WSU Energy Program
RCM Exchange
RCM Exchange
Support for Resource Conservation Managers

Facility Audit

The purpose of the RCM facility audit is to document existing equipment, conditions and resource use patterns. In the audit process, data is gathered to develop strategies for improving resource efficiency.

Information from the audit is summarized in a report, complete with calculations of cost, savings and payback for different strategies. The audit report becomes the basis for preliminary decisions about resource efficiency investments (see Audit Report & Action Plan). Additional analysis will likely be needed when capital funds are necessary to implement a project.

Custodians, facility operators and maintenance staff are critical to development of the RCM audit. They are your best sources for learning how your facilities operate. Every day they respond to the needs of occupants, and maintain equipment and structures. They can be invaluable allies, but they may also be apprehensive about how resource conservation may affect their daily work. Cultivate your relationships with them carefully and patiently.

Pre-Audit Activities

Begin by reviewing all resource accounting data. Note any anomalies or areas of interest that you may want to investigate during your discussions with the facility operator or during the facility walk-through. From the utility data get the number of utility meters assigned to each facility. Locate these meters (water and energy) during your visit. The following tools may help:

Review any previous energy studies or condition surveys. These could provide useful information and may be a source for resource conservation analyses that have not been incorporated into action plans. To locate these studies, check with the facilities director, maintenance manager, your state energy office and the local utility. See the Facility Survey form.

Provide resource conservation training and information (facility-specific operation checklists) to the facility operators, cooks and maintenance staff. This will enable them to provide useful input during the audit. It will also heighten their awareness and get them thinking about resource usage at their facilities.

Prior to your visit, fill out as much as you can of the facility and occupancy description on the RCM Audit Form (.xls file). Most of this can be done using resource billing information and facility architectural plans. Section A of the RCM Audit Form can be completed during the pre-audit interview with facility operators, just before the walk-through. Use a questionnaire to make your time with the facility operator as productive as possible. Keep in mind that RCM activities are added duties for facility operators and staff. Be sure to let them know their input is valuable and their efforts are appreciated.

Use the following tools as templates:

The RCM Audit Form (.xls file) also contains a keyword list of RCM opportunities. Review the list of opportunities so you are familiar with them before conducting the audit. You may want to take the list along as a reference. The descriptions are somewhat generic, and you may need to modify them to more closely match your situation.

Obtain a copy of an uncluttered floor plan on 8½ x 11 or 11 x 17 inch paper (a fire escape plan works well). You may have to draw a simple floor plan from the architectural plans. This will be used to document:

Facility Operator Pre-Audit Interview Set up an interview with facility operators and appropriate maintenance staff. Be sure to include people who:

The interview should take between 30 and 60 minutes. Bring an annual summary of the resource accounting data showing monthly profiles of energy consumption, electric demand, water use and garbage service. Discuss any anomalies that may be present in the data. Also have energy use index (EUI) figures in British thermal units per square foot per year for comparison with other facilities in the organization. You may want to use the Facility Survey Form together with the RCM Audit Form. The survey form provides questions that will help you complete sections of the audit form prior to the walk-through. With the facility operator, review the floor plan and make changes. Make sure to keep a clean set of floor plans. These will be used at the completion of the audit for the transfer of field notes.

The RCM Audit

When you schedule audits, be sure to arrange them so that people who know the facilities can accompany you. This includes those who have access to all mechanical spaces and are knowledgeable about operations and occupancy schedules (see list of people in “Facility Operator Pre-Audit Interview” above).

How Long Will the Audit Take?
It depends on the level of detail you want and the size and complexity of the facility. For facilities that are 30,000 to 200,000 square feet, expect to spend three to six hours. Some energy-saving opportunities are more complex and take more time to quantify. A lighting upgrade recommendation may require that you count all the fixtures in the facility. This is time consuming, but necessary to determine whether the project is worth pursuing. In this example, you could take representative samples that you can analyze to determine if a full count is warranted.

Be Thorough During the Audit
Take detailed photos to document mechanical equipment, lighting, interior spaces, windows, roofs, walls and doors. Indicate on the floor plans the location and direction from which photos are taken. Download digital images immediately after the audit, so the information is fresh in your mind and you can document what the photos show.

Talk to building occupants for their perspectives regarding comfort, lighting levels, occupancy patterns, indoor air quality and hours of operation. This may lead to other opportunities for energy and cost savings.

Identify RCM Opportunities
What you learn during your audit and resource accounting will help identify efficiency opportunities. As you consider the possibilities, involve those who are impacted to ensure that any change will be accepted.

Prepare a Report & Action Plan
See RCM Audit Report & Action Plan for details.

WSU Energy Program, 905 Plum St SE Bldg 3, POB 43165, Olympia WA 98504-3165 USA, 360-956-2000, Contact Us/Funding