Brittany Farrell, Senior Researcher at Clean Power Research, recently published an article in AESP’s Energy Intel quarterly magazine (page 61). The article illustrates how utilities can use existing energy-usage data and innovative modeling to audit the energy efficiency of homes and buildings in an entire region or coverage area—a “bulk audit.”
This method is significantly more expedient and cost-effective than in-person audits. These virtual bulk audits enable utilities to plan, promote and assess utility programs focused on energy efficiency and weatherization.
“As the US moves increasingly towards higher efficiency and electrification, individual home and building owners have a crucial role to play—to invest in upgrading their properties towards meeting local, state, and national efficiency and carbon reduction goals. But which homes need upgrades, and where do they start?
Utilities providing natural gas and electricity have been helping homes and businesses answer these exact questions by offering energy audits. During an audit, an energy auditor or contractor goes into the building and catalogs the exterior surfaces and major systems (heating, cooling, etc.). They may also perform tests, such as a blower door test, to assess the infiltration or airflow through the building. Depending on the size of the building and complexity of the audit, it may take up to several hours to complete the home visit and generate a report of suggested improvements…
The 2020 Census reported 126.8 million households in the US, how do we audit all of them?”
Read the entire article here!