Energy Audits Drive Decarbonisation in UK

Optimising energy usage in commercial buildings has become increasingly crucial in the UK and Europe due to rising energy costs and stricter environmental regulations. According to Ralph Davies, Head of Sales at Carrier Service, decarbonisation is not just a financial necessity but a critical step in the race to meet net-zero emissions targets.
With buildings responsible for a significant portion of global energy-related carbon emissions, with operational emissions accounting for 28%, it is imperative to improve building efficiency as outlined in the International Energy Agency’s Net Zero Emissions 2050 roadmap. This roadmap emphasises the need for clean energy technologies and energy-efficient building retrofits to achieve global net-zero emissions by 2050.
Energy audits play a vital role in identifying inefficiencies in a building’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. These audits not only help reduce energy consumption but also align buildings with sustainability targets, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy independence.
Carrier follows a structured approach consisting of five key stages when conducting energy audits:
1. Gathering data: Collecting comprehensive data on energy consumption patterns, historical usage, and real-time energy usage.
2. Establishing performance baseline: Creating a reference point for evaluating HVAC system efficiency.
3. Setting benchmarks: Comparing performance against industry standards to identify areas for improvement.
4. Conducting gap analysis: Pinpointing discrepancies between current performance and benchmark levels to suggest improvements.
5. Recommending energy conservation measures: Providing recommendations from simple fixes to complex upgrades to enhance system performance and efficiency.
Recommendations from energy audits can lead to improved energy efficiency through recalibrating sensor settings, sealing leaks, or upgrading to more advanced HVAC technologies like heat recovery systems or heat pumps for electrification of heat. Each recommendation includes a detailed cost analysis against expected energy savings and CO2 reduction potential to prioritise measures with the most significant benefits.
Aside from reducing emissions, energy audits offer additional benefits such as improving indoor environment quality, promoting a culture of sustainability, ensuring regular maintenance for equipment longevity, and providing expert guidance for ongoing energy conservation.
For more information on Carrier’s service and aftermarket solutions, including energy audits, please visit www.carrier.com/commercial/en/uk/service.
This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue of Energy Manager magazine. Subscribe here.