Free Building Energy Audit Checklists

What Is a Building Energy Audit?

A building energy audit is a systematic assessment of how a building uses energy — examining systems, controls, the building envelope, and operational patterns — to identify inefficiencies and develop energy conservation measures (ECMs) with quantified costs and savings. The findings are delivered in a report that allows owners to make evidence-based decisions about which improvements to implement and in what order.

Audits serve multiple objectives simultaneously: reducing operating costs, meeting compliance requirements (local benchmarking ordinances, LEED, net-zero targets), supporting ESG reporting, improving occupant comfort, and building the business case for capital upgrades or energy performance contracts.

What Does a Building Energy Audit Cover?

ASHRAE Energy Audit Levels

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) defines three progressive levels of building energy audit under ASHRAE Standard 211 , the industry-standard framework for commercial building energy audits adopted by over 40 US jurisdictions. Each level builds on the previous — increasing in depth, cost, and the precision of savings estimates.

Level 1: Walk-Through Analysis

A high-level screening audit. The auditor reviews 12 or more months of utility bills, calculates the building's Energy Use Intensity (EUI) , benchmarks it against similar buildings using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and conducts a brief site walk-through. Findings focus on obvious operational inefficiencies and low- or no-cost ECMs.

• Best for: Establishing a performance baseline, screening a portfolio for buildings that warrant deeper analysis, or meeting basic benchmarking ordinance requirements.

• Typical duration: 1–2 days on-site; report delivered in 2–4 weeks.

• Typical cost: $0.05–$0.15 per sq ft ($2,500–$7,500 for a 50,000 sq ft building).

Level 2: Energy Survey and Analysis

The most commonly procured audit level. Builds on Level 1 with a detailed breakdown of energy consumption by end-use (cooling, heating, lighting, plug loads), in-depth inspection of all major energy-consuming systems, interviews with building operations staff, and a preliminary financial analysis for each recommended ECM — including projected savings, implementation cost, and simple payback period.

A Level 2 audit provides enough detail to justify project implementation without further analysis for most ECMs. In 2025, Level 2 audits increasingly incorporate real-time data from building analytics platforms and include GHG emissions assessments alongside cost and energy data.

• Best for: Most commercial buildings seeking to identify and prioritize energy improvements; required by many municipal ordinances (NYC Local Law 87, LA EBEWE, Boston BERDO).

• Typical duration: 2–6 months from kickoff to final report, depending on building size and complexity.

• Typical cost: $0.10–$0.30 per sq ft ($15,000–$45,000 for a 150,000 sq ft building).

Level 3: Investment-Grade Audit (Detailed Analysis)

The most rigorous level, reserved for major capital projects. Builds on Level 2 with temporary submetering of key systems, extended monitoring periods, calibrated whole-building energy modeling, and detailed contractor pricing. The output is an investment-grade report suitable for energy performance contracts, C-PACE financing, or large-scale retrofit decisions where the stakes are too high to act on Level 2 estimates alone.

• Best for: Organizations that have completed a Level 2 audit, identified high-capital ECMs, and need precise savings predictions before committing investment.

• Typical duration: 3–9 months.

• Typical cost: $0.25–$0.50+ per sq ft; six-figure fees are common for large or complex buildings.

How to Conduct a Building Energy Audit

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to perform a comprehensive energy audit for your organization:

Phase 1: Pre-Audit Scoping and Data Collection

Before the site visit, define the audit scope and gather baseline documentation:

1. Define scope and level — confirm the audit level, which systems are in scope, the applicable compliance requirements, and the client's primary objectives (cost reduction, compliance, ESG reporting, decarbonization roadmap).

2. Collect utility data — obtain at least 24 months of utility bills for electricity, gas, steam, and water. Interval data (15-minute or hourly) is preferable for identifying demand patterns and sub-metering opportunities.

3. Gather building documentation — architectural and MEP drawings, equipment schedules, as-built BAS sequences of operation, maintenance logs, occupancy schedules, and any prior audit reports.

4. Calculate baseline EUI — compute the building's Energy Use Intensity (kBtu/sq ft/year) and compare against CBECS benchmarks or ENERGY STAR for the building type. Normalize for weather (heating/cooling degree days) and occupancy where applicable.

5. Identify dominant end-uses — use utility interval data or submetering to determine which systems drive the highest consumption. This guides where to focus field time.

Phase 2: On-Site Assessment

The site visit is the core fieldwork phase. Depending on audit level, this may be a single walk-through or a multi-day detailed inspection with measurements.

Building envelope:

• Inspect insulation levels in roof, walls, and floor assemblies — note type, estimated R-value, and any visible deficiencies

• Assess window performance — frame condition, glazing type, visible condensation or air leakage

• Check air sealing at penetrations, mechanical rooms, loading docks, and building perimeter

• Note orientation, shading, and solar gain exposure for ECM analysis

HVAC systems :

• Record equipment nameplate data — manufacturer, model, capacity, efficiency rating (SEER, COP, EER), and installation year

• Observe operating conditions — supply/return temperatures, setpoints, scheduling, and economizer status

• Check controls and BAS sequences — verify setpoints match design intent and that schedules reflect actual occupancy

• Inspect maintenance status — filter condition, coil cleanliness, belt condition, refrigerant charge indicators

• Identify simultaneous heating and cooling, excessive reheat, or other operational inefficiencies

Lighting:

• Inventory fixture types, wattage, and controls by zone

• Document occupancy sensors, daylight dimming, and scheduling controls

• Identify opportunities for LED retrofit, de-lamping, or controls upgrades

Domestic hot water:

• Record system type, storage capacity, fuel, and efficiency rating

• Check distribution temperature and insulation on distribution piping

• Identify recirculation loop losses and point-of-use heater opportunities

Plug loads and process equipment:

• Inventory major electrical equipment with nameplate wattage and estimated operating hours

• Identify equipment left on overnight or during unoccupied periods

BAS/BMS:

• Review control sequences for major systems — verify they match current design intent

• Check sensor calibration status and BAS trend log availability

• Note fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) capability

Submetering (Level 2/3):

• Confirm existing submetering coverage — which end-uses are currently metered separately

• Identify submetering gaps that limit end-use disaggregation

• Install temporary data loggers where additional measurement is required for Level 3 analysis

Phase 3: Analysis, ECM Development, and Prioritization

With field data collected, the auditor performs engineering analysis to quantify savings for each potential ECM:

• Energy use disaggregation: Break total utility consumption into end-uses (cooling, heating, lighting, plug loads, DHW, other) using metered data, end-use models, or engineering estimates. This confirms where savings potential is greatest.

• ECM development: For each identified measure, calculate:

• Estimated annual energy savings (kWh, therms, kBtu)

• Estimated annual cost savings ($)

• Implementation cost (equipment, labor, commissioning)

• Simple payback period (years)

• 20-year net present value where applicable

• ECM interactions: For Level 2/3 audits, model interactive effects between measures — for example, an LED retrofit reduces cooling loads but increases heating loads in cold climates. These interactions must be captured to avoid overstating aggregate savings.

• Tariff and demand analysis: Review the building's utility rate structure. Demand charges ($/kW) often represent 30–50% of a commercial electricity bill — ECMs that reduce peak demand (demand response, battery storage, load shifting) may offer savings disproportionate to energy reduction alone.

• Decarbonization and electrification screening: For organizations with carbon reduction targets, assess ECMs in the context of grid carbon intensity and electrification readiness — particularly heat pump feasibility to replace fossil fuel heating, and solar PV or battery storage potential.

• ECM prioritization: Rank measures by a combination of ROI, strategic fit, and implementation complexity. A typical prioritization tier:

• No- and low-cost operational measures (scheduling, setpoint optimization, controls tuning) — implement immediately

• Short-payback capital measures (LED lighting, variable frequency drives, BAS upgrades) — implement in Year 1–2

• Medium-payback measures (envelope upgrades, HVAC replacement, heat pumps) — plan and budget

• High-capital, long-payback measures (chiller plant replacement, major envelope retrofit) — evaluate for ESCO/C-PACE financing

• Energy modeling (Level 3): Where a calibrated energy model is required, validate it against measured utility data. ASHRAE Guideline 14 specifies acceptable calibration thresholds: CVRMSE ≤ 15% and NMBE ≤ 5% for monthly data. A well-calibrated model can then be used to predict savings for individual ECMs with high accuracy.

• Measurement and verification (M&V): For each implemented ECM, define how savings will be verified post-installation. The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) defines four options ranging from stipulated savings (Option A) to whole-facility metering (Option D). M&V requirements should be agreed before project implementation, not after.

Phase 4: Report and Implementation Planning

A complete building energy audit report includes:

1. Executive summary — building profile, EUI benchmarking result, total identified savings potential, and top ECM recommendations.

2. Utility analysis — historical consumption, EUI trend, end-use breakdown, and demand charge analysis.

3. Systems assessment — findings for each audited system with current condition, deficiencies noted, and improvement opportunities.

4. ECM summary table — each measure with energy savings (kBtu/year), cost savings (/year),implementationcost(/year), implementation cost ( /year),implementationcost(), and simple payback (years).

5. Implementation roadmap — prioritized ECM list with recommended sequencing, ownership, timeline, and funding options (rebates, incentives, C-PACE, IRA tax credits).

6. M&V plan — approach for verifying realized savings for each major ECM.

What to Include in a Building Energy Audit Checklist

Before fieldwork begins, define the audit scope across systems, locations, and applicable standards.

• Building Envelope - Inspect and document roof insulation, wall assembly, window performance, and air barrier continuity. Note thermal bridging, solar orientation, and shading for ECM analysis.

• HVAC - Inventory all major equipment with nameplate data; verify setpoints, schedules, economizer operation, and BAS sequences. Assess maintenance status and identify simultaneous heating and cooling or other operational inefficiencies.

• Lighting - Document fixture types, wattage, and controls by zone. Verify occupancy sensors, daylight dimming, and lighting schedules. Calculate LED retrofit opportunity and estimated wattage reduction.

• Domestic Hot Water and Process Loads - Record DHW system details and efficiency rating; check distribution piping insulation; inventory major plug loads with estimated operating hours.

• Utility and Metering - Confirm existing submetering coverage, identify end-use submetering gaps, and install temporary data loggers where required. Review demand charge structure and rate tiers.

• ECM Analysis and Report - Complete end-use disaggregation; analyze each ECM for energy savings, cost savings, implementation cost, and payback; model interactive effects; identify available incentives and rebates; define M&V approach; and produce a full audit report with executive summary, systems findings, ECM table, and implementation roadmap.

How to Choose a Qualified Building Energy Auditor

Assessing a building’s energy efficiency is more complex than it lookse that’s why  the right auditor makes all the difference. Here’s a few tips on how to choose the right auditor:

• Check credentials and look for Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) with energy auditing experience;

• Confirm ASHRAE Standard 211 compliance , especially if the audit is for regulatory compliance;

• Review sample reports . A quality Level 2 report should include end-use disaggregation, financial analysis for each ECM, and a clear implementation roadmap; not just a list of observations;

• Ask about decarbonization experience , increasingly, audits need to address electrification readiness, GHG emissions, and carbon accounting alongside energy cost savings; and

• Clarify deliverables and M&V . Agree upfront on what the report will contain, who owns the energy model (for Level 3), and how savings verification will be handled.