Our use of cookies 
Business energy audit
Discover how much your business can save on energy costs
Just enter your business postcode…
How much could you save?
Start saving now
- Receive competitive quotes in minutes
- Compare trusted UK based suppliers
- Best fixed electricity rates from our experts
Commercial energy audit
Energy audits are essential for businesses to enhance energy efficiency, lower costs, and reduce their carbon footprint. This guide explains each element of the business energy audit process and provides the following free resources for business owners:
- A free business energy audit checklist – Small businesses with simple operations can use our checklist to conduct their own energy audit without incurring the cost of professional services.
- Professional business energy audit – Ideal for larger businesses or those with specialist equipment. We recommend the services provided by our trusted partners.
What is an energy audit for businesses?
A business energy audit is a systematic assessment of how and where your company uses energy. The audit identifies areas where electricity and gas are wasted and highlights opportunities to improve efficiency.
A business energy audit provides a list of actionable recommendations to enhance business energy efficiency.
Here’s an overview of the process:
- Preparation – Collect data about energy consumption using smart business energy meter data, recent bills, or reports from your supplier. Analyse the data to understand current energy usage patterns.
- Equipment review – Examine each piece of equipment that uses electricity or gas to identify inefficiencies. Key areas typically include lighting, heating, cooling, machinery, and IT infrastructure.
- Recommendations – Prepare a list of proposed energy-saving measures, such as upgrading to energy-efficient lighting or installing smart sensors. Include a cost-benefit analysis for each recommendation.
Types of business energy audit
Below is a table summarising the different types of business energy audits, their purpose, and the types of companies they are best suited for.
| Business Energy Audit Type | Purpose | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Business Energy Audit Checklist Review | Identify obvious inefficiencies and quick wins with our free checklist. | Small businesses or those seeking a basic understanding of energy efficiency opportunities. |
| Professional Business Energy Audit | Support decision-making for large-scale energy-saving projects with in-depth analysis. | Large or energy-intensive businesses planning significant investments. |
| Targeted or System-Specific Audit | Address inefficiencies in specific systems or areas (e.g., HVAC, lighting, manufacturing). | Businesses with known energy issues or limited budgets for a full audit. |
| Business Energy Billing Review | Identify billing errors, unnecessary charges, and tariff optimisation opportunities by reviewing commercial gas and business electricity bills. | Businesses aiming to reduce business energy costs without operational changes. |
| Renewable Energy Feasibility Audit | Assess the potential for integrating renewable energy sources into operations. | Businesses focused on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. |
| Regulatory Compliance Audit | Ensure compliance with energy regulations like ESOS or SECR. | Large enterprises or public organisations subject to mandatory energy efficiency regulations. |
Business energy audit checklist
Most businesses can avoid the cost of hiring a professional energy auditor by conducting their own audit using our free checklist.
This straightforward checklist is ideal for small commercial properties, such as offices, without specialist machinery or equipment.
Professional business energy audit
If your business requires a professional on-site energy audit, we recommend the services provided by our trusted business energy supplier partners:
- E.ON business energy – E.ON’s Energy Audit and Assessment service begins with a desktop review of energy consumption data. This is followed by an on-site audit conducted by an energy manager, culminating in a comprehensive report.
- SSE business energy – SSE offers a nationwide team of engineers and technicians capable of performing detailed energy audit and compliance review. Their expertise can address even the most complex energy-related projects.
Cost of a business energy audit
The cost of a professional business energy audit can vary significantly. Below are some of the key factors that influence the cost:
- Size of commercial properties: Larger buildings or multiple sites require more time and resources to assess.
- Operations: Industries that use specialised equipment, such as manufacturing or food processing, often require auditors with specialised knowledge and more in-depth analysis.
- Integrated energy systems: Businesses with complex systems, such as integrated solar panels, face higher audit complexity, which can increase costs.
- Energy Management Systems: Businesses with an active EMS often have extensive data to monitor business energy usage, streamlining the audit process and reducing costs.
Most common findings in a business energy audit and how to fix them
Our business energy experts have outlined the most common opportunities identified during business energy audits. These opportunities are categorised as follows:
- Short-term business energy efficiency solutions – Eight recommendations that can be implemented with minimal time and cost.
- Long-term business energy efficiency solutions – Five recommendations that require significant investment to improve energy efficiency.
What are the benefits of a business energy audit?
The primary aim of a business energy audit is to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary electricity and gas consumption. Implementing the audit’s recommendations offers three key benefits:
Reduce business energy costs
All business energy contracts include a unit charge for each kWh of electricity and gas consumed, as measured by meter readings. By following the recommendations of a business energy audit, businesses can eliminate unnecessary energy usage.
The time and effort invested in conducting a business energy audit will quickly pay for itself through reduced business electricity prices and business gas rates.
Compliance with regulations
Large business energy customers and public organisations, such as the NHS, must comply with energy efficiency regulations, including ESOS and SECR.
Regular business energy audits are key to ensuring compliance with these requirements.
Enhancing sustainability
A business energy audit is critical in advancing sustainability by identifying opportunities to reduce energy waste and carbon emissions.
Implementing the recommendations from a business energy audit directly reduces carbon emissions because:
- Using a business gas connection for heating systems generates carbon dioxide. Improving gas efficiency directly reduces these emissions.
- The national grid still relies heavily on gas power stations to generate electricity, meaning electricity consumption has an associated carbon footprint. Reducing electricity usage indirectly reduces these emissions.