A commercial energy audit provides a structured assessment of how energy is used across a building, site, or portfolio, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and lower carbon emissions.

At Zerith, a commercial energy audit typically includes:

• Review of energy consumption data and operating patterns

• Assessment of building fabric, plant, and systems such as HVAC, lighting, hot water, and controls

• Evaluation of building management systems (BEMS) and operational setpoints

• Identification of energy efficiency and optimisation opportunities, from low-cost operational changes to capital measures

• Quantification of energy, carbon, and cost savings, with indicative payback periods

• Clear, prioritised recommendations that support investment decisions and wider Net Zero objectives

Zerith’s audits are designed to be focused, practical, and actionable, enabling organisations to move quickly from assessment to implementation and measurable performance improvement.

Return on investment (ROI) from energy efficiency is calculated by comparing the cost of implementing energy measures against the financial savings they generate over time.

At Zerith, we calculate ROI by:

• Establishing a clear energy and cost baseline using historical consumption and tariffs

• Quantifying annual energy savings from each efficiency measure (kWh, fuel, and cost)

• Identifying capital and implementation costs, including installation and commissioning

• Calculating payback period, net savings, and lifecycle value

• Considering wider benefits such as reduced maintenance costs, improved resilience, and carbon reduction

Measures are then prioritised based on payback, risk, and deliverability, ensuring investment decisions are commercially robust. This approach allows organisations to focus on projects that deliver fast returns while supporting long-term energy and Net Zero objectives.

Absolutely. Industrial energy audits are a core specialism at Zerith.

We work directly with manufacturing teams to identify, quantify, and prioritise energy reduction opportunities across process plant, utilities, buildings, and site infrastructure. Our approach combines detailed technical analysis with hands-on engagement, ensuring audits deliver practical, implementable improvements, not just reports.

Zerith supports:

• Process and plant energy audits (compressed air, steam, heat recovery, motors, drives, and thermal systems)

• Site-wide energy performance reviews aligned with ESOS and ISO 50001 principles

• Energy “treasure hunts” and Kaizen-style workshops to unlock operational efficiencies

• Data-led insights through our ZECO AI platform to track performance and prioritise actions

By working alongside your teams, we help manufacturers reduce energy costs, improve resilience, and support long-term decarbonisation—while building internal capability to drive continuous improvement.

Yes. Energy audits are a core foundation of Zerith’s Net Zero planning approach.

We use audits to move beyond compliance and build a clear, evidence-based pathway to Net Zero. By analysing how energy is used across buildings, processes, and infrastructure, we identify practical carbon reduction opportunities, quantify their impact, and prioritise actions based on cost, risk, and deliverability.

Zerith energy audits support Net Zero planning by:

• Establishing a robust energy and carbon baseline

• Identifying short-, medium-, and long-term reduction measures

• Linking operational improvements with capital investment planning

• Informing heat decarbonisation, electrification, and efficiency strategies

• Feeding directly into structured Net Zero roadmaps using our ZECO AI platform

The result is a Net Zero plan grounded in real data, real assets, and real operational insight—designed to be achievable, affordable, and aligned with your business objectives.

As a building performance consultant, Zerith reviews all systems that influence energy use, carbon emissions, and operational performance—across both buildings and supporting infrastructure.

Our reviews typically include:

• Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems (boilers, heat pumps, chillers, AHUs, fans)

• Electrical systems (lighting, power distribution, motors, drives)

• Building fabric (insulation, glazing, air tightness, thermal bridging)

• Building Management Systems (BMS) and controls

• Hot water and process-related loads

• On-site generation and storage (solar PV, batteries, CHP where applicable)

• Heat networks and distribution systems

• Metering, sub-metering, and energy data quality

We assess not just design intent, but how systems actually perform in operation, identifying inefficiencies, control issues, and optimisation opportunities. This whole-system approach ensures recommendations are technically sound, commercially viable, and aligned with compliance, performance, and Net Zero objectives.