Professional energy design audits are conducted for many reasons. One of the primary reasons is to verify that the proposed design plans will provide a reasonable amount of energy savings over time. In this way, a home or building owner can ensure that their energy usage meets energy code requirements and helps reduce their environmental footprint. In some cases, the energy design audit is conducted before the building permits have been received.
Professional energy design audits also help to ensure that energy efficiency is treated as an important factor in determining decision-making during the different phases of building projects. In many cases, this approach can significantly enhance a project’s energy performance over a period of time. In addition, it can reduce the costs of such projects by increasing building efficiency. In some cases, the energy auditor will be able to suggest simple and cost-effective passive measures to implement at the front end. These might include installation of low EMR and HVAC appliances, changes to HVAC ventilation and design, and alterations to energy management techniques such as demand management.
The purpose of such a review is not to suggest that energy design is always best. Some buildings require additional measures, such as insulation, and others may require retrofitting or replacement windows and doors. Passive measures, such as energy efficient flooring, may be preferred over a more comprehensive active control program. However, energy auditors must provide a recommendation of what is realistically possible to do in terms of energy management.
The most important factor in energy design is the way energy is expended in buildings. In fact, this represents the single most important criteria when it comes to assessing buildings for energy efficiency. When well designed, buildings can drastically reduce energy consumption. This means that energy design audits are extremely important for reducing building emissions and waste.
The first step towards achieving energy efficiency in buildings is an assessment of the current environment in your local climate. Data such as average temperatures, relative humidity, daylight hours, and annual rainfall are essential to understand the existing condition. Knowing what you have to work with is essential in making informed decisions about energy design. In addition, if you live in an area known for heat, passive measures such as proper insulation should be a priority. However, the inclusion of active measures such as proper ventilation will reduce the amount of energy required to cool and heat a space.
Energy design can also be achieved through the use of good construction practice. For buildings that are compliant with energy code requirements, the implementation of good construction practices can go a long way towards reducing energy consumption through the design of buildings. Good construction practices involve the use of sustainable materials, efficient heating and cooling systems, and use of passive cooling strategies. It is also essential to create an energy audit that assesses all of these aspects and provides recommendations for improvements that can be implemented. This audit should be performed annually and should focus on each of the areas of the design.
Another important step for implementing energy design is to update and review your local climate data. Your local climate data collection method may not reflect the latest information pertinent to energy design compliance. In addition, if your local climate is changing rapidly you should consider reviewing your records to stay on top of the changing conditions. The information gathered from your review of your climate data and your annual audit should help your energy designer develop an energy design plan that takes into account your unique circumstances and helps you meet your building’s energy efficiency goals.
EDR technology allows energy performance certificates to be more precise than they would be without the use of EDRs. When purchasing or leasing property, it is always recommended that buyers and landlords check the energy performance certificate. If your property is purchased, it is necessary to obtain an energy performance certificate to prove that your property complies with energy design regulations. A high energy rating will ensure that your investment is a sound one.