Energy Efficiency: Conducting a Simple Energy Audit

Efficiency

• Energy efficiency is one area that scientists are focusing on to decrease the worlds overall energy use
• Energy efficiency in buildings is one of the top priorities in energy conservation
• There are many different ways that we can make an older building more energy efficient
• Simple ways to improve a building’s efficiency
• Insulate and Plug Leaks
• Use energy-efficient windows
• Stop other heating and cooling losses
• Heat living and working spaces more efficiently
• Heat water more efficiently
• Use energy efficient appliances and lighting
• Cut off electrical devices when not using them

Auditing Energy Efficiency

• In order to determine if a building is energy efficient or not, we use an energy audit.
• Professional companies will take exact measurements and specific details about how energy efficient a building is
• We will conduct a simpler, more qualitative analysis of both the school and your home

Energy Audit

• We will be looking at the following criteria for energy efficiency:
• Light bulbs
• Windows
• Doors
• Room temperature and heating
• Room dynamics
• Appliance Use

Light Bulbs

• Fluorescent bulbs are much more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs.
• Fluorescent bulbs cost more, but save money in the long run
• A simple way to improve the energy efficiency of a building is to switch all light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs

Windows and Doors

• If you feel/detect air moving underneath or between windows and doors than heat is also being lost or gained through those cracks.
• Drafty windows and doors are considered inefficient and energy wasting
• Intense sunlight needs to be blocked from entering rooms during summer months and allowed to enter during winter months
• This helps lower the dependency on heating and cooling by electrical devices

Room temperature and heating

• The temperature that a room is maintained at tells a lot about the energy efficiency of that room
• Room temperature is on average 22°C.  A room is colder/warming than that is wasting heat energy (either through loss or by over heating/cooling)
• Having the ability to control the amount of heat (or air conditioned air) that is entering a room helps to improve efficiency.
• A room that is under automatic heating control is energy inefficient, because its temperature cannot be adjusted to reflect the weather outside
• Obstructions to heating vents block air from circulating (and heating the room) requiring more energy to be put in to regulate the room temperature

Room dynamics

• Carpeting and floor covers make a room more energy efficient by conserving heat
• The higher the ceiling is in a room, the more energy is lost trying to heat the room all the way to the top.  Hot air rises so a room is in fact heated from top to bottom

Appliance Use

• Computers require a large amount of energy
• Turning them off when they are not in use is a big energy saving practice
• New appliances have been modified to save on energy.  Older appliances tend to require large amounts of energy and waste a lot of it
• Newer appliances all have blue “efficiency” stickers which indicate how much energy they save

William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

William completed his Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in 2013. He current serves as a lecturer, tutor and freelance writer. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, walking his dog and parasailing. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

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