LOS ANGELES, CA · ENERGY
Commercial energy audits in Los Angeles.
We run commercial energy audits in Los Angeles. We find where HVAC and controls waste energy, then rank fixes by cost and payback so your budget goes to the right ones.
Find the waste before you buy the upgrade.
Most commercial buildings are paying for energy they never use. A proper commercial energy audit puts numbers on it: where the waste is, what the fix costs, and what it returns. From there, efficiency consultants sequence the upgrades so the cheap wins pay for the big ones.
The audit also tells you when the answer is bigger than efficiency. High demand charges point at battery storage; aging equipment points at a mechanical replacement that pays back in utility savings. Either way, you decide with real numbers on the table.
START HERE
How we audit energy use in Los Angeles commercial buildings
A commercial energy audit is an engineering review of how your Los Angeles building uses energy. We walk the site, pull utility data, and study how HVAC, controls, and equipment actually run. HVAC alone can be 40 to 50 percent of the energy a commercial building uses, so we look there first. Duct leakage can waste 20 to 30 percent of heating and cooling energy. Then we rank what we find. An ASHRAE Level I audit can uncover no-cost adjustments that cut energy costs 5 to 10 percent. A Level II or III audit goes deeper. Many City of Los Angeles buildings also report energy and water use under the Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency Ordinance, so we line our findings up with that reporting.
Benchmarking rules shape the audit you buy in Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency Ordinance took effect January 1, 2017. LADWP points commercial owners to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to obtain and track energy and water use for that reporting. State law also calls for statewide building energy use benchmarking. Across California, mandatory audits generally start with commercial and multifamily buildings over 20,000 square feet, but the exact rules and deadlines vary by jurisdiction. We confirm what applies to your address before we set scope, so you buy the audit level you need and not more.
Audit level choice
Choosing the right commercial energy audit level in Los Angeles
Level I walk-through
SCOPE
A Level I audit finds easy, no-cost adjustments to equipment. Those changes alone can cut energy costs 5 to 10 percent.
Level II or III study
CAPITAL
These are more systematic and go deeper. Pick one when you plan capital work and need firm numbers to defend the spend.
Budget by square foot
BUDGET
Commercial energy audits commonly run about $0.08 to $0.24 per square foot. Size and system complexity move that number.
Past audit history
HISTORY
If an earlier audit was done and its measures were installed, remaining savings may be small. Tell us what was already completed.
PROJECT PLANNING
What we check during commercial energy audits in Los Angeles
- HVAC setpoints, run times, and control sequences, since HVAC can be 40 to 50 percent of building energy use.
- Duct and air distribution leakage, which can account for 20 to 30 percent of heating and cooling energy loss.
- LADWP energy and water data read against how the building is actually occupied and scheduled.
- Equipment age and condition, so we can tell repairs apart from replacements.
- Measures from any earlier audit that were approved but never installed.
WHAT WE HANDLE
Everything under the energy door.
MANAGEMENT
Before you buy
What to ask before buying commercial energy audits in Los Angeles
- Ask whether the audit covers HVAC control sequences and run schedules, not just an equipment list.
- Ask how no-cost and low-cost measures will be reported apart from capital measures.
- Ask for every measure ranked by cost and savings, since most facility budgets are limited.
- Ask how the findings will feed your ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager entries for City of Los Angeles reporting.
- Ask what the auditor does if an installed measure does not show up as savings on the LADWP bill.
BEFORE YOU BUY
How we turn a Los Angeles energy audit into work you can approve
Findings ranked by payback
REPORT
Every measure gets a cost, a savings estimate, and a payback. You fund the top of the list first.
No-cost measures first
QUICK WINS
HVAC control and schedule changes often cost nothing. Weak audits miss them, so we test them before we propose new equipment.
Permit needs flagged early
PERMITS
Building, electrical, and plumbing work in Los Angeles runs through LADBS for permits and inspections. We flag that before scheduling.
Benchmarking stays current
COMPLIANCE
We hand back energy and water data in a form your team can enter in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for City of Los Angeles reporting.
ASKED IN LOS ANGELES
Common questions about commercial energy audits in Los Angeles
Is an energy audit worth the cost?
VALUE
Often yes. Average savings land around 10 to 20 percent, and some facilities see more. Buildings that have run for years without an audit usually have the most to gain.
What are the three types of energy audits?
LEVELS
ASHRAE Level I, II, and III. Level I is a walk-through that finds quick wins. Level II and III are deeper studies used for capital planning.
Can I do my own energy audit?
IN-HOUSE
Your team can track use in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Finding HVAC control waste takes testing and engineering review, and that is what our audit adds.
Do you have to pay for an energy audit?
COST
We quote paid audits by building size, complexity, and level. LADWP also lists commercial programs and rebates, so review those before you sign anything.
Project in Los Angeles?
Tell us the building, exact scope, and target date. Flux will review the request and send the next step.
QUESTIONS
Straight answers.
Does my Los Angeles commercial building have to report energy use?
The City of Los Angeles Existing Building Energy and Water Efficiency Ordinance has been in effect since January 1, 2017, and LADWP directs owners to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to obtain and track energy and water use. State law also calls for statewide benchmarking. We confirm what applies to your address before we scope the audit.
Is a commercial energy audit required in Los Angeles, or just benchmarking?
They are not the same duty. Benchmarking is reporting energy and water use. In California, mandatory audits generally apply to commercial and multifamily buildings over 20,000 square feet, but requirements and deadlines vary by jurisdiction. We check the current City of Los Angeles rules for your building first.
What does a commercial energy audit cost in Los Angeles?
Commercial energy audits commonly run about $0.08 to $0.24 per square foot. Building size, system complexity, and the audit level drive the price. We quote after a short call about your building and what you plan to do with the report.
Will the fixes from an audit need permits in Los Angeles?
Many control and schedule changes need no permit. Equipment replacements and electrical or plumbing work go through LADBS for permits and inspections. We mark which measures need permits in the report so your budget and schedule stay realistic.
GET STARTED
Find the waste in your building.
The audit is free to scope, and most audits find their fee several times over. Tell us about the building and we'll price yours.
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