Higher Education Utility Audits
Higher Education Energy Management
What’s driving up your energy consumption? UtiliSave understands the unique energy challenges facing colleges and universities today. With rising energy costs and increasing demand for sustainable efforts, it’s more important than ever for higher education facilities to maximize energy savings while maintaining comfortable and efficient environments for students, facilities and staff.
We find savings in 97% of the cases we see, and our success stories speak for themselves.
Higher Education Energy Audit
A higher education energy audit is a comprehensive assessment conducted at a college or university campus to evaluate energy usage, identify inefficient areas and recommend energy conservation and sustainability strategies. Qualified professionals or energy management firms typically conduct these assessments using their expertise in analyzing energy consumption patterns and building systems.
During a utility audit for colleges, professionals examine various aspects of energy usage, including heating, electricity, air conditioning, water usage, electrical appliances, building insulation and lighting systems. Utility cost recovery may involve data collection through utility bills, meter readings and on-site inspections of facilities and equipment.
The goals of a higher education energy audit include:
- Identifying opportunities for energy improvement to reduce energy consumption and costs
- Assessing the condition and performance of existing infrastructure and equipment.
- Prioritizing energy-saving measures based on their potential impact and cost-effectiveness.
- Recommending strategies and technologies for optimizing energy use and reducing environmental impact.
- Providing a roadmap for implementing energy measures and tracking progress over time.
There are three types of audits — walk-through energy audits, detailed energy audits and target energy audits. Utility cost recovery is divided into four phases — planning, investigating, implementing and sustaining. Proactive universities and colleges will repeat these steps continually to improve energy efficiency.
Energy Consumption Habits
The cheapest way to lower energy expenses in higher education is by forming better energy consumption habits, which include:
- Turning off computers when not in use.
- Keeping the thermostat within eight degrees of outside temperatures.
- Turning off lights during daylight hours when natural light is an alternative.
UtiliSave reviews your energy consumption habits and makes recommendations to reduce expenses.
The Value of a University Utility Audit
Utility costs typically represent 20-30% of the university’s total budget. Any inaccuracies in this area can profoundly affect the bottom line. Billing errors and incorrect rate structures are common culprits that can significantly impact your net profit. These errors may go unnoticed without a comprehensive audit, resulting in overpayments and wasted resources.
By uncovering and rectifying such discrepancies, universities can reclaim lost funds. Utility cost recovery can bolster your financial position and allow for reinvestment in core academic priorities. Our savings reports reference actual clients and the savings or refunds they received.
Get Utility Cost Recovery
Recoup money from your utility bills to enhance your company’s financial performance and boost your Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating by reducing the reported carbon footprint. Our in-house legal team specializes in utility billing-related issues and assists our auditors in fighting on behalf of our clients.
Contact us today to unlock hidden energy savings and create a greener future for generations to come.
