The energy audit industry has been largely unstructured, and ASHRAE and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) want to bring order to what they call the “Wild West” of the industry.
While energy audits are vital to ensuring energy efficient buildings, many vary greatly in scope, rigor, and quality, the associations contend. ASHRAE/ACCA Standard 211P, Standard for Commercial Building Energy Audits, will establish consistent practices for conducting and reporting energy audits for commercial buildings.
“Currently there is no standard that defines what constitutes an energy audit,” said Jim Kelsey, chair of the Standard 211P Committee. “Most practitioners in the energy audit industry are trying to do the right thing for their clients by finding projects and quantifying energy and cost savings in energy audits. However, without a consistent standard, we have seen the quality and approach to energy auditing vary widely throughout the industry. The standard has the potential to make a huge impact on completing energy saving projects in existing buildings.”
Standard 211P is open for public comment until Jan. 4, 2016. To comment or learn more, visit here.
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