The energy audit is a customized engineering assessment to identify energy efficiency opportunities within a manufacturing process. The audit focuses on specific areas of the plant's energy system, including natural gas boilers, steam distribution, refrigeration, compressed air, and water and wastewater discharge issues. It develops a baseline to characterize and benchmark energy and water use. Individual unit operations, processes and major consuming equipment are evaluated to identify efficiency opportunities and high return on investment projects. An action-oriented report describes each Opportunity Area, including an estimate of the capital cost to implement, the savings to be generated and the payback period.
Companies have the flexibility to use their own engineering consultant if desired.
The consultant submits a follow-up written proposal detailing the scope of the energy audit, deliverables, cost and schedule. After the company approves the proposal, it signs a Contribution Agreement with NRCan or IRAP for the incentive grant. Step 2 is completion of the Energy Audit and Reporting of results. The energy audit is typically completed in 6 to 8 weeks, of which the consultant spends 2 to 3 days at the plant site. The consultant submits a final report and invoice to the company.