation
Your site will be examined you site and your
energy saving needs and financial criteria will
be reviewed. Obviously one has to carry out
interviews with various occupants of the
building. The goal is to determine if your
expectations are achievable with the current
generation of equipment. The end result of this
phase is the preparation of a summary report
that will outline a variety of energy saving
alternatives that are appropriate for your
business, as well as typical financial benefits.
Power Management to Match a New Era
Measurement screen gives clear indication of
power use status.
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Measurement is carried out continuously (if
there are no waveform defects) by calculation on
samples each equivalent to two AC cycles. The
instantaneous value display follows the display
update rate, and this data is displayed
intermittently.
- Positive identification of transient waveform
features such as power spikes is also possible.
- A sample is carried out for a number of days
is scrutinised and a spreadsheet and graph is
produced in order to determine the various
demand levels at different times and on
different days. Readings are automatically
extracted every 2 minutes.
The analytical power to resolve problems
Power factor and integration measurement
values shown signed.
For site diagnosis, lead/lag power factor
indications can be shown, and both
individual and integrated
consumption/regeneration power figures show
the buying relationship with the power
company.
Reactive power method can also be used for
calculation.
For reactive power calculation, in addition
to the existing calculation method, it is
also possible to select the reactive power
calculation method, whereby even an
unbalanced load can be measured accurately.
Analysis of harmonics from all angles
This can be done through the analysis of the
total sum up to the 40th harmonic. One can then
understand the inflow and outflow of the
harmonic waves of each order, is useful for
determining specific sources of harmonics. To
this effect efficiency is enhanced in electronic
equipment.
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits
You can easily conduct a home energy audit yourself. With a simple but diligent walk-through, you can spot many problems in any type of house. When auditing your home, keep a checklist of areas you have inspected and problems you found. This list will help you prioritize your energy efficiency upgrades.
Locating Air Leaks
First, make a list of obvious air leaks (drafts). The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5% to 30% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward. Check for indoor air leaks, such as gaps along the baseboard or edge of the flooring and at junctures of the walls and ceiling. Check to see if air can flow through these places:
Electrical outlets
Switch plates
Window frames
Switch plates
Baseboards
Weather stripping around doors
Fireplace dampers
Wall or window mounted air conditioners
Also look for gaps around pipes and wires, electrical outlets, foundation seals, and mail slots. Check to see if the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly, leaving no gaps or cracks, and are in good condition.Inspect windows and doors for air leaks. See if you can rattle them, since movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window leaks. You can usually seal these leaks by caulking or weather stripping them. Check the storm windows to see if they fit and are not broken. You may also wish to consider replacing your old windows and doors with newer, high-performance ones. If new factory-made doors or windows are too costly, you can install low-cost plastic sheets over the windows.If you are having difficulty locating leaks, you may want to conduct a basic building pressurization test:
First, close all exterior doors, windows, and fireplace flues.
Turn off all combustion appliances such as gas burning furnaces and water heaters.
Then turn on all exhaust fans (generally located in the kitchen and bathrooms) or use a large window fan to suck the air out of the rooms.This test increases infiltration through cracks and leaks, making them easier to detect. You can use incense sticks or your damp hand to locate these leaks. If you use incense sticks, moving air will cause the smoke to waver, and if you use your damp hand, any drafts will feel cool to your hand.On the outside of your house, inspect all areas where two different building materials meet, including:
All exterior corners
Where siding and chimneys meet
Areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet.
You should plug and caulk holes or penetrations for faucets, pipes, electric outlets, and wiring. Look for cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and siding, and seal them with the appropriate material. Check the exterior caulking around doors and windows, and see whether exterior storm doors and primary doors seal tightly. When sealing any home, you must always be aware of the danger of indoor air pollution and combustion appliance "backdrafts." Backdrafting is when the various combustion appliances and exhaust fans in the home compete for air. An exhaust fan may pull the combustion gases back into the living space. This can obviously create a very dangerous and unhealthy situation in the home.
In homes where a fuel is burned (i.e., natural gas, fuel oil, propane, or wood) for heating, be certain the appliance has an adequate air supply. Generally, one square inch of vent opening is required for each 1,000 Btu of appliance input heat. When in doubt, contact your local utility company.
Insulation
Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very large if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum. When your house was built, the builder likely installed the amount of insulation recommended at that time. Given today's energy prices (and future prices that will probably be higher), the level of insulation might be inadequate, especially if you have an older home.If the attic hatch is located above a conditioned space, check to see if it is at least as heavily insulated as the attic, is weather stripped, and closes tightly. In the attic, determine whether openings for items such as pipes, ductwork, and chimneys are sealed. Seal any gaps with an expanding foam caulk or some other permanent sealant.While you are inspecting the attic, check to see if there is a vapor barrier under the attic insulation. The vapor barrier might be tarpaper, Kraft paper attached to fiberglass batts, or a plastic sheet. If there does not appear to be a vapor barrier, you might consider painting the interior ceilings with vapor barrier paint. This reduces the amount of water vapor that can pass through the ceiling. Large amounts of moisture can reduce the effectiveness of insulation and promote structural damage.Make sure that the attic vents are not blocked by insulation. You also should seal any electrical boxes in the ceiling with flexible caulk (from the living room side or attic side) and cover the entire attic floor with at least the current recommended amount of insulation.Checking a wall's insulation level is more difficult. Select an exterior wall and turn off the circuit breaker or unscrew the fuse for any outlets in the wall. Be sure to test the outlets to make certain that they are not "hot." Check the outlet by plugging in a functioning lamp or portable radio. Once you are sure your outlets are not getting any electricity, remove the cover plate from one of the outlets and gently probe into the wall with a thin, long stick or screwdriver. If you encounter a slight resistance, you have some insulation there. You could also make a small hole in a closet, behind a couch, or in some other unobtrusive place to see what, if anything, the wall cavity is filled with. Ideally, the wall cavity should be totally filled with some form of insulation material. Unfortunately, this method cannot tell you if the entire wall is insulated, or if the insulation has settled. Only a thermographic inspection can do this.If your basement is unheated, determine whether there is insulation under the living area flooring. In most areas of the country, an R-value of 25 is the recommended minimum level of insulation. The insulation at the top of the foundation wall and first floor perimeter should have an R-value of 19 or greater. If the basement is heated, the foundation walls should be insulated to at least R-19. Your water heater, hot water pipes, and furnace ducts should all be insulated.
Heating/Cooling Equipment
Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a forced-air furnace, check your filters and replace them as needed. Generally, you should change them about once every month or two, especially during periods of high usage. Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year.
If the unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing your system with one of the newer, energy-efficient units. A new unit would greatly reduce your energy consumption, especially if the existing equipment is in poor condition. Check your ductwork for dirt streaks, especially near seams. These indicate air leaks, and they should be sealed with a duct mastic. Insulate any ducts or pipes that travel through unheated spaces. An insulation R-Value of 6 is the recommended minimum.
Lighting
Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. Examine the wattage size of the light bulbs in your house. You may have 100-watt (or larger) bulbs where 60 or 75 watts would do. You should also consider LED's lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time. Your electric utility may offer rebates or other incentives for purchasing energy saving |
