A study of the comparability of energy audit program evaluations

Due to climate change, firms are encouraged to introduce various measures to enhance both their competitiveness and sustainability, particularly energy efficiency measures (EEMs). Energy efficiency is particularly important in energy-intensive sectors such as the industrial sector. However, EEMs within industrial firms are hindered by several internal barriers such as competing interests within firms, lack of information regarding energy efficiency opportunities, and low technical competence. In this regard, energy audits aim to improve energy efficiency in facilities and to tackle internal barriers to energy efficiency. We developed a model that seeks to investigate the significance of energy audits in the implementation of EEMs and to reduce the intensity of internal barriers to energy efficiency. Our research model was empirically tested via data collected from a survey conducted with 193 industrial firms in the Kingdom of Morocco. Results show that competing interests, lack of information, and low technical competence hinder the adoption of EEMs within industrial firms, which aligns with findings from previous studies. In addition, our findings indicate that energy audits enhance EEMs and mitigate the negative effect of lack of information and low technical competence on the adoption of EEMs, which is consistent with findings from prior studies. However, our results demonstrate that energy audits do not attenuate the negative effect of competing interests on EEMs; this contrasts with findings from several previous studies. Therefore, our study builds upon prior research and contributes new insights regarding the importance of energy audits in tackling internal barriers to energy efficiency.

The Colorado College Energy Audit and Retrofit Program is a non-profit organization that teaches students the science and mechanics involved in energy audits and retrofit work through service–learning and community-based research projects. This approach represents a “win–win” scenario where the college contributes to maximize learning and minimize costs to the community. The method of identifying homes for energy audits has evolved from responding to homeowner requests to a proactive approach aimed at targeting older low-income neighborhoods and working with existing neighborhood associations. Recent work on the Mill Street Neighborhood in Colorado Springs, Colorado is presented in which a sample of homes (N = 14) received thermal audits, complete with blower door tests and Energy-10 computer modeling. The results are tabulated, analyzed, and extrapolated over the entire 145 homes in the neighborhood. The normally distributed ACH n values and the skewed distributions of R aver values and building sizes are discussed. A method of identifying unusual occupant behavior, relative to the building quality, is presented where the Home Heating Index is compared to a Building Thermal Performance Index (R aver/ACH n ). Estimates from extrapolation of the data predict that an investment of $146,500 USD in retrofit materials will yield a total annual neighborhood savings in energy, utility costs and GHG emissions of 9.1 × 106 kBtu (9.6 × 109 kJ), $64,000 USD and 555 US tons (5.0 × 105 kg), respectively, providing a simple payback time of 2.3 years. This efficient method of neighborhood energy audits provides data that could support neighborhood renewal grant proposals to purchase materials for follow-up retrofits and supports municipal demand-side management programs.

Water treatment plants are responsible for over 30 terawatt-hours per year of electricity consumption in the United States with an annual cost of nearly $2 billion [1]. Understanding the energy consumption in water treatment plants as well as the potential energy efficiency measures (EEMs) for these facilities can help the municipalities to prioritize the relevant energy efficiency projects based on their payback period and potential impact on their energy bill. In the present paper, the energy performance data for 192 water treatment plants is obtained from the U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) database. Energy audits were performed in these 192 sites between 2009 and 2022. The database includes the approximate location, square footage, annual energy use, annual plant production, identified EEMs, and their associated energy/cost savings as well as estimated payback period. The annual energy consumed per unit of production (EUP) and per unit of plant area (EUI) are calculated. The mean EUI and EUP for all the plants are found as 267.32 kBTU/ft2/Year and 265.97 kBTU/Thousand Gallons/Year, respectively. Also, the median EUI and EUP are evaluated as 42.4776 kBTU/ft2/Year and 8.203 kBTU/Thousand Gallons/Year, respectively. The analysis is also extended to understand the most promising EEMs for water treatment plants. An artificial neural network (ANN) is then developed to facilitate energy forecasting of water treatment plants using basic inputs including plant area and annual production. The outputs include estimated annual energy consumption and estimated potential savings that can be identified through conducting an energy audit. The training, testing and validation was satisfactory, but expected to much improve in the future with the addition of more assessment data to the IAC database. The ANN model will be the core of a basic energy analysis tool that can help the municipalities to easily evaluate the performance of their water treatment plants and estimate the potential savings that may be achieved as the result of performing an energy audit.

Our research investigates the effects of residential energy efficiency audit programs on subsequent household electricity consumption. Here there is a one-time interaction between households, which participate voluntarily, and the surveyors. Our research objective is to determine whether and to what extent the surveys lead to behavioral changes. We then examine how persistent the intervention is over time and whether the effects decay or intensify. The main evaluation problem here is survey participants’ self-selection, which we address econometrically via several non-parametric estimators involving kernel-based propensity-score matching. In the first method we use difference-in-differences (DID) estimation. Our second estimator is quantile DID, which produces estimates on distributions. The comparison group consists of households who were not yet participating in the survey but participated later. Our evidence is that the customers who participated in the survey reduced their electricity consumption by about 7%, on average compared to customers who had not yet participated in the survey. Considering the total number of high-usage households participating in the survey in 2009, we estimate that electricity consumption was reduced by an aggregate of 2 million kWh per year, which is approximately equal to the monthly consumption of 3500 typical households in California with an estimated 1527 metric tons less of carbon dioxide emissions. Because the energy audit program is inexpensive ($10–$20 per household) a key issue is that while the program is cost-effective, is it regressive? We find that as the quantiles of the outcome distribution increase, high-use households save proportionally less electricity than do low-use customers. Overall, our results imply that program designers can better target low-use and low-income households, because they are more likely to benefit from the programs through energy savings.

The European Union is implementing some of its most ambitious energy and environmental policies to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Energy efficiency plays a key role in this initiative, being regulated by various legislative measures, including Directive 2012/27/EU. Gradually, Directive 2012/27 / EU has experienced several substantial changes, and for the sake of clarity, has been replaced by Directive 2023/1791/EU, which updates energy efficiency measures and sets the target of reducing energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030. The new directive also needs assistance for SMEs and sectors not subject to energy audit obligations. In the current state of the scientific literature, previous research looks at energy audits, management systems and the EE1 principle, but there is limited analysis on how recent legislative changes impact member states. The research methodology used in this paper examines the implementation of Directive 2012/27/EU in Romania, Germany and France, highlighting the difficulties encountered by Romania, which require a clearer transposition of Directive 2023/1791/EU and an advanced digitisation. The results suggest that around 20,000 new companies will have to apply energy efficiency measures, with a potential to reduce energy consumption of around 10%. These results underline the need for active involvement of authorities and effective support policies to enhance the implementation of energy efficiency measures at national level.

In this study Idaho residents are asked about their willingness to have an energy audit. The answers are cross-tabulated by age, education, tenure, and number of square feet in the home. Willingness to have an energy audit is positively correlated with education, home ownership, and size of home. Age and willingnesss to have an audit are negatively related. Extensive energy-conservation education including an explanation of the benefits a weatheri zation program provide is suggested.

The influence of energy audits on the energy efficiency investments of private owner-occupied households in the Netherlands

The energy is substantial input for the economic growth of any country. In lieu of developing countries, increase in energy demand requires huge investments. Consequently, energy cost reduction, efficiency improvement and energy conservation utilization, management and audit are needed. In Sultanate of Oman, energy demand has been rising rapidly due to contemporary growing economic and population. The non-renewable natural gas produces energy. This prompts the move toward renewable energy sources and the implementation of Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) schemes such as energy audit and conservation. It is an analysis of the energy flow within a building that attempts to balance the energy input with its use not affecting the energy output. It is used to classify the entire energy stream. Energy management is used to attain and maintain an optimum energy flow to reduce energy costs and prevent the misuse of energy. Comprehensive EE&C measures are needed to conserve energy and for load leveling. In this paper, energy audit, conservation and management studies are conducted for Salalah College of Technology. The saving in the energy is achieved by implementing EE&C schemes through load observation, identifying the unnecessary usage of power and weak links in energy usage.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review and evaluate energy use and performance, as well as existing energy efficiency policy and measures in the Latvian industrial sector, in order to highlight possible scenarios for energy efficiency improvements in the future.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of a literature review and data analysis.FindingsIt is concluded that the existing energy efficiency measures for the industrial sector in Latvia do not work effectively. Also, it is expected that the planned measures for energy efficiency improvements for the industrial sector will not reach the defined energy saving targets in the framework of the Latvian NEEAP. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a common strategy on energy efficiency in the industrial sector in Latvia. This should be accomplished by reviewing the existing literature and data, as well as drawing up new, well‐designed energy efficiency measures.Practical implicationsThe results of this study can be applied and used in the development of energy efficiency policy for the industrial sector in Latvia. The paper also points out the main weak points of existing policy measures that can be improved in order to meet the energy saving target for the Latvian industrial sector.Originality/valueIn this paper, the Latvian industrial sector's energy efficiency policy and related measures have been organized and evaluated for the first time. Also, the importance of energy efficiency improvements in the industrial sector has been highlighted. This is evident from the fact that, currently, almost no energy efficiency measure for the industrial sector in Latvia works sufficiently.

The ‘efficiency gap’ and ‘no regrets’ are examples of terms used to describe the apparent slow diffusion of supposedly economic opportunities to improve energy efficiency. The aims of this research are to investigate the factors which influence a firm's decision about investing in energy efficiency and in particular to assess the policy implications. A basic assumption is that governments will continue to pursue policies to improve energy efficiency because of negative externalities associated with energy use. Despite this, little is known about the cost effectiveness of alternative policies including information dissemination through energy audit programs. This research is based on a survey of 100 firms that took part in DPIE's Enterprise Energy Audit Program (EEAP) which ran for six years until May 1997 and was monitored by ABARE. The survey included detailed questions about each firm's implementation of audit report recommendations. Implementation rates were found to be high and audits to be cost effective.

From policy to practice: The role of national policy instruments and social barriers in UK energy efficiency adoption in households

The relevance of the research topic is that energy-saving is the key element of modern energy development in the country. In Kazakhstan, energy-saving, and improving the energy efficiency of agriculture is currently a priority task that will solve energy, environmental and economic problems. Without a solution to these problems, the country's development will inevitably hold back. The head of state in the field of energy conservation has set a goal to reduce the energy intensity of the gross domestic product by at least 25% by 2020, and annual energy-savings of 3.5% after 2020. Industry in rural areas consumes more than 70 % of all electricity. As part of the comprehensive plan, their energy audit was conducted 50/50 (50 % of the financing is the enterprises' funds, the remaining 50 % is the state budget). As a result of the energy audit, systematic measures were developed to reduce the energy intensity of the industry, including the electric power industry. Large unproductive losses of energy resources are in the private sector, in this connection, since 2019, the energy audit of JSC "Kazakhstan center for modernization and development of housing and communal services (housing and communal services)" is conducted on budget funds in the private sector. Energy conservation is one of the most important and strategic tasks of the country. Rapidly developing production requires additional energy costs. This is confirmed by the annual increase in energy tariffs. In turn, resources are not unlimited, and their irrational consumption will inevitably lead to not only economic but also to an environmental crisis.

The decarbonization of EU energy system is under way, but manufacturing industry is still using approximately 25% of the EU total final energy use. To maintain long-term competitiveness while contributing to the EU goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, manufacturing industry needs to improve energy efficiency in a cost-effective way. One important way to achieve this is through energy audits. The Energy Efficiency Directive promotes member states’ development of energy efficiency programs to encourage industry to undergo energy audits. Previous studies have reviewed industrial energy efficiency policy program evaluations and argued that there is no harmonized way to conduct them. This leads to difficulties in: i) comparing energy efficiency and cost saving potentials throughout different programs, and ii) providing necessary information that supports the improvement of the policy program. Therefore, we argue that a harmonized methodology for industrial energy efficiency policy program evaluation is of great importance, and, we have developed a set of five-steps guidelines that lay the foundation for an ex-ante energy efficiency policy program evaluation methodology. The guidelines are to be be conducted during the lifetime of the program, in five steps, as follows: (s1) define key issues, (s2) set the objectives for each key issue, (s3) identify the options for each key issue, (s4) analyze options from an energy and environmental perspective, and (s5) compare options and select the recommended one. Our proposed methodology will support policymakers and evaluators answer questions such as: i) how can the objectives of the policy program be achieved? ii) is there any need to change the policy program? Furthermore, a comparison in terms of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of all major policy options developed, including the status quo option is proposed in the methodology. This paper can be seen an important step towards the goal of creating a harmonized policy evaluation methodology.

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the creation of innovative and intelligent systems to optimise energy efficiency in manufacturing. The systems monitor energy consumption using ambient intelligence (AmI) and knowledge management (KM) technologies. Together they create a decision support system as an innovative add-on to currently used energy management systems. Design/methodology/approach – Energy consumption data (ECD) are processed within a service-oriented architecture-based platform. The platform provides condition-based energy consumption warning, online diagnostics of energy-related problems, support to manufacturing process lines installation and ramp-up phase and continuous improvement/optimisation of energy efficiency. The systems monitor energy consumption using AmI and KM technologies. Together they create a decision support system as an innovative add-on to currently used energy management systems. Findings – The systems produce an improvement in energy efficiency in manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The systems provide more comprehensive information about energy use and some knowledge-based support. Research limitations/implications – Prototype systems were trialled in a manufacturing company that produces mooring chains for the offshore oil and gas industry, an energy intensive manufacturing operation. The paper describes a case study involving energy-intensive processes that addressed different manufacturing concepts and involved the manufacture of mooring chains for offshore platforms. The system was developed to support online detection of energy efficiency problems. Practical implications – Energy efficiency can be optimised in assembly and manufacturing processes. The systems produce an improvement in energy efficiency in manufacturing SMEs. The systems provide more comprehensive information about energy use and some knowledge-based support. Social implications – This research addresses two of the most critical problems in energy management in industrial production technologies: how to efficiently and promptly acquire and provide information online for optimising energy consumption and how to effectively use such knowledge to support decision making. Originality/value – This research was inspired by the need for industry to have effective tools for energy efficiency, and that opportunities for industry to take up energy efficiency measures are mostly not carried out. The research combined AmI and KM technologies and involved new uses of sensors, including wireless intelligent sensor networks, to measure environment parameters and conditions as well as to process performance and behaviour aspects, such as material flow using smart tags in highly flexible manufacturing or temperature distribution over machines. The information obtained could be correlated with standard ECD to monitor energy efficiency and identify problems. The new approach can provide effective ways to collect more information to give a new insight into energy consumption within a manufacturing system.

This study evaluates the productivity of energy efficiency (EE) measures taken at the regional level employing a set of non-parametric statistical methods. The first aspect is investigating the impact of various energy efficiency measures. A high proportion of the population lives in apartment buildings, with limited opportunities to manage their own energy efficiency. The second research aspect of this paper is the study of the effectiveness of various energy efficiency measures in the context of low energy prices. Our analysis indicates that only two tools exert a long-term positive effect on reducing the economy’s energy intensity for all regions. This is the use of combined heat sources in large cities and implementing ISO 50001 in large companies. These two energy efficiency measures work even under low energy prices, which do not sufficiently stimulate the introduction of innovative energy-saving technologies.