Class 1

Energy audit concepts

GE – ENERGY MANAGEMENT
CLÁUDIO MONTEIRO
 What is an audit?
◦ Identify and quantify the forms of energy used;
◦ Characterize the structure of energy consumption ;
◦ Quantify energy consumption by sector, product or equipment ;
◦ Propose a rationalization plan for the actions and investments to be undertaken;
◦ Establish and quantify potential rationalization measures;
◦ Technically and economically analyze the solutions found;
◦ Evaluate the performance of energy generation, transformation and use systems ;
◦ Relate energy consumption with end use (specific consumption);
◦ Specify an energy management plan for the company;
◦ Propose the replacement of process equipment with more efficient ones;
◦ Propose changes to energy sources , if necessary.
Audit types
• Synthetic audit : summary of consumption by energy vectors and charges . It is normally
carried out using billing information from different energy sources and allows a global
characterization of energy consumption and respective financial charges.
• Generic/ambulatory audit : inspection of the operating conditions of the main facilities (“
check list ” summarized). The “ check-list ” must be appropriate to each situation.
• Analytical audit : analysis of consumption by type of equipment ( normally requires some
monitoring and determination of operating standards ). Determining the operating pattern of
some equipment may require brief monitoring , if the requested power is constant and the
operating periods identified by the operator/user of the equipment, or longer, if the requested
power varies (with the load, for example ).
• Technological audit : changes to processes . The results of this audit allow you to evaluate
alternative solutions in terms of process and make decisions regarding possible changes.
 Organization of the audit
◦ Hold accountable
◦ Identify those responsible for the use and management of energy systems
◦ to involve who works at the sites and/or with the equipment / systems;
◦ Request that all existing/possible information related to energy consumption be provided
◦ Identify information that must be provided, information to be collected/verified,
◦ Plan the audit
◦ what is done,
◦ who does what,
◦ where and when;
◦ Carry out the audit ;
◦ Nothing should go wrong when it comes to planning
◦ They must be prepared to capture and identify opportunities
◦ The “auditor’s eye”, experience, is the most important thing, essential to see what others do not see
◦ Review all the data collected (if they are all there, if they are coherent, etc.).
◦ Ensure we have the necessary information for further processing
 Audit phases
1. Collection of documentary data and analysis of the elements obtained
◦ Try to anticipate the characteristics of buildings in terms of energy system specialties.
◦ Technical preparation on the possible specialties of the buildings
◦ Anticipate types of quantification and qualification that must be collected (issues, areas, occupation, power number, state, etc.)
◦ Prepare quick-fill forms , record photos, measuring equipment
◦ List of information to request
2. Visit to facilities with equipment inspection
◦ Divide teams with well-defined objectives and specialty responsibilities
◦ Maintain a dialogue with the installation manager , clarifying and characterizing equipment
◦ Ask questions about equipment usage regimes
◦ Keep the contacts , to complement the collection of data that was missing
3. Analysis of collected data ;
◦ Bear in mind that it is possible to reconstruct much more information from the little information collected in the audit
4. Identification of energy efficiency measures.
◦ It is done after the audit, but a good auditor identifies potential measures during the audit
Documentary information to be collected
• Analysis of consumption history (invoicing for electricity, gas, liquid fuels, etc.);
• Identification, quantification and analysis of consumption, performance and operating conditions of
the highest consumption equipment .
◦ Load diagrams, description of use
◦ Minimum, average, maximum consumption
◦ Usage factors and usage cycles
• Description of the equipment;
• Type of fuel used;
• Nominal power (also the equivalent value in SI units, to quantify all uses in a standardized way );
• Average load regime (estimated);
• Average number of hours of use (per hourly period).
Energy efficiency measures
Heating and cooling
• Thermal insulation of the surroundings (efficient windows, shading, reflective films, interior or
exterior insulation of walls and roofs, compartmentalization of space)
• Heating systems (changing heating system, changing fuel, changing boiler, fluid temperature,
changing radiators or fan heaters , pipe insulation, thermostatic taps, automation and heating
management)
• Cooling systems (adequate sizing, central or distributed HVAC, technology efficiency, reference
temperature, HVAC control, maintenance)
• DHW domestic hot water systems (solar thermal, heat pumps, water heaters, timed taps,
temperature regulation, water heat recovery)
• Natural cooling and heating systems (natural circulation of cold air “free cooling ”, active
shading systems, tromb walls , circulation of heated air)
Energy efficiency measures
electrical equipment
• Interior lighting (changing lamps, changing luminaires, changing ballasts, LED lighting, promoting
natural lighting, sectorization of lighting circuits, flow regulators, turning off lamps, presence and
brightness sensors, distribution and height of luminaires)
• Exterior lighting (exchange of luminaires and lamps, LED lighting, flow regulators, management of
lighting periods, brightness sensors, presence sensors, reduction of losses in cables, photovoltaic
lamps, sectorizing lighting circuits)
• Motors and Pumps – manufacturing processes, escalators, water pumping, ventilation systems,
elevators (appropriate sizing, high-performance motors, pump selection, pumping control system,
speed variators, starting control, type of transmission , quality of electrical energy, alignment of shafts
and pulleys, parallelism of rollers, lubrication)
• Computer equipment and electronic equipment (use of efficient equipment, configuration of
energy saving modes, printer standby configuration, efficiency in data centers )
• In canteens, kitchens or laboratories : efficient household appliances, kitchen ovens, dishwashers,
dryers (equipment efficiency classes, good use of equipment, standby consumption)
• Self-consumption (installation of photovoltaic systems, sized according to consumption, adequate
orientation and inclination, adequate spacing between panels)
Energy efficiency measures
for electrical installations
• Choice of the appropriate tariff (contracted power, simple or bi ( tri )-hourly, supplier, dynamic
tariff, control of peak power)
• Reactive power compensation (installation of capacitor banks, active filters)
• Switch from BT to MT , by installing a private PT.
• Increase in cabling section to reduce losses
• Voltage regulation equipment
• Dynamic cargo management system
• Consumption monitoring and management system
What information should they collect?
Generic
• Ask if other audits have been carried out . Ask if they are available . Ask what changes have been made
since they were made.
• Ask whether energy efficiency measures have been carried out .
• Ask if the building has energy certification . Request the characteristics of the certificate .
• Who is responsible for the energy management of the consumption installation?
• Who are the users of the consumption installation?
• What are the installation's usage or operating regimes ? (annual, weekly, daily, for each energy use:
electricity, heating, cooling)
• What are the most important energy-consuming equipment ?
• Request plans or maps of the installation and locate users and equipment .
• Request monthly bills for electricity , gas and fuel . In MT buildings there are hourly electricity
measurements in digital format.
• Fill out characteristics sheets for large equipment (age, power, efficiency, condition qualification, etc.). If
possible, take photos of the equipment's characteristics.
What information should they collect?
About lighting
• Characterize the usage regimes. Prepare a table that allows a quick characterization of the hours of use,
throughout the day, week and year . The table can be completed by zone.
• Identify the type of lamps and luminaires, power, model, ballast, lamps per luminaire , other details.
• Approximate count of the number of lamps of each type, indicating by zone.
• Identify the subdivision of lighting circuits by observing the switches or asking to see the board. The electrical
diagram of the installation may be useful.
• Check whether there is natural lighting . Is direct light comfortable? Does the space allow for uniformity of
light?
• Is it a space where users are usually present or circulate temporarily ?
• Are there special requirements for color, comfort or light intensity?
• Are there safety restrictions that require lighting to be kept on?
• Are there people responsible for turning the lighting on/off or are there brightness or presence sensors?
What information should they collect?
About heating or cooling
• Characterize heating usage regimes . Prepare a table that allows a quick characterization of the hours of use,
throughout the day, week and year. The table can be completed by zone .
• Characterize the type of heating equipment . Different procedure if it is centralized or small distributed systems
. What type of fuel ? What type of heat diffusers (type of radiators, fan heaters , underfloor heating, heat pumps,
HVAC). Visit the calderas . Request information about the maintenance plan .
• Characteristics of the cooling system . Identify what type of cooling system . Locate the various components of
the cooling system. Ask to visit the main units of the system ( UTAs , Chillers , Extraction units, cooling towers,
etc.). Check condition of conservation and maintenance . Ask for the procedure and maintenance plan .
• Count the number and type of heat diffusion units distributed throughout the spaces. Check their location and
thermal insulation of the area where they are located. Check if there is a way to regulate the heat (thermostatic
taps, centralized control)
• Point out details of space occupancy and heat and cold usage needs , check and ask whether the spaces are too
cold in winter or too hot in summer .
• Create and fill out sheets of daily, weekly and annual heat and cold use patterns . In the case of boilers, ask
about operating standards and usage temperatures .
• In swimming pools, characterize the water heating systems , ask about temperatures and usage patterns , ask
about implemented savings measures.
What information should they collect?
About passive systems
• Characterize sun exposure ,
• Characterize the type of glazing (single, double, double with different thickness),
• Characterize the frames (with or without thermal break, double frames, type of window
opening for air circulation, what is the circulation status?)
• Characterize the type of wall insulation (stone, concrete, air gap, hood, interior insulation, etc.)
• Characterize shading systems , blinds or blackout (indoor or outdoor, easy/difficult to adjust,
allows uniform light regulation?, what is the condition?)
• Characterize the entrance and door openings (entry and exit flow, glazed space, …)
• Map the characterization, use and level of satisfaction of users by zones
What information should they collect?
About photovoltaic self-consumption system
• Characterize the areas available for installing panels (roofs, balconies, gardens).
• Take into account the space available on roofs, the existence of obstacles and potential
shadows
• Characterize the orientation and inclination of the roofs .
• Using Google maps, it is possible to get a good idea of the buildings' coverage, but it doesn't
eliminate a visit to the rooftop to inspect the place .
• Check what type of fixing structure can be installed on the roof. Be careful with the type of
waterproofing, type of tile, skylights or other light inputs, robustness of the roof structure.
• Estimate the cable distance to the entrance of the electrical installation or to the electrical
panel where the PV system will be connected.
• Check the availability of space to install the inverters and space on the board for connection.
 Audit work cases
TEAM A FADEUP – Faculdade de Desporto (Confirmed)
TEAM B FMDUP - Faculdade de Medicina de Medicina Dentária da Universidade do Porto

TEAM C FMUP - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto

(Confirmed)

TEAM D FPCEUP - Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade do Porto

Audit work cases
TEAMS
Individual Work Assignment