If your electricity and gas bills keep rising while your HVAC systems age out, you're not alone—and you're right to question it. Most commercial buildings waste up to 30% of the energy they purchase—thanks to outdated lighting, poor controls, and inefficient mechanical systems.
That waste cuts directly into your bottom line. And rising utility costs are just the start.
To qualify for financing like C-PACE or energy loan programs, you’ll need a documented building energy audit that proves a savings-to-investment ratio above 1. And with the federal refrigerant phase-out now in effect, assessing your equipment is more urgent than ever. Add ESG reporting pressure from investors and tenants, and it’s clear: you need real data, not rough estimates.
That’s where we come in. An Energy Audit from Emerald Built Environments turns rising costs, regulatory deadlines, and sustainability goals into a clear, data-backed action plan. We identify how your building uses—and loses—energy, then outline exactly what to do about it.
What Is an
Energy Audit?
An energy audit is a detailed analysis of how your building consumes energy—and how to use it more efficiently. We follow four clear steps:
- Data Collection: Review historical utility bills, equipment specs, and operating schedules to establish a building performance baseline.
- Field Survey: Inspect and document the existing conditions of HVAC, lighting, controls, and the building envelope to identify inefficiencies.
- Analysis: Benchmark your building’s energy performance, model potential savings, and rank Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) by ROI.
- Recommendations: Receive a practical, prioritized plan that includes costs, savings, and paybacks for actionable upgrades.
The result? Smarter decisions backed by data. Our energy audit services help you reduce operating expenses, improve occupant comfort, boost asset value, and meet regulatory demands. In fact, the EPA reports that energy efficiency upgrades can reduce operating costs by 10% and increase asset value by 3x the investment.
What a Building Energy Audit Really Delivers
Immediate Cost Relief
Most audits uncover savings opportunities of 15% to 30%, often with a payback of under three years.
Incentive & C-PACE Readiness
Meet eligibility criteria for grants, rebates, and low-interest energy financing programs.
Strategic Capital Planning
Use audit insights to align equipment upgrades with lifecycle planning and budget cycles.
Regulatory & Refrigerant Compliance
Prepare for the refrigerant phase-down and stricter local energy codes before they disrupt operations.
Carbon Reduction & ESG Reporting
Track and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions while showing measurable progress to stakeholders.
Improved Comfort & Tenant Retention
Enhance indoor environmental quality with better lighting, ventilation, and temperature control.
Why Energy Audits Are Gaining Momentum
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings in the U.S. waste $150 billion in energy annually due to inefficiencies such as outdated systems and poor controls. Energy audits are one of the most effective ways to capture these savings. Having data-driven insights allows owners to prioritize upgrades in a cost-effective strategy that can tie into existing building-wide capital improvement or facility maintenance plans.
Learn More in Our Blogs
Curious how an energy audit fits into your building management strategy? We’ve got you covered. From cutting energy costs to hitting net-zero targets, our blog dives deeper into the strategies that turn building challenges into opportunities. Check out these articles to keep learning:
Energy Audits & Engineering Assessments: What's Right for Your building
When it comes to running a building efficiently, there's no one-size-fits-all approach.
Key Building Management Practices for Existing Buildings
It’s not a far stretch for many of us in the real estate world to relate to the phase “because we’ve always done it that way.”
Power Up Your Profits: Turn Energy Efficiency Goals into Reality
With energy prices rising steadily, energy efficiency has become more than a checkbox on a sustainability agenda
Beyond Energy Efficiency: Achieving Net-Zero with a Whole-Building Approach
Imagine walking into a building that powers itself, slashes energy bills, and boosts its market value.
Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Saving?
Whether your goal is to cut costs, unlock financing, or meet new regulations, a commercial energy audit is your smartest first step. Emerald Built Environments, a Crete United Company, brings national expertise and a tailored approach to uncovering savings in the built environment.
Let’s uncover the savings hiding in plain sight.