Technical Due Diligence (TDD) in Energy Efficiency and Carbon Impacts
SOCOTEC’s Technical Due Diligence in Energy Efficiency and Carbon Impacts service provides a comprehensive assessment of buildings and facilities to identify energy performance gaps and carbon reduction opportunities.
Our systematic approach evaluates the current state of assets, proposes improvement strategies with clear financial returns, and develops actionable implementation roadmaps that align with both current and anticipated regulations throughout the system lifecycle.
Methodology
1. Initial Assessment and Data Collection
- Building documentation review (as-built plans, energy bills, maintenance records)
- Site surveys and inspections of existing MEP systems
- Energy consumption profiling and performance benchmarking
- Carbon footprint calculation using recognized methodologies
- Identification of operational inefficiencies and maintenance issues
- Assessment of compliance with current energy and carbon regulations
2. Performance Gap Analysis
- Comparison of actual performance against design specifications
- Identification of underperforming systems and components
- Thermographic imaging to detect heat loss and insulation defects
- Air-tightness testing and envelope assessment
- MEP systems efficiency testing and evaluation
- Analysis of operational patterns versus optimal performance scenarios
3. Improvement Strategy Development
- Generation of tiered improvement options categorized by:
- Low-cost operational improvements
- System optimization measures
- Component replacement opportunities
- Major system upgrades
- Renewable energy integration potential
- Analysis of each measure against current Best Available Technologies (BAT)
- Alignment with regulatory roadmaps and industry standards
- Integration assessment with existing building systems
4. Financial Analysis and Amortization Assessment
- Capital expenditure estimation for each proposed measure
- Energy savings and carbon reduction calculations
- Detailed life cycle cost analysis (LCCA)
- Payback period calculation with sensitivity analysis
- Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) assessment
- External funding and incentive identification
- Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
5. Regulatory Compliance Roadmap
- Analysis of current regulatory requirements
- Forecast of upcoming legislation based on policy trajectories
- Assessment of building against future performance standards
- Timeline creation for mandatory compliance upgrades
- Identification of early adoption advantages
6. Implementation Roadmap Development
- Prioritization matrix based on:
- Financial returns (shortest payback periods)
- Carbon reduction impact
- Implementation complexity
- Regulatory compliance deadlines
- Asset lifecycle considerations
- Phased implementation planning aligned with:
- Building operational requirements
- MEP system replacement schedules
- Maintenance windows
- Funding availability
- Interdependency mapping between recommended measures
Standards and Methodologies Applied
Our TDD service incorporates leading industry standards and methodologies:
- ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems
- ASHRAE Energy Audit standards (Levels 1, 2, and 3)
- CIBSE TM54 for operational energy performance evaluation
- RICS Methodology for Building Carbon Footprinting
- BREEAM In-Use and LEED O+M frameworks
- EU Energy Efficiency Directive and relevant national regulations
- IPMVP protocols for measurement and verification
Deliverables
Clients receive a comprehensive report package including:
1. Executive Summary with key findings and opportunities
2. Detailed Technical Assessment of current building performance
3. Energy and Carbon Reduction Opportunities Register with:
- Technical specifications
- Implementation requirements
- Carbon reduction potential
- Cost estimates
- Financial returns and amortization schedules
4. Regulatory Compliance Timeline indicating upcoming requirements
5. Implementation Roadmap with prioritized actions
6. Monitoring & Verification Plan to validate actual results
Client Benefits
- Informed decision-making based on clear financial and carbon metrics
- Strategic planning for capital expenditure with optimal returns
- Future-proofed assets aligned with evolving regulations
- Reduced operational costs and improved asset value
- Enhanced corporate sustainability credentials
- Systematic approach to complex energy and carbon challenges
Through our TDD in Energy Efficiency and Carbon Impacts service, SOCOTEC enables clients to transform their buildings and facilities into high-performing, low-carbon assets with a clear understanding of financial returns and regulatory alignment.