The energy audit report is the product you pay for. A good one tells you where energy goes, which savings are real, what each one costs and how fast it pays back, and in what order to do them. A weak one is a list of generic suggestions. Here is what to expect, and how to tell the difference.
A sample outline
- Executive summary. The total saving available, the investment needed and the overall payback, on one page for a decision-maker.
- Scope and method. Which buildings and utilities were audited, which instruments were used and over what period.
- Energy baseline. Annual and monthly consumption of each energy source, an energy balance showing where it goes, and energy use per unit of product.
- Findings by system. Electrical system and power quality, compressed air, boilers and steam, HVAC and chillers, motors and drives, lighting and waste heat recovery, each with measured data.
- Energy conservation measures. The ranked savings table (below).
- Implementation plan. No-cost measures first, then low-cost, then capital projects, with a suggested sequence.
- Measurement and verification plan. How the savings will be confirmed after the work is done.
- Appendices. Logger data, calculations, assumptions, instrument list and equipment inventory.
How to read the savings table
The centre of the report is a table of measures. Each row should show:
| Column | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Measure | What to change, for example repair compressed air leaks or install a condensate return |
| Saving in energy | kWh, cubic metres of gas or litres of fuel saved per year |
| Saving in taka | The yearly cost saving at your actual tariffs |
| Saving in CO2e | Tonnes of emissions avoided per year, useful for buyer reporting |
| Investment | What the measure costs to implement |
| Payback | Investment divided by yearly saving, which is how the measures are ranked |
Read it from the top. The measures with the shortest payback, often no-cost and low-cost ones, can usually start straight away. The longer-payback capital projects are where an investment-grade analysis matters, because a lender or board will want the numbers to stand up.
What separates a good report from a weak one
- Measured, not assumed. Savings are calculated from logger and survey data from your plant, not from nameplate ratings or rules of thumb.
- Every measure has a payback. A list of ideas without cost and saving is not a report.
- A clear baseline. Without one, no saving can be verified later.
- Assumptions are stated. Tariffs, operating hours and measurement periods are written down so you can check them.
- Signed by a certified energy auditor. Our reports carry the name and certification number of the auditor who did the work.
Who uses the report
Plant managers use it to plan work. Owners and boards use it to approve investment. Lenders use an investment-grade version to assess a loan, which is why we help prepare green finance documentation. Large consumers designated by SREDA need audits by an accredited auditor, and buyers increasingly ask for energy and emissions data. Our guide to SREDA compliance and investment-grade energy audits covers the regulatory side.
Questions to ask before you accept a report
- Can every saving be traced to a measurement or a calculation in the appendices?
- Do the savings use your real tariffs and operating hours?
- Is there a plan to verify the savings after implementation?
- Are the measures ranked so you know what to do first?
Get an audit report for your plant
Start with the energy audit checklist so the audit begins with your real data. Then contact us for a one-day scoping visit and a fixed fee. You can also read what decides the cost of an energy audit, or see our energy audit service.