Conduct an Energy Audit

For most Oregon businesses, the easiest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to improve energy efficiency – thereby reducing energy use. Even small businesses can find numerous ways to minimize their climate impact by reducing energy consumption. Many of these steps are inexpensive or even free. And surprisingly often, up-front investments to reduce energy bills have short payback periods and high returns on investment.

The first step in an emissions reduction plan is to conduct an energy audit. An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of a company’s energy use throughout its operations. An energy audit will identify the most cost-effective opportunities for energy savings.

Through its Save Energy Now program, the US Department of Energy provides free energy audits for businesses. For large, energy-intensive facilities, USDOE energy experts will provide a comprehensive systems assessment.

Small and medium-sized manufacturers can get a free assessment through the Oregon Industrial Assessment Center at Oregon State University.

For lists of qualified private firms that conduct energy audits see the Energy Trust's Trade Ally Network and the Oregon Department of Energy List of Qualified Auditors and the Bonneville Power Administration Northwest Energy Efficiency Business Listing.

For schools and public buildings, see the Oregon Department of Energy List of Qualified Auditors listed above.

For those who would prefer to do it themselves, see the Guidebook for Performing Walk-Through Energy Audits of Industrial Facilities [PDF 812 KB], produced by the Bonneville Power Administration; Guidelines for Energy Management Overview from the US Environmental Protection Agency; and the Quick Plant Energy Profiler by the US Department of Energy.

In addition, Energy Star’s On-line Energy-Use Comparison Calculator gives small business owners a rough idea how their energy usage compares to other similar businesses in the area.

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