Knowing the total energy consumed each year and a rating based on that can be useful such as a Display Energy Certificate (DEC), and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), but it’s only when you get down to the detail of that energy use that you can effectively start to target savings through a Business Energy Audit.
Businesses can reduce energy use in a sensible, cost effective manner through a Commercial Building Audit.
Many organisations claim that understanding energy consumption frequently causes problems and can be very time consuming to manage. Most just don’t have time to analyse their data or have employees with the skills to do it.
Energy management is often neglected, even though there is considerable potential to save energy and reduce costs. Rising energy prices, climate change legislation and the need to be environmentally responsible all require effective energy management underpinned by regular Energy Auditing. Organisations moving towards this next stage may find the Commercial Energy Audit Checklist useful when defining audit scope, data requirements and internal responsibilities.
It is important that you take a close look at your energy costs and start to discover what areas of your business are using the most energy. Typically, equipment that such as heating and cooling will use the most energy.
Your business may benefit from our Commercial Energy Audit, which can help you find where your main energy management opportunities lie and identify the need for more detailed investigations. Each Energy Audit provides a clear Building Energy Audit Report highlighting priority actions.
When it comes to running a business, using energy is unavoidable. But with more than half of UK businesses admitting that energy costs affect their cash flow, it’s clear that even the UK’s smallest businesses may benefit from conducting an energy audit.
About Energy Audit Approaches and Audit Depth
Energy audits are not a single, fixed exercise. In practice, the scope and depth of an audit vary depending on the organisation’s objectives, the complexity of the estate, and the level of insight required to support decision‑making.
Different tiers of audit are commonly used to provide progressively deeper understanding. These range from high‑level, data‑led reviews through to detailed, investment‑grade assessments.
The sections below outline the typical characteristics of each approach.
Desktop Energy Audit
- Online audit conducted by a certified Energy Consultant
- Entry-level Building Energy Audit Report on the findings, including energy, water and carbon analysis
- A list of energy-saving opportunities that can be made.
Comprehensive Energy Audit
- An in person walk through of your building
- A comprehensive audit report on the findings
- A list of energy-saving opportunities that can be made
- Benchmarking against similar facilities
- Tailored recommendations for energy-saving opportunities.
Advanced Energy Audit
- An in person walk through of your building
- An advanced energy audit report on the findings
- A list of energy-saving opportunities that can be made
- Benchmarking against similar facilities
- Tailored recommendations for energy-saving opportunities
- In-depth assessment of building systems and operations.
Investment Energy Audit
- An in person walk through of your building
- An investment grade audit report on the findings
- A list of energy-saving opportunities that can be made
- Benchmarking against similar facilities
- Tailored recommendations for energy-saving opportunities
- In-depth assessment of building systems and operations
- Lifecycle cost analysis for energy-saving opportunities.
What to Consider Next
Energy audits and energy efficiency surveys can support organisations gain an understanding of where their building’s energy usage and waste is coming from, how to make simple changes and where savings can be made. These insights support more informed energy management decisions and helps organisations prioritise actions that align with wider cost, operational and carbon‑reduction objectives.
Further information on Energy Audits and Survey approaches and when they are typically applied is available on our commercial energy audit page.