ASHRAE Energy Audits

Our affordable and most importantly unbiased reports are used by clients to often execute solutions in house or as a knowledge base for Requests for Proposals. Whether to meet the requirements of LEED EB or to increase your buildings efficiencies, our Level I and II audits can also be individualized.

Too often the benefits of energy savings are enjoyed by the solution provider and not you, the end user. We become your partner in developing unbiased long term plans that save resources and cash. It's your building, our solutions, your savings.

ASHRAE Level I

Addresses basic building energy usages and energy efficiencies analyzing energy bills and conducting a brief survey of the building. The cost is usually around two cents (± one cent) per square foot but depends on the complexity of the facility and availability of information.

ASHRAE Level II

Similar to a Level I inspection but involves a more detailed review of the energy bills and a more thorough walk-through and assessment of current equiptment. A walk-thorough typically lasts 1 to 2 days. The cost, depending on the complete scope of work averages seven cents per square foot.

ASHRAE Level III

This is the most detailed of inspections but allows for the largest possibility of savings. The walk-through involves not only an inspection of all building systems but also the building shell. ASHRAE Level III will look at renewable energy feasibility and cost projections and replacement costs and paybacks for current systems.

Reports & Feasibility Studies

An audit entails a list of recommendations based on retrun on investments (ROI's) for each system evaluated. EcoHill produces audits that outline and detail plans that can be used to perform the solutions in house or as a knowledge base for Requests for Proposals. A level one and two ASHRAE energy audit that can result in significant financial and environmental improvements. Whether to meet the requirements of LEED EB or to increase your buildings efficiencies, our audits can also be individualized to include any or all of the following components:

  • Lighting Analysis
  • Water Usage Analysis
  • Benchmarking of current buildings
  • Energy Star and Energy Intensity Unit (EIU) ratings
  • Waste Management/Recycling
  • Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning System Evaluations
  • Geothermal and Solar feasibility and cost projections
  • HVAC renovation scenarios and cost projections using latest technologies including simultaneous heating and cooling heat pumps-ground source heat pumps with inverter compressors, Combination Heat and Power (CHP) and super high efficiency boilers.
  • LEED feasibility for existing and new buildings including cost projections

Incentives

We detail a list of private, local, state and federal incentives to bring down first costs for the installation of new equipment and system components. Incentives come as tax deductions, pre-tax refunds, low interest loans, and grants. Many states and cities have particular goals and offer incentives to further their goals. For instance, Michigan is offering a rebate for the purchase and installations that reduce the Return on Investment (ROI) to 5 years. Utility companies are mandated by the federal government to provide incentives to reduce demand on the energy grid. They offer rebates to retrofit and replace old systems for more efficent units.

Utility Management and Benchmarking

This is the quickest and easiest way for any existing building to find out the condition your facility. The bench marking tools rely on inputs such as energy consumption, climate, building use, and building type and deliver a 1 to 100 rating for the building. The rating are not based on other existing buildings but standardized buildings in various climates.