Whether you're running a commercial building, a manufacturing plant, or a small office space, your energy usage impacts more than just your utility bill—it affects your bottom line, sustainability goals, and operational efficiency. That’s why businesses across the U.S. are turning to energy consulting companies to take control of their energy consumption.
At Navigate Power LLC, one of the most effective tools we use to help clients manage energy is a professional energy audit. An energy audit isn’t just a walkthrough or a quick scan of your utility bills—it's a detailed analysis of how your facility uses energy and how you can optimize that usage for cost savings and environmental impact.
If you're curious about what actually happens during an energy audit, you're in the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how energy consulting companies like ours conduct energy audits step-by-step—no jargon, no fluff, just helpful, easy-to-understand info.
What is an Energy Audit?
An energy audit is a systematic review of a building's energy use to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements. The goal is simple: lower energy costs while maintaining or improving comfort, performance, and sustainability.
Energy audits are useful for:
Pinpointing wasteful systems or behaviors
Identifying outdated equipment
Uncovering hidden problems (like insulation issues or poor ventilation)
Recommending upgrades and forecasting potential savings
A good energy audit gives you a full energy profile of your building and a roadmap for future improvements.
Step 1: The Initial Consultation
Before we begin the technical analysis, we like to have a conversation. This helps us understand your business operations, goals, and any energy-related concerns you might already have.
During the consultation, you can expect questions like:
What are your biggest energy-related concerns?
Have you made any past upgrades or renovations?
Do you have issues with comfort, temperature, or lighting?
Are there specific sustainability goals you want to meet?
We’ll also ask you to provide a few months (or even a year’s worth) of utility bills to review energy trends.
Why it matters: This step helps energy consulting companies tailor the audit to your specific needs. A manufacturing plant will have different priorities than a retail store or office complex.
Step 2: Site Inspection and Data Collection
Next comes the on-site visit. Our energy specialists will walk through your facility to observe, document, and measure the various energy-consuming systems.
Here’s what we typically assess:
Lighting systems (indoor and outdoor)
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
Building envelope (insulation, doors, windows)
Plug loads and electronics
Industrial machinery (if applicable)
Water heating and usage
Occupant behavior patterns
We use tools like infrared thermometers, light meters, and sometimes even drones to inspect hard-to-reach areas like rooftops and ductwork.
Why it matters: This phase gives us hard data. We’re not just guessing—we’re measuring how your building actually performs.
Step 3: Utility Bill Analysis
While our boots are on the ground collecting physical data, we’re also diving deep into your utility history. This analysis helps identify trends like:
Peak demand charges
Seasonal consumption spikes
Power factor penalties
Rate structure inefficiencies
We’ll also benchmark your energy use against similar buildings using ENERGY STAR or regional performance databases.
Why it matters: You might be paying more than necessary just because of the way your utility contract is structured. We help uncover that.
Step 4: Energy Modeling and Diagnostic Testing
For more complex facilities or high-energy users, we take the audit a step further by creating an energy model of your building. This involves using software to simulate how your facility uses energy in different scenarios—day vs. night, summer vs. winter, occupied vs. unoccupied.
We may also perform advanced diagnostic tests, including:
Blower door tests to identify air leaks
Thermal imaging to detect heat loss or insulation gaps
Duct leakage tests for HVAC efficiency
Why it matters: This gives us the ability to test hypothetical improvements and predict your savings before any changes are made.
Step 5: Identifying Opportunities and Making Recommendations
Once we’ve compiled all the data, we analyze it to uncover where energy is being wasted and where improvements can be made. Some common recommendations include:
Upgrading to LED lighting
Installing occupancy sensors or smart thermostats
Improving insulation or sealing air leaks
Replacing or servicing HVAC systems
Adding solar panels or energy storage solutions
Restructuring your utility contract or supplier agreement
Each recommendation includes:
Estimated installation cost
Projected annual savings
Payback period or ROI
Available rebates or incentives
Why it matters: You get a prioritized action plan that balances performance, budget, and timeline.
Step 6: Reporting and Presentation
The findings are compiled into a comprehensive (but easy-to-read) report. At Navigate Power LLC, we don’t just hand you a thick binder full of numbers. We sit down with you and walk through:
Key insights and inefficiencies
Recommended improvements
Financial projections
Implementation strategies
We make sure you fully understand the results and can make informed decisions.
Why it matters: A clear report means you can present findings to your executive team, stakeholders, or board with confidence.
Step 7: Implementation Support (Optional but Recommended)
Many energy consulting companies stop at the audit. At Navigate Power, we go the extra mile by offering post-audit implementation services. This includes:
Helping you get bids from contractors
Overseeing project timelines
Applying for available incentives and tax credits
Verifying post-installation performance
Training your team on how to maintain new systems
Why it matters: The best energy plan is only as good as its execution. We make sure you get the savings you were promised.
Step 8: Continuous Monitoring and Optimization
Energy use isn’t static. Seasons change. Business hours expand. Equipment ages. That’s why many clients choose to engage in ongoing monitoring.
We can install energy management systems (EMS) that track usage in real-time and flag anomalies like:
Equipment running after hours
Sudden spikes in demand
Changes in usage behavior
Our team reviews this data regularly and helps you fine-tune your operation for long-term success.
Why it matters: Continuous improvement leads to continuous savings.
Why Work with Energy Consulting Companies?
If this process sounds thorough—it is. And while any building owner could technically try to DIY parts of it, having a trained professional makes all the difference.
Here’s what energy consulting companies bring to the table:
Deep expertise in building systems and energy codes
Access to proprietary modeling and benchmarking tools
Knowledge of regional rebates, grants, and utility programs
Vendor neutrality—we recommend what’s best for you, not what pays us
A results-driven mindset that focuses on ROI and measurable impact
How Often Should You Get an Energy Audit?
We typically recommend a full audit every 3 to 5 years. However, if your energy costs suddenly spike, you’re planning renovations, or you want to take advantage of new incentives, it’s worth getting an audit sooner.
Final Thoughts: A Smart First Step Toward a Greener Bottom Line
Energy audits aren’t just a cost-saving exercise—they’re a strategic investment in your business. They uncover hidden waste, help plan capital improvements, and show your commitment to sustainability.
At Navigate Power LLC, our team is passionate about helping businesses like yours unlock smarter energy solutions. Whether you're in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, or education, we tailor each audit to fit your goals and your building.
If you’re ready to get serious about energy efficiency, sustainability, and savings, we’re ready to help.
Get In Touch:
- Name: Navigate Power LLC
- Address: 2211 N Elston Ave Suite 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
- Phone No: +18005411137