An energy audit is a comprehensive survey that looks for waste in energy use.

Energy waste happens in many places throughout an organization, from office equipment to lighting, HVAC systems to industrial motors. And because much of the waste is not readily apparent, an energy audit can help identify ways to save money.

Take, for example, florescent lighting. If a facility switches from older lamps to new, high-efficiency models, there is a cost to replace the old lamps. But the new lamps cost significantly less to operate than the older ones, so within a relatively short time period (depending upon many factors) an organization can quickly repay the cost of new lamps.

Simply put, energy audits uncover waste and come up with solutions to improve energy efficiency while reducing energy costs.