WC ENGINEERINGTurn building energy data into a practical plan for lower operating costs. WC Engineering provides ASHRAE Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 energy audits for commercial facilities—from preliminary walk-through assessments to investment-grade analysis of major capital improvements. We evaluate how your building uses energy, identify energy conservation measures (ECMs), and help you prioritize investments around performance, cost, and operational needs.
Level 1 Energy Audit — Preliminary / Walk-Through
Establish a clear starting point for improving efficiency. We review utility bills, assess basic energy-use patterns, and conduct a site walk-through with facility personnel to understand equipment, operating schedules, and comfort concerns.
The assessment identifies low-cost and no-cost ECMs, such as correcting schedules, adjusting control settings, and addressing maintenance issues. Preliminary cost and savings estimates highlight quick-win opportunities and identify capital improvements that warrant a more detailed Level 2 or Level 3 evaluation.
Level 2 Energy Audit — Energy Survey & Engineering Analysis
Develop an actionable improvement plan supported by engineering and economic analysis. Building on Level 1, we evaluate HVAC, lighting, controls, and other significant energy-using systems; analyze utility consumption and demand; and develop a breakdown of major energy end-uses.
We assess equipment condition, operating performance, and interactions between systems to estimate the energy and cost savings of practical improvements. Recommendations include estimated implementation costs, simple payback, and return-on-investment (ROI) calculations, with key assumptions clearly documented. The result is a prioritized set of measures for capital planning, including projects that require investment-grade analysis before commitment.
Level 3 Energy Audit — Investment-Grade Audit (IGA)
Build confidence in major energy investments. ASHRAE Level 3 focuses on detailed analysis of capital-intensive modifications identified through earlier audit work. Our investment-grade scope supports major facility overhauls, central plant upgrades, and energy performance contracts with energy service companies (ESCOs).
We develop a project-specific measurement plan that can include comprehensive sub-metering of affected systems, extended or long-term data logging, and analysis of building automation system trends. Monitoring duration and coverage are selected to capture representative operating conditions and seasonal variation where needed. Dynamic annual building energy simulation—using tools such as Trane TRACE 3D Plus, where appropriate—evaluates proposed improvements and system interactions, with baseline models calibrated to measured energy use.
Detailed engineering is paired with life-cycle cost analysis, financial risk and sensitivity analysis, and verification of proposed capital budgets against equipment and contractor pricing. We assess the effects of uncertain costs, utility rates, operating conditions, and savings assumptions, document contingencies and estimate accuracy, and establish a measurement and verification approach. Deliverables are tailored to the owner’s investment criteria and the requirements of any financing or ESCO agreement.
Performance-Based Pricing & Value
We offer performance-based pricing that ties our compensation to measurable, verifiable energy savings. Under an agreed outcome-based arrangement, payment is linked to the savings achieved by implemented improvements—not simply to projected results.
Before implementation, we define the baseline, measurement and verification method, reporting period, and fee structure. Adjustments for weather, occupancy, operating hours, and other relevant changes help distinguish improvement-related savings from changes in building use. This approach aligns our work with your financial goals and provides a transparent basis for evaluating results.
From immediate operational improvements to long-term capital investments, our goal is to deliver clear recommendations that reduce energy waste, improve system performance, and support lasting value for your facility.