ASHRAE Audit Level 1
ASHRAE Level 1: Walk-through
The ASHRAE Level 1 audit is a basic audit of a building that is also known as a simple audit, a screening audit, or a walk-through audit. During this type of audit, the facility staff is briefly interviewed, the utility bills and other relevant operating data are reviewed, and a limited walk-through of the building is conducted to survey its systems and operations. The ASHRAE Level 1 audit is useful in identifying high-level opportunities for energy and cost savings. The resulting report provides potential no-cost and low-cost energy conservation measures, a summary of utility data, and potential capital improvements that warrant further consideration. This report is a tool that building owners can use to determine how well the building is performing and serves as a baseline for measuring future improvements. It can also help building owners prioritize energy-efficient projects or determine if further evaluation is needed.
The ASHRAE Level 1 audit is a walk-through audit that aims to identify energy efficiency measures (EEMs) while keeping the engineering time and costs to a minimum. The report provides an estimate of savings and costs associated with each measure, but they are rough estimates. The primary focus of the report is on low-cost and no-cost measures, although capital measures are also identified if found necessary. In addition, the report includes a summary of utility data, an estimation of savings associated with a rate change, calculation of the energy use index, benchmarking, and targeting.
For small buildings that consume very little energy, conducting an ASHRAE Level 1 audit is sufficient. These buildings may not have significant energy savings potential, and therefore conducting more advanced audits may not be the most practical option.
We often conduct ASHRAE Level 1 audits for clients who want to achieve LEED-EB certification, as these audits are a prerequisite for obtaining LEED-EB status.
The ASHRAE Level 1 Energy Audit process involves conducting an Energy Star PEA and walkthrough of the facility. The report provides limited cost, savings, and payback data and primarily focuses on a qualitative analysis. This level of audit is sufficient for developing an energy project that includes basic no-cost and low-cost energy-saving measures. The audit cost usually ranges from $800 to $3,500, depending on the building's size.