Energy Audit Checklist for Commercial Buildings

Whether a building is going through an ASHRAE Level 1 walk through or preparing internally ahead of a Level 2 or Level 3 study, the same core categories of information determine how useful the resulting audit will actually be. This checklist covers what to gather and inspect, organized the way most audit teams actually work through a building.

Utility Data and Benchmarking

• 12 to 24 months of utility bills for electricity, gas, water, and any other metered utilities
• Gross floor area, by building and, where relevant, by major space type
• Current ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmark and score, if one exists
• Occupancy schedule and hours of operation
• Any recent changes in occupancy, production volume, or building use that would affect year over year comparisons

Building Envelope

• Wall, roof, and window construction type and approximate insulation levels
• Visible signs of air leakage around doors, windows, and penetrations
• Condition of weatherstripping and door seals
• Roof condition and age
• Glazing type and orientation, particularly for west and south facing facades

HVAC Systems

• Equipment type, age, and nameplate capacity for all major HVAC units
• Maintenance records and most recent service dates
• Thermostat setpoints and scheduling
• Evidence of simultaneous heating and cooling, or systems fighting each other
• Ventilation rates relative to occupancy
• Condition of ductwork, insulation, and visible leaks

Lighting

• Fixture type and count by space, incandescent, fluorescent, or LED
• Lighting power density compared to ASHRAE 90.1 allowances for each space type
• Presence of occupancy sensors or daylight responsive controls, particularly in private offices, conference rooms, restrooms, and storage areas
• Exterior and parking lot lighting schedules and controls

Controls and Building Management Systems

• Presence and functionality of a building management system
• Current control sequences for major equipment
• Evidence of manual overrides that have never been reset
• Scheduling accuracy against actual occupancy patterns

Plug Loads and Miscellaneous Equipment

• Major equipment loads outside HVAC and lighting, kitchen equipment, data centers, process loads
• Presence of older, inefficient equipment nearing replacement age
• Opportunities for equipment level scheduling or power management

Documentation to Have Ready

• As built drawings or floor plans, if available
• Prior audit reports, if the building has been audited before
• Any existing submeter or sensor data
• Capital improvement plans already under consideration

Using This Checklist

For a Level 1 audit, this checklist maps closely to what a walk through team will actually be able to observe and gather in a single site visit. For a Level 2 or Level 3 audit, it's the starting point an auditor will build on with deeper measurement and calculation. Increasingly, much of this data collection can happen through digital field data collection before a site visit even occurs, drone thermal imaging for envelope condition, remote utility data pulls, and wireless sensors for HVAC and occupancy data, which shortens the time a team needs on site and lets that time focus on judgment calls rather than basic data gathering. See our guide to digital energy audits for more on how that works in practice.