Energy always holds that special place in the balance sheet of industrial facilities and large service institutions. Often, energy alone constitutes more than 30% of the expenses recorded at the end of an institution’s fiscal year.

With focus on the industrial sector, where the market is very competitive and only those who are able to reduce their cost per produced unit are able to maintain a strong market position, considering energy efficiency and implementing energy conservation measures are as important as product quality and the supply chain.

The first step towards adopting an energy efficient manufacturing and processing approach is by conducting an energy audit. An energy audit is an advanced technical and financial study performed by qualified energy auditors and specialized engineers to assess the energy performance of the facility and quantify the energy usage at the site, highlight areas for potential savings and give the data from which performance indicators can be derived.

The energy audit is designed to determine where, when, why and how energy is being used. As a result, a set of recommendations known as Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) are identified, which lead to energy conservation and cost reduction.

As part of the European Union funded UNDP-CEDRO IV project activities, five energy audits were performed on three industries, one university campus and a mixed-use facility, to help them better manage their energy flow and reduce their production expenses.

The results led to impressive cost savings reaching 53% in some facilities, split between electrical energy and thermal energy savings. With an average potential of cost saving exceeding 39%, savings ranged between 22% and 55%.