Energy Audits for Libraries
Regardless of its size or age, a typical library might include offices, computer labs, stacks, and various other rooms for meetings and storage. Each area might have different occupancy levels, varying hours of operation, and specific energy requirements. Lighting quality and humidity control are a priority. Typically, the biggest energy consumers in a library are the mechanical (heating, cooling, and ventilation), lighting, and humidity control. Often the building envelop of a library will be aesthetically pleasing, but not well insulated.
An Envinity energy audit can address the specific needs of your library, uncovering energy inefficiencies and helping you prioritize retrofits and replacements in a cost-effective manner. Envinity will also provide recommendations—where warranted—for building automation, offering suggestions for air change, modulating fan speeds, and occupancy lighting. In the most severe cases, Envinity will model the building to size appropriate high efficiency replacements.
As part of a library energy audit, Envinity will examine the
- Building envelope (air infiltration, insulation, and weather stripping)
- Lighting systems and controls
- Water efficiency, heating, and conservation
- Equipment energy usage
Municipalities will receive a comprehensive energy management and conservation plan offering recommendations for retrofitting, replacement, and energy management opportunities. The plan will also include financial payback analysis, including estimated annual savings, estimated cost to implement, simple payback, and a savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) for each recommendation. This gives municipalities an opportunity to prioritize energy efficiency measures according to their budgets.
Although many efficiency measures pay for themselves within the first five years, it can still be a challenge to find funding to implement efficiency measures. Envinity works with libraries to help identify financing measures, offering grant writing services, funding identification, and low interest loan identification. Contact us today to find out how your library can save money and become more efficient with a comprehensive energy audit.
