Energy Auditing for Medical & Laboratory Buildings
The important tasks performed in medical buildings and research laboratories require extensive amounts of energy.
This energy usage is vital to the function of society. Yet, poor usage and outdated infrastructure contribute to significant harm to the environment.
Energy audits can help solve these issues. This process can identify areas within the medical or laboratory buildings that contribute to energy loss. Only then can informed improvements be made.
There are three levels of audits recognized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE):
ASHRAE Level 1 Audits for Medical & Laboratory Buildings
The most basic type of audit for the medical building or laboratory starts at Level 1. This step includes:
- Interviews of key operations personnel
- Reviews of the facility’s utility bills
- A walk-through of the site
The purpose of the ASHRAE Level 1 audit is to discover glaring areas of inefficiency. It will also identify any free or low-cost improvements that can be made as soon as possible.
ASHRAE Level 2 Audits for Medical & Laboratory Buildings
Next, the ASHRAE Level 2 audit includes:
- A breakdown of energy consumption to identify areas that present the greatest opportunities for improved efficiency
- An analysis of utility rates to find opportunities for a lower rate
- Interviews with important building personnel to gain insight into building operations and potential problem areas
- Defining financial and non-financial goals
This step offers more intense data collection and reporting that will allow you to move forward with larger energy-saving projects.
ASHRAE Level 3 Audits for Medical & Laboratory Buildings
Finally, if you require more data or specific areas of analysis, an ASHRAE Level 3 audit can be performed for the medical or laboratory building.
At this stage, there is an advanced field gathering of data, which is analyzed more intensely to determine areas of improvement. It can also define the potential cost and payoffs that will result.
Completing all 3 Levels of the ASHRAE energy audits will give you total peace of mind in your energy saving investments.
Audit Any Laboratory Building With EMAT Field Auditor
With EMAT Field Auditor, improving energy usage has never been easier! This affordable software allows you to take pictures, collect data, and save it all to the cloud. The customizable templates allow for many different types of audits, perfect for even the largest and most specific of buildings.
Call EMAT today to learn how we can improve your medical facility, laboratory, and more!