ARCHIVED - Audit Standards Guidelines – The Federal Buildings Initiative
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2. Introduction
There are various forms of building audits available to facility managers. Audits may cover the building as a whole or be very specific, covering certain systems or building operations. Audits may also be characterized by the degree of detail provided. Here are a few specific types of audits:
- energy
- lighting
- electrical systems
- mechanical systems
- operations
- maintenance
- air quality
- waste management
- environmental
Energy managers use the term "energy audit" to include elements of all these specific audit types. As the term can be quite subjective, it is important to realize that certain types of energy audits have different connotations, especially for individuals that work with buildings on a day-to-day basis. Energy managers also recognize that energy audits may be provided in varying degrees of detail (or levels). This report summarizes four distinct levels of energy audits: yardstick, screening, walkthrough and engineering. Each varies in terms of scope, data requirements, complexity, deliverables, time to complete and cost.
The key to a successful energy audit is identifying its goals and scope as early as possible. The scope, data requirements, complexity and deliverables of each audit level are discussed in Section 4. Section 3 discusses the terms for energy auditing as they relate to the FBI program. Draft terms of reference for requesting an audit are provided in Section 5. Sample forms, worksheets and graphs, which may be used in data collection and as deliverables at specific audit levels, are included in the appendices.
The information contained herein should be used as a guide only. Final specifications for requesting an energy audit for your facility should be reviewed with experienced building technicians or qualified engineers. Care should be taken to request the appropriate level of energy audit for the specific system, building or facility to get to the next decision level, to ensure you get the most for your budget.
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