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What does an energy audit cover?
An energy audit establishes how much energy a site uses, by source and by system, and where that energy goes. It covers the main loads, typically cooling and ventilation, lighting, pumps, compressed air, boilers and process equipment, together with controls, operating hours and maintenance practice. The result is a baseline against which every proposed measure is costed and its savings calculated.
What are the energy audit levels?
Most building audits follow the three levels defined in ASHRAE Standard 211[1]. Each level adds depth, cost and confidence in the savings figures.
| Level | What it involves | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Utility bill analysis and a short walk-through; no-cost and low-cost measures, with savings estimated | Screening a site or a portfolio |
| Level 2 | Detailed survey of each system with measurements; measures costed with savings and payback | Deciding which measures to fund |
| Level 3 | Detailed metering and modelling of capital-intensive measures | Large capital projects and energy performance contracts |
Source: ASHRAE Standard 211[1].
Most owners need a Level 2 audit. Industrial audits follow the same logic of increasing depth, applied to process systems.
What is different about an energy audit in Lebanon?
Most Lebanese sites draw on several sources: EDL grid supply for part of the day, private or neighbourhood diesel generators, and increasingly solar with batteries. An audit that reads only EDL bills misses much of the picture. Generator fuel purchases, run hours and subscription bills belong in the baseline, generator loading and fuel per kWh are audit items in their own right, and measures are ranked by their effect on total energy cost, not grid consumption alone.
How is an energy audit carried out, step by step?
- Collect 12 to 36 months of energy data: EDL bills, generator fuel and run hours, subscription bills and solar output.
- Walk through the site with the facility team and inventory the main equipment.
- Measure key loads with power and data loggers, thermal imaging, and temperature and light readings.
- Build the energy balance and identify measures: no-cost operational changes, low-cost fixes and capital projects.
- Cost each measure and calculate savings, payback and emission reductions.
- Present a ranked action plan and, where needed, a plan to measure and verify the savings[2].
What do you get from an energy audit?
A good audit report gives an energy baseline by source (grid, generator, solar), a ranked list of measures with cost, savings and payback, the emission reduction of each measure for climate reporting and, where savings must be proven, a measurement and verification plan. Each figure should state its assumptions, so the owner knows how much confidence to place in it.
Where independent support helps
An independent auditor has no equipment to sell, so measures are ranked by their value to the owner rather than by what a supplier offers. Otibara carries out building and industrial energy audits in Lebanon and the region, with measurement and verification where required.
Common questions
How long does an energy audit take?
A Level 2 audit usually takes 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the size of the site and how quickly energy data and site access are available.
What does an energy audit cost?
As a guide, a Level 2 audit costs from about USD 8,000 to more than USD 20,000. The cost depends on the size and complexity of the site, the number of systems and how much measurement is needed. A Level 1 screening costs less.
Do we need to install meters first?
No. The auditor brings portable loggers and instruments. Permanent sub-metering may be recommended as one of the measures.
Can the audit include solar?
Yes. Solar is often assessed alongside efficiency measures, because reducing the load first lowers the size and cost of the solar system needed. See the guide on solar PV feasibility studies in Lebanon.
How are savings verified after implementation?
Measured consumption after implementation is compared with an adjusted baseline, following the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP)[2].