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.