Types of Energy Audit
Contenido
El término auditoría energética es comúnmente utilizado para describir un amplio espectro de estudios energéticos que van desde un rápido paseo a través de un procedimiento para identificar los principales problemas; a un análisis exhaustivo de las implicaciones de otras medidas de eficiencia energética suficientes para satisfacer los criterios financieros solicitados por los inversores. Tres programas comunes de auditoría se describen en mayor detalle más adelante, aunque las tareas realizadas y el nivel de esfuerzo pueden variar con el consultor que presta servicios en virtud de estos grandes apartados. La única manera de garantizar que una propuesta de auditoría que satisfaga sus necesidades específicas es precisar los requisitos detallados en un ámbito de trabajo. Tomando el tiempo para preparar una solicitud formal también asegurar al propietario del edificio que reciben competitiva y comparable propuestas. En todos los niveles de auditorías se incluye un proceso de mejora dirigido al personal que trabaja en esas áreas. Cambios en el sistema de consumo de energía implica, cambios de comportamiento, conductas, hábitos y costumbres de las personas que operan o trabajan en el área de intervención. Se consideran capacitaciones y entrenamientos antes, durante y al final de una intervención, cualquiera que sea el nivel de la auditoría.
Preliminary audit
The preliminary audit, draft audit or energy test (or a simple audit call, diagnosis or walk-through audit) is the simplest and fastest type of audit. It involves a minimum of interviews with website operating personnel, a brief installation overview of utility bills and other operating data, and a walk through the facility to become familiar with the construction and operation to identify any areas of energy waste or inefficiency.
Typically, only the major problem areas are discovered during this type of audit. Corrective measures are briefly described, and rapid implementation of cost estimates, potential savings in operating costs, and simple payback periods. This level of detail, although not sufficient to reach a final decision on the implementation of a project of measures, is sufficient to prioritize energy efficiency projects and to determine the need for a more detailed audit.
Energy audits are made up of various types of studies which are implemented in the building to which the audit is being carried out. These studies are; Network Analysis, Thermography Study, Ohmic Resistance Study (Earth Analysis), Meguer Study and Vibration Study (in case of transformers and motors).
General Audit
The overall audit (alternatively called a mini-audit, site energy audit, or full-site energy audit) expands on the blueprint audit described above by collecting more detailed information about the installation and operation to perform a more detailed assessment of energy conservation measures. Utility bills are collected for 12 to 36 months to allow the auditor to evaluate the facility, energy demand and usage rates based on energy profiles. If data is available, the detailed energy profiles made possible by that data will attempt to analyze the signs of energy waste [1]. Additional specific measurement of the energy consumed by systems is often performed to complete utility data. In-depth interviews with facility operating personnel are conducted to provide a better understanding of major energy consumers and systems to understand short- and long-term energy consumption patterns.
This type of audit will be able to identify all energy conservation measures appropriate for the facility, given its operating parameters. A detailed financial analysis is performed for each measure based on detailed implementation of cost estimates, site-specific operating cost savings, and client investment criteria. Sufficient detail as presented to justify project execution.
Audit Investment Grade
In most companies adjustments or upgrades to an energy facility must compete for financing with capital unrelated to energy investments. Both the energy consumed and the energy to be saved must be evaluated with a financial criterion and for this in energy improvement and efficiency projects, the rate of return on investment (IRR) is used to evaluate the convenience of the investment. The projected savings from operating the energy project application should be developed in such a way as to provide a high level of confidence. In fact, investors often demand guaranteed savings.
The investment grade audit (alternatively called a full audit, detailed audit, maxi audit, technical analysis or audit) expands on the general audit described above by providing a dynamic model of the energy use characteristics of existing facilities and all energy conservation measures identified. The model building is calibrated against actual utility data to provide a realistic baseline from which to calculate operating savings from the proposed measures. Extensive attention is given to understand not only the operating characteristics of all the energy consumed by the systems, but also situations that cause load profile variations on short and long term bases (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly, annually). The current utility data is complemented by the main energy consumer monitoring systems and operating system characteristics.