Background information

AUDITAC Project Aims

The AUDITAC project focuses on Article 9 of the EPBD, the requirement for which is as follows:

"Article 9: Inspection of air-conditioning systems. With regard to reducing energy consumption and limiting carbon dioxide emissions, Member States shall lay down the necessary measures to establish a regular inspection of air-conditioning systems of an effective rated output of more than 12 kW. This inspection shall include an assessment of the air-conditioning efficiency and the sizing compared to the cooling requirements of the building. Appropriate advice shall be provided to the users on possible improvement or replacement of the air-conditioning system and on alternative solutions."

The AUDITAC project does NOT aim to provide the guidelines for the Inspection required. A CEN Draft Standard ‘prEN 15240 - Ventilation for buildings - Energy performance of buildings - Guidelines for inspection of air-conditioning systems’ is in preparation by CEN Technical Committee CEN/TC 156 to provide guidance to the Member States to achieve this.

The AUDITAC project instead concentrates on providing the information required to take appropriate actions to reduce the energy consumption and environmental impacts of AC systems in buildings. It is intended that the outputs from AUDITAC will be of use during the Inspection process as well as outside it.

The core aims of the AUDITAC project are to provide tools and information that will enable air-conditioning system owners and

operators to confidently identify actions that will save them money, and reduce the emissions of green house gases.

This benefits policy-makers and governments by increasing the proportion of theoretically worthwhile savings that is actually taken up. Substantial potential savings have been identified, but it has proved difficult to persuade owners and operators to invest on improvements. The project offers a means to build on the regulatory requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to “inspect” systems, into diagnosis that is likely to result in appropriate action.

For building owners and operators – including Energy Service Companies - the benefits are increased confidence that they are investing in measures that will reduce costs. The first stage of auditing (beyond the regulatory requirement for inspection) is to identify possible improvements but, before investing, an engineering assessment of the expected costs and savings – taking note of previous practical experience – is necessary. The project aims to provide reliable tools and procedures to do this, along with a database of case studies to underline practical credibility.

Manufacturers and installers will benefit through the identification of genuine customer needs that are likely to lead to new business and satisfied customers.

Energy auditors and surveyors gain the use of standardised, reliable tools and procedures that engender customer confidence and support the provision of effective advice.