Informed Business Planning with Energy Audits

Energy assessments and energy audits are the essential first steps for organisations to identify key areas for improvement. They are designed to identify energy-saving opportunities and unlock cost savings that would otherwise be unlikely to be realised. With FY27 planning preparations already on the minds of many, in this Feature we arm you with the understanding you need to get started.

What are Audits and Assessments?

An energy assessment is a high-level evaluation that identifies the “low-hanging fruit” and quick wins to reduce energy consumption, based on a single 12-month billing period. This is suitable for someone who is looking for quick wins and low-cost upgrades or behavioural changes to achieve energy savings. 

In contrast, an energy audit is a systematic, in-depth analysis of a site’s consumption over a 24-month period, including detailed tariff analysis, creation of asset registers for all energy-consuming equipment at the site, and a comprehensive business case covering all energy-saving opportunities or emission reduction solutions, depending on the end goal of the energy audit.

 

The Key to Informed Planning.

Whether your remit is to reduce energy expenditure, reduce costs, reduce emissions, or a combination of the above, an energy audit is where to begin. At the conclusion of the project, you’ll have a report that allows you to make an informed decision on what changes can be made, the cost and impact of the actions, and an indication of any energy certificates that can be created to reduce the out-of-pocket costs.

By starting ahead of the FY planning season, you can be fully prepared to make informed decisions based on projected outcomes.

What’s Involved in an Energy Audit.

An onsite energy audit involves Ecovantage’s engineering team visiting the site to identify all relevant energy-consuming and energy-generating technologies, and to create an equipment register listing all main energy-using equipment. An understanding of business operations then allows us to make recommendations on technology and operations, including retrofit options and the corresponding energy savings.

Finally, as an Accredited Provider (AP), we provide Energy Efficiency Opportunities, categorised by payback period (less than two years and greater than two years), with estimates of financial incentives through state and federal schemes to mitigate the costs of plant upgrades and ongoing revenue streams from energy production.

Featured Energy Audit Case Study.

Multi-Site Energy Audit.

Ecovantage worked with a client operating a number of assisted living and retirement communities across Australia. After conducting Energy Audits, Ecovantage delivered a breakdown of opportunities at each location, energy and emission reduction forecasts, ROI and marginal abatement costs.

A number of these locations were also given a NABERS rating on energy and water, and a pathway to improve these. 

Read more

Before Getting Started.

Ahead of an audit, it’s crucial to know what the goals are for your business. Do you need to undertake technology upgrades? Are you working towards a mandated internal energy target? Do you need to report to shareholders or for public disclosure, where your business has made steps towards energy efficiency?

Whilst this won’t necessarily change how we conduct the audit, it will help our team make recommendations to meet those objectives. In addition to understanding your goals, our team will gather information about your site, including energy bills, retail meter details, and access to any on-site electricity generation. Understanding site energy-use trends before the site visit will ensure we can provide the most valuable insights for you. 

 

Ensuring a Smooth Audit Process.

A smooth audit is generally achieved when the site is committed to allocating the time required to provide all relevant information about the site (approximately 10 hours over 4-6 weeks) and to granting access to the site. The types of information we may request include lighting plans, asset registers, electrical single-line diagrams, operation and maintenance manuals, and any areas of concern you would like investigated. Granting the auditor access to all areas of your facility during the site audit will help ensure a smooth audit. 

 

Continuous Improvement.

Regular energy audits provide a tangible measure of site progress and inform ongoing efforts. Annual audits deliver a pathway to business-wide improvements, tackling the lowest-hanging fruit or the largest energy savings first, and we can collaborate with you on the best approach for your business’s priorities. 

Get Started.

Get the ball rolling on your Energy Audit ahead of the EOFY rush. Speak with Ecovantage’s Energy & Carbon Services team to get started today, and be equipped with everything you need heading into 2027 planning.