Green Church Building Blocks: Get an Energy Audit

Preparing for the Audit: In order to get the most out of your congregation’s energy audit, prepare ahead of time.

Gather up utility bills from at least the past year, but bring more data if you have it. If you cannot find past statements, contact the utility company, which should be able to help supplement your records.
Ask a couple of members and staff to do a walkthrough of the building before the audit.
- Make a list of any problems you find or any questions that arise and share your list with the auditor.
- Look for condensation around windows and air conditioning units, and make a note of any drafty rooms. Be sure to remove obstructions from around water heaters, air conditioning units, and furnaces so the auditor can easily access this
  equipment.

During the Audit:

Bring a schedule of regular church activities so you and the auditor can look for trends in energy use and can determine
when and where your church uses the most energy.
Have a couple of church leaders and members knowledgeable about different areas of the congregation’s ministry
walk through the church buildings with the auditor. They will be able to provide insight to the auditor about the specifics of
your congregation’s energy needs and help to develop the auditor’s suggestions into an overall vision for the congregation.

Selecting an Auditor:

Because churches have different energy needs and a different energy use pattern than many homes or businesses, it’s a
good idea to look for an auditor who has experience auditing church buildings. For help finding an auditor near you, check out http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=expert_help.find_exp_help