Energy audits in the building industry: a long story?
Carrying out an energy audit has become a major challenge for all major companies, especially building professionals. Many are training to master the method delivered by standard NF EN 16-247. Regulations recognize this as the most effective.
“Do I have to do it now?”; “Does the regulatory injunction apply to the size of my company?”; “What do the application decrees say about my sector?”. At the start of the AFNOR energy audit training course, many professionals were looking for a way out of what was sometimes perceived as a chore. Yet the stakes are high. According to trainer Christophe Roland, “50% of energy is wasted”. Building professionals can expect energy savings of between 15% and 30%.
Some of them are aware of the progress that needs to be made. But lacking experience, they sometimes find it hard to place themselves on a scale of values. “We provide a whole series of technical references through energy performance indicators,” explains Christophe Roland. References that also concern the quality of energy management. “We are able to identify the different levels of maturity of an asset manager in terms of energy management,” adds the trainer.
Real-life experience of an energy audit
In three days, AFNOR Compétences answers all these questions. The trainer passes on a standardized methodology to his trainees. In the first session, he presents the NF EN 16-247 standard and how it works. It also explains what is expected of a professional during an energy audit. A theoretical section supplemented by practical application exercises. “We try to make this part of the training as interactive as possible by giving everyone a chance to have their say,” says Christophe Roland.
The next day, the trainer gets down to business. Trainees carry out a virtual audit of a building. Organized in small groups, they will gather as much information as possible for the audit. This will enable them to draw up an action plan for the whole room. “The aim is to train them to format this table of recommendations. It has to be clear, concise and attractive to the customer,” he adds. Not always easy when it comes to such a technical subject.
Comprehensive, progressive training
A training program that suited Bouygues Telecom’s multi-technical manager, Philippe de Robien. “The “building energy efficiency expert” training course I took in March-April with AFNOR Compétences is very comprehensive and progressive. It covers all the elements required for an energy audit in accordance with NF EN 16-247. I particularly appreciated the case studies applied to real-life situations in the last module.
At the end of the course, these building professionals are able to draw up a concrete two-page note on the measures to be taken. “The clearer the recommendations, the more likely they are to be implemented in the future,” says the trainer. Isn’t that the most important thing?
