Utilities efficiency audit
With over 25% of greenhouse gases being emitted through energy used in residential and commercial buildings, and around 70% of our potable (drinking) water supplies being used in these same buildings, it makes sense that communities review the efficiency of each item of utility consuming equipment in the building. This should include a review of both individual units and common areas with a view to ensuring that maximum use is made of each unit of energy and water supplied to the community. Typical improvements include high efficiency lighting and switching from electric element to gas or heat pump water heating with solar thermal support together with recycling of waste water and heat.
Silver Asset Services utilises a five step energy efficiency improvement process as endorsed by the Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism which can be summarised as follows:
- Develop a utilities usage baseline
- Estimate the utilities savings from a potential utilities efficiency opportunity
- Evaluate the full costs and benefits of each utilities efficiency opportunity
- Measure the utilities usage and utilities savings
- Track the progress and performance of implemented opportunities