This document will guide you through an energy audit of your community building so that you can identify the most effective options for energy efficiency improvements. It’s essentially a checklist combined with guidance notes. You can use it as the basis for a carbon reduction plan for the building (which could include a whole range of free, low-cost, and higher-cost measures); to decide what improvements you want to install; or to identify measures you may be able to obtain funding for. 

If you have any questions or would like any help when completing this survey, please contact CSE at communities@cse.org.uk.

Using the energy survey

Section 1

This is a checklist for carrying out a walkaround of the community building to help you identify possible areas for improvement. Try to answer each question on the list and, for each item, consider whether there are free or costed improvements that would improve the building’s energy efficiency. Note: Once you’ve carried out this walkaround, keep it and review it regularly. It is worth carrying out a walkaround regularly, in different weather and at different times of day. 

Section 2

Summarise your comments and findings from the walkaround survey, noting key areas where you think improvements could be made. 

Section 3

Look at the guidance on different energy efficiency improvements that you might consider, and the typical carbon savings associated with each. 

Section 4

This section is to help you estimate CO₂ savings from energy efficiency improvements. It includes a form to record the building’s total annual energy use and CO₂ emissions, and explains how to calculate the associated energy saving and carbon reduction for a range of improvements. You might choose to use this as the basis for writing a carbon reduction plan. 

Section 5

Creating a carbon reduction plan. This provides some general guidance on putting together a plan for reducing carbon emissions from the building.

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