Energy Audits and Certifications

Characteristics of energy audits and certifications. What are the differences between energy audit and certification? Its regulations, scope.

Previously comment that the confusion generated by the performance and “Scope of Audits Energetics”, remains somewhat confused and that we must clarify to be clear about the purpose of the audit of energy efficiency on built buildings.

(It should be remembered that the directive contemplates that they can be specific energy audits, or accompanied by a System of Energy Management, SGEn)

Audit Definition 2012/27/EU:

Chap.1 Art.1 25) «energy audit»: everything systematic procedure designed to obtain knowledge appropriate to the existing energy consumption profile of a building or group of buildings, of a facility or operation industrial or commercial, or a private or public service, as well as to determine and quantify the possibilities of saving of energy at an efficient cost and inform the respect;

DIRECTIVE 2012/27/UE establishes that:

(24) To take advantage of the savings potential of energy of certain market segments in which it does not energy audits are often offered commercially [such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)], Member States members should develop programs to encourage the development of energy audits in SMEs. audits energy must be mandatory and periodic for the large companies since the energy savings obtained can be significant. Energy audits should take into account relevant European or international standards, such as EN ISO 50001 (management systems of energy), or EN 16247-1 (energy audits), or, if they include an audit energy, EN ISO 14000 (environmental management systems), and, therefore, also be in accordance with the provisions of the Annex VI to this Directive, since those provisions they do not go beyond the requirements of those relevant standards. A European standard is currently under development specifically on energy audits.

(25) When audits energy tests are carried out by internal experts, the necessary independence would require that such experts not be directly involved in the audited activities.

(46) On the other hand, there must be a sufficient number of competent and reliable professionals in the field of energy efficiency in order to ensure the effective and timely application of this Directive, for example in terms of compliance with the requirements on energy audits and the obligations of energy efficiency. Consequently, the Member States have to establish certification systems for energy service providers, energy audits and other measures to improve energy efficiency.

(In Spain for energy audits we have UNE216501, October 2009)

The strict and close relationship between compliance with the European directives on energy efficiency, the use of energy audits and certifications, the relationship between both and the enormous improvement and advantages that they offer with regarding the energy efficiency certifications of the buildings. In this regard and apart from what we have seen so far, we will encounter two other pressures regulations: the Environmental Responsibility Law (26/2007) and the Draft bill on energy efficiency and energy renewable.

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The real estate certification process It will be reflected more or less as follows:

1)- ENAC, (National Accreditation Entity) body (RD 2200/1995) has the official function of "authorizing" to the Certification Entities. (By conventions, it could be the case that certification entities operate in Spain accredited by others, for example UKAS (the English ENAC)
2)- Certification Entities: These are the organizations that audit and evaluate the level of compliance with the requirements of the standard chosen by companies wishing to certified (“take an exam”) If passed, a certificate is issued certificate endorsed by ENAC (Aenor, Bureau Veritas, SGS, DNV…etc…)
3)- Consultants : An option of contracting by the company, which gives for an extensive debate from two points of view:

1. Consultants have a deeper understanding of the requirements of the standard and experience in the development of procedures, manuals and in the same process of the audit, procedures, manuals and in the same audit process energy.
2. The company may choose not to hire a consultant and with their own resources, prepare in a independent for energy audit. Technicians own have a greater knowledge of the company than certify and therefore can further customize the work.

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ISO 50001 In Audits Energetics:

Cycle PDCA, Plan – Do – Check – Act….»plan-do-check-act» focused on continuous improvement.

1. An energy management system serves to include energy practices into the system overall management of an organization.
2. Consists of the typical requirements of a security system. standard management, such as quality assurance, environmental management or the prevention of occupational hazards
3. Provides a tool for efficiently manage the use and consumption energy of any type of organization.
4. This is not just a tool to save energy if not to manage it efficiently (use and consumption) and establish action plans to continually improve.
5. It is based on the same cycle as the systems of standard management: plan, implement, check and review to continuously improve energy management of the organizations.
6. It is a voluntary application tool, which is implanted by decision of the organization itself as instrument for continuous efficiency improvement energy.
7. The Standard has a similar structure to the Standard ISO 14001.
8. It is compatible with other systems, being able to implement in an integrated manner with other standards such as the ISO 14001 or standards, ISO 9001 or OHSAS 18001. (Neither say that the fact of being certified in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 will greatly simplify ISO certification 50001.)

Energy, environmental, social and economic:

1. – Optimization of the use of energy (consumption energy efficient)
2. – Promotion of energy efficiency in organizations.
3. – Reduction of CO2 gas emissions to the atmosphere.
4. – Reduction of environmental impacts and proper use of natural resources
5. – Promotion of alternative energies and renewable,
6. – Image of commitment to development sustainable energy, a company committed to change climate.
7. – Savings on energy bills
8. – Reduction of energy dependence outside
9. – Reduction of the risks derived from the swing in resource prices energy.

As guidance documents for ISO 50001, offers:

1. ISO 50001 Application Guide (Created in Chile)
2. ISO 50001 Guide Requirements with guidance for its use.
3. ISO 50001 Guide All its characteristics. (With Practical Example)

There is also a Portal about it in Spain HERE and the Regulations in full for your shop HERE.

I end with a link, summary of the certifications international standards on sustainability that includes the ISO 14006 Ecodesign for Architecture studies. I think they are more or less those that are and are those that are and allows not to confuse the many "quality seals" currently available... HERE. In addition, you can find different Efficiency guides Energy, Energy Audits, procedure of the Energy Certificate and more in a post of this web…HERE.

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Article written by Luis Ruiz de la Fuente Perera (Energy Management Architect) for Home Repair Care

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