Commercial buildings in the U.S. spend more than $100 billion on utility bills annually and are responsible for approximately 20 percent of the nation’s energy use. Considering that 30-50 percent of energy use is routinely wasted, and it’s easy to see why building owners are becoming more serious about making energy-efficiency improvements within their facilities. To figure out which improvements make the most sense, owners usually turn to HVAC professionals to conduct comprehensive energy audits, which are used to thoroughly evaluate existing mechanical systems.
While energy audits have traditionally occurred on-site, some firms are offering virtual energy audits, which they say are faster and more cost-effective than on-site audits. Some say there is no substitute for being on-site and verifying the actual operating conditions of a building. Others note virtual and on-site energy audits may complement one another, resulting in a broader collection of data that can ultimately be used to justify improvements designed to lower a building’s energy costs as well as benefit the indoor environment.