The Midnight Audit

Abstract

The midnight audit provides valuable insight toward identifying
opportunities to reduce energy consumption—insight that can be easily
overlooked during the normal (daytime) energy auditing process. The
purpose of the midnight audit is to observe after-hour operation with
the mindset of seeking ways to further minimize energy consumption
during the unoccupied mode and minimize energy waste by reducing
unnecessary operation. The midnight audit should be used to verify
that equipment is off when it is supposed to be, or operating in set-back
mode when applicable. Even a facility that operates 2 shifts per day, 5
days per week experiences fewer annual hours in occupied mode than
it does during unoccupied mode. Minimizing energy loads during un-
occupied hours can save significant energy, which is why the midnight
audit is an idea that works.