Energy Audit

Energy is the most rare and costly resource in today’s world. Years of study has revealed comprehensive means and ways not only to save the energy but also to conserve it by making use of efficient equipments. Energy audit has become an important activity for any industrial plant. The energy audit is aimed at conducting the study of the entire plant right from sources of all forms of energy up to end use of energy and then final discharge to environment. Amtech’s Power Quality & Energy Conservation Mangement Group is delivering comprehensive solutions to industries. Amtech is Authorized Energy Audit Firm by BEE designated nodal agency GEDA, MEDA, MPUVNL and Government of Gujarat.

ABC of Energy Conservation

Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources. An energy conservation act was passed in 2001.

Energy conservation can result in increased financial capital, environmental quality, national security, personal security, and human comfort. Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy choose to conserve energy to reduce energy costs and promote economic security. Industrial and commercial users can increase energy use efficiency to maximize profit.

What is Energy Audit?

An energy audit is an inspection, survey and analysis of energy flows for energy conservation in a building/plant, process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without negatively affecting the output(s).

Types of Energy Audit

The term energy audit is commonly used to describe a broad spectrum of energy studies ranging from a quick walk-through of a facility to identify major problem areas to a comprehensive analysis of the implications of alternative energy efficiency measures sufficient to satisfy the financial criteria of sophisticated investors. Numerous audit procedures have been developed for non-residential (tertiary) buildings (ASHRAE;[6] IEA-ECBCS Annex 11;[7] Krarti, 2000). Audit is required to identify the most efficient and cost-effective Energy Conservation Opportunities (ECOs) or Measures (ECMs). Energy conservation opportunities (or measures) can consist in more efficient use or of partial or global replacement of the existing installation.

When looking to the existing audit methodologies, the main issues of an audit process are:

• The analysis of building and utility data, including study of the installed equipment and analysis of energy bills;
• The survey of the real operating conditions;
• The understanding of the building behavior and of the interactions with weather, occupancy and operating schedules;
• The selection and the evaluation of energy conservation measures;
• The estimation of energy saving potential;
• The identification of customer concerns and needs.

Common types/levels of energy audits are distinguished below. The only way to ensure that a proposed audit will meet your specific needs is to spell out those requirements in a detailed scope of work.

Generally, four levels of analysis can be outlined

• Level 0 ? Benchmarking: This first analysis consists in a preliminary analysis based on the analysis of the historic utility use and costs and the comparison of the performances of the Plant to those of similar Plants. This benchmarking of the studied installation allows determining if further analysis is required.
• Level I ? Walk-through audit: Preliminary analysis made to assess plants energy efficiency to identify not only simple and low-cost improvements but also a list of energy conservation measures (ECMs, or energy conservation opportunities, ECOs) to orient the future detailed audit. This inspection is based on visual verifications, study of installed equipment and operating data and detailed analysis of recorded energy consumption collected during the benchmarking phase.
• Level II ? Detailed/General energy audit: Based on the results of the pre-audit, this type of energy audit consists in energy use survey in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the studied installation, a more detailed analysis of the facility, a breakdown of the energy use and a first quantitative evaluation of the ECOs / ECMs selected to correct the defects or improve the existing installation. This level of analysis can involve advanced on-site measurements and sophisticated computer based simulation tools to evaluate precisely the selected energy retrofits.
• Level III ? Investment-Grade audit: Detailed Analysis of Capital-Intensive Modifications focusing on potential costly ECOs requiring rigorous engineering study.

Why AMTECH for Energy Audit?

AMTECH has vast experience in energy conservation domain. We have helped many industries in their energy conservation efforts. We provided comprehensive solution starting from Energy Conservation Study/Audit to implementation of Energy Conservation Measures. AMTECH also works on ESCO route and PAT (Perform Achieve and Trade) Scheme. PAT is a scheme introduced by BEE, similar to Carbon trading, where under-performed companies have to buy certificates from Outperformed Companies to meet the carbon emission standards/limits.