Preparing for an energy-efficiency consultation
A useful consultation starts with the building and its actual use. Gather a baseline and questions before comparing equipment or projected savings.
Work through the checklist
Record the building type, occupied hours and known comfort concerns. Gather utility bills covering comparable periods without sharing account credentials.
List existing equipment and any maintenance issues. Ask the consultant how weather, occupancy and tariffs are considered in an estimate.
Request a written scope, assumptions, costs and a way to evaluate results. Qualified specialists should assess electrical, structural and other safety-sensitive work.
A useful question
Are estimated savings guaranteed?
An estimate depends on assumptions and conditions. Ask which figures are measured, which are modelled and how uncertainty is presented before making a decision.
Make the baseline usable
For each bill, record the period, units consumed and relevant changes in occupancy or building use. Keep the amount charged separate from consumption because tariffs can change. Add notes about missing periods rather than treating them as zero use. Give the consultant a description of what you want to improve, such as understanding a recurring comfort complaint, and ask how the proposed investigation would test possible explanations before recommending an equipment purchase.