What is an energy audit?
Rising prices for oil and other fossil fuels have made energy management a major concern for companies.
An aenergy audit is a technical tool used to evaluate energy use through a detailed inspection and analysis of consumption, energy losses and infrastructure characteristics.
The objective is to identify all possible energy saving measures in any energy consuming installation in order to minimize the cost and improveenergy efficiency without reducing the performance of the industrial process or the building. In many cases, the energy audit also leads to a reduction in environmental impact.
Energy audit of buildings
An energy audit of a building requires analyzing the size, condition and location of the building, as well as the type of supply and the precise amount of energy consumed in each of the existing processes (such as lighting, heating, ventilation or air conditioning systems). When analyzing thermal energy, the sources of supply are identified, as well as the energy generation systems (performance of radiators, boilers, heat pumps, etc.).
Regarding electricity consumption, it is necessary to know factors such as the supplying company, the contracted power, the applicable tariff and the destination of electricity consumption (types of equipment and installations).
After calculating the energy used, at ProCycla we determine the viable solutions that will allow us to reach this optimal state and whose implementation will contribute to a significant cost savings.Additionally, according to the customer’s preferences, a follow-up can be carried out to check the scope of the implemented measures.
Industrial energy audit
According to various studies, Spanish companies have a potential for saving energy resources of close to 20%. The need to incentivize energy efficiency in the industrial sector is increasingly evident in today’s policies. Today, more than 30% of energy consumption in Spain comes from this sector.
In this regard, there are laws such as Royal Decree 56/2016 of February 12 that oblige large companies to carry out energy audits at least every 4 years.
At ProCycla we performenergy audits for companies of any size, by preparing a detailed and exhaustive study of production processes, energy sources (such as natural gas, diesel, electricity or biomass) and the main energy-consuming installations and equipment.
We also take care of contracting suppliers for the implementation of improvements or the replacement of equipment, as well as the monitoring of the objectives set and even the search for lines of financing for the investment.
It should be noted that the energy audit can be total or partial (carried out only in those industrial facilities that consume the most energy).
Energy Management Systems
In 2011, the ISO 50001 standard was published, an internationally recognized Energy Management System that provides a standardized protocol applicable to any organization or business to make efficient use of energy, control costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Although the application of this standard is voluntary, it is highly recommended for companies in the industrial sector due to its economic and environmental advantages. In this sense, an energy audit is the first step to identify existing deficiencies.
The implementation of an energy management system is a long-term solution, as it ensures the constant performance of energy audits thanks to the continuous monitoring of all systems without the need to visit an auditor each time.
What are the benefits of an energy audit?
- The energy audit provides an estimate of the percentage of energy consumption and total costs that could be saved by implementing the proposals.
- Although energy audits are not mandatory for many SMEs, establishing an energy efficiency control mechanism allows companies to apply for grants and subsidies, which are decisive for obtaining better positions in public programs and tenders.
- Energy efficiency improvement opportunities are economically profitable for primary sector companies such as farms, bakeries or other food producers, as they provide savings that can be used to increase the company’s productivity and competitiveness.
- The resulting reduction in energy consumption will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions, which can be presented as an added value, as it demonstrates the company’s commitment to the environment.
