Energy audits save you money because they show how you spend money on energy and where you waste money on energy. In fact, it’s very seldom seen that a first-time energy audit does not show at least about 10% savings potential.
What type of audit?
Because energy audits vary according to size, complexity, as well as energy source, like electricity, gas, or fossil fuels - you decide what type of energy audit you want. However, because here at NFU Energy we wish to see your farm prosper, we like to look at your total energy use, energy accounts and your costs.
We suggest that you start with a simple walk-through-audit, also known as a Level 1 energy audit. Level 1 energy audits give you the bigger picture and mostly cost the least. Our qualified and certified auditors build a picture of your energy profile. We use our results to identify energy saving opportunities that ultimately improve your farm’s performance.
For example, the chart below is an extract from a recent energy audit conducted in Southern England. The energy audit inventoried the farm’s energy sources and then enabled the management team to prioritise their energy strategy.
In other words, the chart immediately showed the team there that gas management was likely to yield the highest impact. Do you have a picture like this? Do you know how to prioritise your energy management?
What do energy audits show us?
Energy audits reveal many things. Many people understandably believe that saving energy means changing light bulbs or buying a solar system. Sometimes it’s true, but our experience shows that it’s often not.
For instance, a hotel suspected that their hot water system used the most energy. Fortunately, they conducted an energy audit before buying replacement heat pumps. The energy audit revealed that the air conditioners were in fact costing the most, see the chart below.
This information enabled the hotel to firstly buy £40.00 air conditioner occupancy sensors and use the saving to systematically buy heat pumps at £2,500 each.
How to use energy audits
Finally, as part of the energy audit scope, this glass-house grower asked us to compare LED lights with high pressure sodium lights (HID). The chart below shows our findings. By using LEDs, this grower can permanently save 719kW and 199tons of Carbon per year.
Are you looking for ways to save energy, carbon and costs? Contact NFU Energy to discuss how we can help you – call us on 024 7669 6512.