The energy audit is used to evaluate the company's energy consumption and to identify opportunities to improve energy performance. The final goal? Implement measures that, in the short or long term, will generate savings.
In other words, it is an opportunity to make long-term savings while contributing to environmental protection.
You may be wondering what is behind the term “energy audit”? Which companies are targeted? What budget should you plan for such a project? What elements are expected at the end of the audit? And what are the penalties for non-compliance? Here is a complete guide to building energy audits.
Building energy audit: what are the interests?
For companies subject to this regulation (see below the companies concerned), it's just about respecting the law. For all others, this offers an opportunity to better understand their energy consumption, to control this dimension and to act accordingly to improve their energy efficiency. The end goal? Reduce costs and optimize the financial performance of the company.
In addition to the energy audit, it can be beneficial to carry out a carbon assessment. While the energy audit focuses on energy efficiency, the carbon footprint allows a more comprehensive assessment of the company's environmental impact. This opens the door to new opportunities for improvement.
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Good to know A company energy audit report does not have to be public. It is only downloaded on a dedicated platform, for companies bound by this obligation. Thus, there is no risk of disclosure of sensitive data or sharing of strategic information with third parties.. |
Building energy audit: which companies are concerned?
About a decade ago, European directives regarding energy audits evolved, which was incorporated into French legislation via the DDADUE law in July 2013.
More specifically, a new section has been incorporated into the Energy Code, placing particular emphasis on energy efficiency within companies. This new addition was followed by the establishment of two decrees (in 2013 and 2014) as well as a decree in 2014.
To be subject to this energy audit obligation, companies must meet the following criteria over the last two accounting years:
- Employing more than 250 people;
- Achieving a turnover exceeding 50 million euros;
- Presenting a balance sheet greater than 43 million euros.
The audit must then be renewed at least every four years.
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Good to know Companies that apply the ISO 500001 standard for more than 80% of their energy consumption are exempt from this audit obligation. This standard already aims to optimize the energy performance of organizations and is therefore considered sufficient in itself. |
Building energy audit: content
The energy audit aims to improve the energy efficiency of the company, which directly translates into savings on energy bills.
At a minimum, an energy audit should include three main components:
- A detailed report on energy consumption, classified by type of use;
- An action plan to improve the energy performance organisation ;
- A table providing quantitative indicators for estimating the cost of recommended work and the time required to achieve a return on investment.
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Good to know A comprehensive, well-designed energy audit should examine at least 80% of the company's total energy expenditure. It is entirely possible to push the analysis even further. |
Who can carry out a building energy audit?
The energy audit can be carried out either by an employee of the company or by an external consultant. The mandatory condition is that the audit manager is accredited by COFRAC (via organizations such as OPQIBI, LNE, AFNOR, ICERT, etc.). To be legally valid, the audit must comply with several standards:
- NF EN 16247-1 for energy audits in general;
- NF EN 16247-2 for buildings;
- NF EN 16247-3 for industrial processes;
- NF EN 16247-4 for transport.
Building energy audit: the key stages
Generally, carrying out a complete and effective energy audit is broken down into five crucial steps:
- Define the scope of the audit, which may cover a specific site, workshop or process, as well as the objectives to be achieved.
- Choose the energy auditor responsible for carrying out the entire audit.
- Collect data to draw up an inventory of current energy consumption.
- Analyze this data to identify opportunities for improvement and estimate the financial savings that could result.
- Develop an audit report that includes a detailed action plan, including an estimate of the time required to achieve a return on investment.
Building energy audit: content of the report
The final report of an energy audit must include the following elements:
- The certificate number if the audit was carried out by an external service provider.
- Details to identify the audited company, such as the sector of activity.
- Energy consumption and the type of energy used for each area of energy use.
- A categorization of transportation activities, including the type and mode of vehicles used.
- The total cost of energy expenditure detailed by energy type.
- A classification of different opportunities for saving energy.
- A specific action plan for areas where improvements are possible.
- An assessment of the costs associated with these improvements and estimates of return on investment.
Building energy audit: how to submit the report?
The process is fairly straightforward. You must submit the energy audit report via the online platform managed by ADEME.
The Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (DREAL/DEAL), as well as the Regional and Interdepartmental Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Transport (DRIEAT), are responsible for verifying the conformity of documents submitted via the platform. These entities are also responsible for applying sanctions to companies that fail to comply with regulatory requirements.
Building energy audit: what are the sanctions in the event of non-compliance with the obligation?
Sanctions are possible in two situations:
- If the submitted file is incomplete or incorrectly completed (choice of a scope that does not comply with standards, missing documents, non-compliance with the prescribed method, etc.), the regulatory body will contact the company to clarify certain points and allow his file to be rectified. Failure to respond results in the application of sanctions.
- If no energy audit has been carried out, sanctions are also imposed.
In both cases, the sanctions are identical. If the company does not comply with the legal obligation to conduct an energy audit or submit a compliant file, it risks a fine of up to 2% of its turnover excluding taxes, based on the last closed financial year. . In the event of a repe
at offense, the penalty is doubled, reaching up to 4% of turnover excluding tax based on the last closed financial year.
Energy audit of the building: assistance
Carrying out an energy audit can represent a significant investment for a company.
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Good to know The cost of an energy audit depends on various factors such as the size of the company, its sector of activity and the specifics of the specifications. As a general rule, the fees for an audit in accordance with ADEME standard guidelines are between €4,000 and €10,000 for buildings below 20,000 m2. |
To help cover these expenses, the Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) offers various financial assistance. Subsidy rates vary depending on the size of the company:
- 50% of costs are covered for large companies, with the exception of mandatory audits.
- 60% is covered for medium-sized companies.
- 70% is subsidized for small businesses.
However, the aid amounts are capped:
- Up to €50,000 for diagnostic studies.
- Up to €100,000 for project support studies.
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