Lighting Energy Audits in Southern Maryland

As a business owner, you have a wide variety of bills that must be accounted for each month. One cost that often stands out is your energy bill. Lighting a commercial space can get rather pricey. At John Goudie Electric, we perform professional energy assessments to create a thorough report on how to reduce and improve your lighting system’s energy consumption. An energy audit is one of the smartest ways to reduce your energy usage and, in turn, lower your monthly bills.

To schedule an energy audit for your business in Southern Maryland, contact us online!

What Is an Energy Audit?

When assessing your business’s energy usage, we begin with the past. You should have copies of your previous energy bills (dating back a few years) available so that your auditor can gain a sense of your historical usage. This information helps the auditor know what to look for when assessing your property.

Property Assessment

The audit begins with physical surveillance. We will walk around your property to assess the size as well as the features of the building, such as the lighting layout and number and size of lights. We will use our light meter to read the lighting levels throughout your space and detect the variation in energy usage and power.

Q&A

From there, we will ask a few questions to gain an understanding of the building’s daily operations. Which rooms are used the most? What are the operating hours? What light fixtures are most used? What kind of lightbulbs do you have installed? Are you happy with the illumination in your office? Essentially, you will walk through your day-to-day with your auditor to explain how your lighting system operates. This will reveal areas where energy consumption can be reduced or monitored.

Lighting Improvements

As electricians, we have expert insight into how to most efficiently run lighting in a commercial building. Are all of your light fixtures running LEDs? LEDs are not only less expensive to run, but they also last longer than halogen or compact fluorescent bulbs. This longer working life means you won’t have to replace your bulbs as frequently, which also helps to save on lighting costs in the long-term. Our audits calculate your current lighting costs to compare them to the cost of running exclusively LED bulbs. If your business qualifies, we will perform an LED retrofit to improve your lighting energy load. We can also install occupancy sensors so that the lights are only on if the room is in use.

To learn more about our energy audit services in Maryland, contact us online.

Why Do I Need an Energy Audit?

An energy audit is the most efficient and effective way to understand your lighting’s energy usage and, in turn, improve it. If your energy bills have been climbing or your business is taking the initiative to reduce its carbon footprint, an energy assessment will give you the information you need to create a smart plan of action for reducing your energy use.

Beyond lower energy bills, what other benefits does a lighting energy audit include?

• Reduced environmental impact: Less energy use means less demand on non-renewable resources, as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
• Increased equipment lifespan: Since audits are all about efficiency, we assess the efficiency of your lighting and can tell you if a certain fixture or bulb is outdated and will benefit from being replaced by a more efficient model. This includes LED bulb and fixture replacements.
• Improved lighting system: Replacing your lightbulbs or reconfiguring your lighting system can lead to better illumination and a more even distribution of light throughout your space.

Schedule a Lighting Energy Audit in Southern Maryland

If you are looking to lower your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, or simply gain a better understanding of your building’s lighting use, an energy audit is the right choice for you. Our Goudie Electric team will make thoughtful recommendations for the best ways for your business to become more efficient. We serve all of Southern Maryland and the Washington, DC area from Fairfax County to St. Mary’s County.

Schedule your energy audit in Maryland or Virginia today by contacting us online!