Between inflation and rising rates, energy costs are higher than ever. If it’s impacting your bottom line, it’s time to do something about it.
One of the best ways to lower energy costs in a commercial building? Energy efficiency testing. Energy efficiency testing pinpoints where you’re wasting energy and shows you exactly how to fix it.
If you’re looking for real ways to cut operating expenses, keep reading. We cover everything you need to know about commercial energy audits, blower door testing, duct blast testing, and more in this guide.
The Link Between Energy Efficiency, HVAC, and Energy Costs
Heating and cooling is the biggest energy expense for almost every commercial building. But, in most buildings, a lot of that energy is wasted. This happens for a few reasons:
- Inefficient HVAC systems need more energy to heat and cool effectively
- Poorly insulated buildings leak heat/AC
- Leaky air ducts let heated/cooled air escape constantly
All of these problems make it harder for your HVAC system to do its job, which results in higher energy bills. On top of that, they make the building uncomfortable for occupants and can even create health and safety risks.
What Is Energy Efficiency Testing?
The problem with most of the energy efficiency issues in a commercial building is that they’re invisible to the naked eye. A building science expert can make educated guesses about what’s wrong, but without testing, you won’t know exactly what’s making your energy bills so expensive.
Energy efficiency testing gives you real data about how your building uses (and loses) energy. With that information, you can make targeted improvements that save energy, reduce HVAC costs, and improve the building without wasting money on unnecessary or ineffective upgrades.
There are several types of energy efficiency tests for commercial buildings. These are some of the most common.
Commercial Energy Audits
A commercial energy audit is the most comprehensive evaluation of your building’s energy efficiency. It includes a thorough evaluation of your entire building, including:
- Insulation & Air Leakage – We use a blower door test and infrared scanning to evaluate insulation levels and find out exactly where heat is escaping/infiltrating.
- Duct Leakage Test – We determine how much air leakage is occurring in your HVAC duct system.
- HVAC System Evaluation – We evaluate your heating and cooling system’s efficiency and look for problems that could be causing it to use mor energy than necessary.
Included in your energy audit is a customized report detailing the results of each test. It also includes our recommendations for improvements that will have the biggest impact on your energy bills. When you work with e3 Power, you can be confident that we will only recommend upgrades you actually need. We are an independent energy efficiency testing company, which means we don’t offer any of the upgrades we recommend. We only provide testing to ensure our recommendations remain accurate and unbiased.
Blower Door Testing
Blower door testing measures the airtightness of a commercial building. If a building isn’t tightly sealed, it will have uncontrolled air leakage, which lets warm air escape during the winter and flood your building during the summer. This puts stress on your HVAC system and drives up costs.
Blower door testing helps building owners:
- Identify and seal leaks in the building envelope.
- Improve occupant comfort by eliminating drafts and temperature fluctuations.
- Meet energy code requirements in new buildings
- Verify the results of air sealing work
Duct Leakage Testing
Ductwork is one of the most important components of commercial HVAC system efficiency. Around 20-30% of all air that moves through a duct system is wasted due to leaks and poor connections. That means you’re paying for heat/AC that never even makes it into your building. A duct leakage test measures the amount of duct leakage that’s occurring and pinpoints leaks so they can be effectively sealed.
Drone Thermal Inspections
The outside of your building contributes to its energy efficiency just as much as the inside. But problem areas like the roof are difficult to access and often go unchecked. With drone inspections, we can safely and accurately inspect roofs and high-rise exteriors. Our drones are equipped with high-resolution infrared cameras to help us identify:
- Areas lacking proper insulation.
- Air leaks and improper attic venting.
- Water leaks and potential roof damage.
Benefits of Energy Efficiency Testing for Commercial Buildings
- Lower HVAC Costs
Finding and fixing inefficiencies in your building can drastically reduce your heating and cooling costs.
- Increased Property Value
Energy-efficient buildings are more attractive to tenants and buyers. Investing in energy efficiency testing and improvements can enhance market value and increase demand for commercial spaces.
- Enhanced Indoor Comfort
A well-optimized HVAC system provides consistent temperatures, better air quality, and reduced humidity fluctuations—leading to a more comfortable environment for employees, customers, and tenants.
- Sustainability and Compliance
Many cities and states are enforcing stricter energy efficiency regulations, including Denver. Conducting energy efficiency tests helps businesses stay compliant with local energy codes and regulations. At e3 Power, we use COMcheck to ensure new construction and renovation projects meet the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
Get Expert Energy Efficiency Testing in Denver, CO
Investing in energy efficiency today will lead to long-term savings, increased property value, and improved occupant comfort—making it one of the smartest financial moves for any commercial building owner.
e3 Power can help you take full advantage of the benefits of energy efficiency testing. We’ve been conducting energy audits, blower door testing, air leakage testing, and more since 2010 and have completed thousands of audits and tests.
