GEP Environmental completes Building Energy Efficiency Audits at Thorns Collegiate Academy

A building energy efficiency audit is designed to help businesses run their buildings more efficiently and has both practical and behavioural elements. Through a combination of data collection and on-site research, the audit focused on key efficiency areas, assessing energy and water consumption over a 12-month period and offering suggestions to improve the building’s energy efficiency.

Building Energy Efficiency Audit Results

While every building energy efficiency audit is different, many of the recommendations we make to organisations are similar. The most common audit suggestions include:

• Implementation of lighting controls: installing occupancy presence detection type sensors to the lighting circuits allow lights to automatically switch off once rooms become vacant for a period, reducing energy use and overall cost.
• BMS settings: a building management system is a tool that introduces a hierarchy of solutions that optimises the way a business is run and managed. Optimising the BMS from the ‘automatic’ functions allows for greater control of the systems in place.
• Heating system insulation: installing further insulation within the system allows a business to run heating activities more efficiently.
• Solar PV system: introducing solar panels allows businesses of all sizes to reduce reliance on grid electricity and reduces the costs associated with purchasing electricity.
• Electric heat system upgrade: modern electrical heating systems benefit from being more energy efficient and are a recommendation we offer to many businesses.

• Cavity wall and ceiling insulation: cavity wall and ceiling insulation makes the building more airtight, reducing the flow of air and allowing for a safer and more effective building.
• Double glazing: as always, double glazing is an excellent way to optimise heat and cooling, increasing thermal resistance and protecting occupants from harmful UV rays.

For more information about ways that the GEP Environmental team could make your building more energy efficient, get in touch today.