Guideline for

schools to do
self energy audits

Issued by Eskom Integrated Demand Management July 2016

Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd Reg No 2002/015527/30
 What is energy efficiency?

Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, aims to

reduce the amount of energy required to drive the same amount of

Introduction products and services.

With an annual increase in electricity

tariffs, it is critical to reduce electricity What is an energy use assessment
usage in all sectors of the economy,
including at schools. A reduction in An energy use assessment identifies where and how much energy is
energy usage contributes to lower consumed in an existing facility, building or structure.
electricity bills, a reduction in green
house gas and less coal and water
being used to generate electricity.

Energy savings can be achieved

in two ways: Changing human
“ A walk-through energy
use assessment involves
an examination of a
behaviour or replacing electrical
equipment. school building, including
a visual inspection of each “
Electrical equipment has improved tremendously in terms of its associated systems.
of energy efficiency. The aim, therefore, is to conduct
energy use assessments to identify poor performing, energy
intensive technologies and replace them with energy Who is an energy use
efficient equipment. Energy use assessments are the first assessment team?
step in improving the energy efficiency of buildings and
commercial facilities. A team, inclusive of a responsible team leader (who could be a teacher),
facilities and maintenance staff and pupils, should be established to
organise and manage the process.
 Your school
What are the steps Checklist
in an energy use Step 1
assessment? Step 2

Step four Step 3

Step one
✓ • Preliminary ✓ Step 4
Step three • Data Analysis
Consultation
The initial step is
✓ and Evaluation
Information obtained during the
Step 5

to consult with
knowledgeable parties
• On-site inspection has to be evaluated.
to determine the most Inspection The analysis of audit data involves
calculating energy efficiencies.
suitable type of audit.
(Eskom energy advisor)
(Energy audit team and This step involves detailed
Eskom Energy advisor) inspection of building
components and systems
and responding to issues/
questions raised in
Step five
✓
the initial audit.
(Energy audit team)

Step two
✓ • Initial Data • Reporting
The final written report should
include data, recommendations,
Gathering and savings estimates, and cost
Assessment estimates for recommended
conservation measures and
At least two years’ worth of Electrical systems improvements.
Energy Bills should be compiled and (Energy energy advisor)
reviewed.
(Energy audit team to gather data and
Eskom energy advisor to review)
 Table 1 Typical exisitng technologies

What are the types of electrical equipment Lighting Light type

relevant to a school? A fluorescent lamp is a low-

pressure mercury-vapour
gas-discharge lamp that uses
fluorescence to produce light. The
The aim of this guide is not to go into Fluorescent
most common tube is a
T8 - 26mm diameter.
technology design and detail but to touch lamp Standard T8 sizes are
18w - 2ft / 600mm;
on the type and use of the technology. 30w - 3ft/ 900mm;
36w - 4ft / 1200mm;
58w - 5ft / 1500mm;
70w - 6ft / 1800mm.

• Lighting An incandescent light bulb,

produces light with a wire
• Hot-water systems Incandescent filament, heated to a high
bulb temperature by an electric
• Geysers current passing through it until it
• Central hot-water heating units glows.

• Water heaters for kitchen use Water heating system.

• Air-conditioning systems
• Portable space heating units such as bar heaters Geyser
Appliances that provide a
continual supply of hot water are
• Electronic equipment such as personal computers called geysers, or calorifiers.

and servers, printers and photo copiers

• Smaller electrical equipment
Water heating systems How do I identify the electrical
continued
specifications of equipment?
All electrical equipment has a data plate or indication of the rated power of the
These water heaters, have equipment. This data is crucial in the calculation of energy use; accuracy is, therefore,
Central
been designed to supply large very important.
water
quantities of hot water for use
heating
in hotels, ablution blocks and
systems
large domestic applications. Fluorescent Lamp

Commercial kitchens make

Hot-water
use of small storage water
system for kitchen Figure 1 Fluorescent Lamp – F for Fluorescent, 28 for colour code,T5 for
heating vessels to boil water
use diameter, 28 Watt
for hot drinks.
Electrical motor

Air-conditioning
system

Air conditioning changes

temperature and humidity to
more comfortable conditions, Figure 2 This electrical motor is rated at 75kW
HVAC
typically in buildings, to
improve thermal comfort and Air-conditioner
indoor air quality

Heating units

A space heater heats small

enclosed spaces as opposed
Space heater
to central heating that heats
many connected spaces.

Figure 3 This Air-conditioner is rated 800Watts when cooling and 820Watts

when heating
What is a watt (W)? How do I calculate watt-hours?

A watt (W) is a unit of power used to measure the rate at The formula:
which energy is produced or consumed at a specific moment
in time. The wattage of the appliance x hours of use per month = the amount
of electricity the appliance uses per month (Wh).
Example:
10 x 100Watt lamp X 1 hour = 1 000 watt/hr divided by 1000 = 1 kWh
or a unit
What is a watt-hour Wh?

A watt-hour (Wh) is a standard unit of energy and a way to

measure the amount of work performed or generated.
How do I calculate cost of energy?

What is the difference between The formula:

watts and watt-hours? Monthly electricity cost = the number of units of electricity in
kWh x the cost of electricity.
1 000 Watt = 1 kiloWatt = 1 unit
Watt-hours (Wh) measure amounts of energy used for a
specific period of time while watts (W) measure rates of Example:
power at a specific moment in time. 10 x 100 Watt lamp/1000 x 1 hour x R1.40/kWh=R1.40
How do I capture existing data?

Energy usage per annum -

oB
 efore:
An assessment sheet is used to capture audit 36Watts/1000 x 2 lamps x 30 light fittings
data. This data will assist to calculate existing x 8 hours/day x 5 days/week x 42 weeks/year =
energy usage versus proposed energy usage. 3 628kWh -
The following items form part of the assessment oA
 fter:
sheet: The proposed energy efficient technology solution
is needed to calculate the saving. Since all new
• Location – a description of the location is very important,
especially when it comes to installation; data is technologies are supported by specialists in the
captured per location. market, it is wise to make use of such a person to
assure the success of your project - a proposed light
• Technology type – technology type is needed, such as ‘lighting’, ‘geyser’ or ‘air
replacement is given for this exercise.
conditioner’.

• Technology description – a description of the technology is crucial to identify 28 Watts/1000 x 2 lamps x 30 light fittings
the type within the technology range - there are, for x 8 hours/day x 5 days/week x 42 weeks/ year =
instance, hundreds of types of light fittings and the
2 822kWh
description will typically indicate the amount of tubes
per fitting, length of the tubes and power rating in Watts.
oE
 nergy saved per annum:
• Rated watts – the watt rating as per the data plate on the device. Energy usage before – Energy usage after
= Energy saved
• Quantity – the quantity of technology of that specific type in that specific location.
3 628kWh -2 822kWh = 806kWh
• Time – the time period is critical in the calculation; how long an appliance is in use;
Gather data as accurately as possible - time is divided into hours per day, days oE
 nergy cost saved per annum
per week and weeks per year.
@ R1.40/kWh
Energy cost before – Energy cost after
= Energy cost saved
3 638kWh x R1.40/kWh – 2 822kWh x
R1.40/kWh = R1 142.40
What is typically proposed
energy efficient technologies?

Lighting

The T5 (16mm diameter) fluorescent tube is designed to replace the older T12 and T8
Fluorescent lamps fluorescent tubes. It is smaller in diameter and rated at a lesser wattage but with the
same lighting output.

The CFL is designed to replace an incandescent lamp. The lamps use a tube, which is
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) curved or folded to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb, and a compact electronic
ballast in their base.

An LED is a light-emitting diode assembled into a lamp (or light bulb) for use in
lighting fixtures. LEDs have a lifespan and efficiency that are several times better than
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
incandescent lamps and significantly better than most fluorescent lamps - some chips
are able to emit more than 100 lumens per watt.

Water heating systems

Washing dishes requires water that’s up to 15 degrees hotter than the ideal shower.
Hot water systems for precise
Having advanced control over the temperature of the hot water in your kitchen, which
temperature control in the kitchen
is separate from your bathroom, makes perfect sense.
What is typically proposed energy
efficient technologies? cont....

Lighting

An electronic timer is a simple but effective method of saving energy by preventing a

Electronic timers
system from running when it’s not needed.

A heat pump works like an air conditioner but in reverse. It uses a relatively small
amount of electricity to extract heat from the surrounding air and then heats water
Heat pumps
with this energy. Heat pumps are up to three times more energy efficient than electric
element geysers.

Air conditioning

An inverter in an air conditioner is used to control the speed of the compressor

motor that drives the variable refrigerant flow. By contrast, traditional air conditioners
Air conditioners
regulate temperature by using a compressor that is periodically either working at
maximum capacity or switched off completely.

Heating

The heating cycle of an inverter air conditioner is much more energy efficient than any
Space heaters
other space heater.
Safety precautions when doing
an energy use assessment:

Safety should always be a top priority. Although the Consider the following safety measures during your energy
purpose of this assessment is to gather high-level data by reading use assessment:
from data plates, more comprehensive assessments require a • Treat all equipment as live (energized).
person to open cover plates or distribution boards where electrical • Do not touch hot objects such as light bulbs when reading the
connections are exposed. data - switch off lights and give them time to cool down.
• Use safety glasses and gloves for protection when taking out a light bulb
• Please note that only an authorised person has the permission to or tube.
open an electrical distribution board, work on electrical installations • Use a steady ladder and, as an additional measure, have a partner
and do energy recordings - an authorised person is someone keeping it stable.
who is declared competent as an electrical technician under the • Do not climb to dangerous heights. Exceeding 2 meters is
Occupational Health and Safety Act. considered dangerous and safety equipment as a prevention against
falling is needed. It is not advisable to climb that high for the energy
use assessment.
Remember:
• Switching off when not in use is the most
effective way to save electricity.

Safety • Sustained energy savings as a result of human

behaviour can only be achieved by continuous

first reminding.
 Assessment sheet
Time period
Energy us- Energy
Existing technology Age of Replacement Proposed
Location Technology type Qty. kW Qty. kW age before usage after
description equip technology Hours Days Weeks saving (kWh)
(kWh) (kWh)

Class room 204 Lighting 2-lamp, 4Ft, T8 fixture, 30 2.16 2-lamp, 4Ft, T5 fixture, 28W 30 1.68 8 5 42 3628 2822 806
36W each each

Schools name:
Contact person:
Contact details:
GPS co-ordinates:

Principal name: Principal signature:

Principal contact details:

School Stamp:

* Please affix photos of old technologies for visual reference if desired