- RAISE THE STANDARD.. EVERY JOB.. EVERY TIME!
Bay City
- (989) 778-2500
Traverse City
- (231) 778-2501
- RAISE THE STANDARD.. EVERY JOB.. EVERY TIME!
- (989) 778-2500
- (231) 778-2501
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Bay City
Traverse City
If you’re managing a commercial building or facility, chances are your energy usage has grown over time, even if your building hasn’t. An energy audit helps you understand where your power is going, what’s wasting it, and how to make smarter, more cost-effective decisions for your business.
At BTE Electric, we offer commercial energy audits throughout Mid-Michigan and Traverse City that are practical, informative, and actionable.
A commercial energy audit is a detailed assessment of how your facility uses electricity, from your lighting and HVAC systems to your motors, equipment, and plug loads. The goal is to help you:
It’s like a diagnostic check-up for your building’s electrical system, not just to spot issues, but to plan ahead and stay efficient.
ANSWER: At BTE, our audits are customized to your facility type and your concerns, but a typical audit includes:
| Service | Description |
|---|---|
| On-site inspection | Visual review of electrical panels, lighting, motors, HVAC, and connected loads |
| Energy logger setup | Temporary metering of circuits to monitor usage over several days |
| Lighting analysis | Catalog of current lighting and proposed LED upgrades |
| Thermal imaging | Identification of overheating connections or failing components |
| Power quality analysis | Checks for voltage imbalance, harmonics, and low power factor |
| Report with recommendations | Detailed findings and ROI projections on upgrades |
| Utility rebate coordination | Help filing for Consumers Energy or DTE incentives |
We can also tailor reports to meet Energy Star®, LEED, or utility audit requirements.
ANSWER: Cost varies depending on the size and complexity of your building, but here’s a general idea:
| Facility Size | Approximate Audit Cost |
|---|---|
| Small retail or office (under 10,000 sq ft) | $750–$1,500 |
| Medium commercial building (10k–50k sq ft) | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Large facility or multi-site audit | Custom quote based on scope |
Note: If you move forward with BTE to complete recommended upgrades (like LED retrofits or panel improvements), we often credit part of the audit fee toward the project.
ANSWER: Yes, and in fact, variable frequency drives (VFDs) are one of the most impactful energy-saving upgrades we often recommend after an audit.
If your facility uses motors for pumps, fans, compressors, conveyors, or HVAC systems, chances are they’re running at full speed even when full output isn’t needed. That’s like driving your car with the gas pedal floored and braking to slow down, inefficient and expensive.
Installing a VFD lets the motor ramp up or down based on real-time demand. That can reduce energy usage by 20–60% depending on the application. Even better:
During your audit, we’ll log motor usage and analyze runtime patterns to see whether drives make sense, and if so, we’ll include that in your recommendation report with estimated ROI and savings forecasts.
ANSWER: Energy audits are a smart idea when:
Even a simple audit can pay for itself quickly, especially when utility incentives are available.
ANSWER: Nope. We schedule inspections during normal business hours and use non-invasive monitoring tools. Data loggers are small and don’t require any shutdowns.
ANSWER: Lighting is a common area of opportunity, but we look at the whole picture, HVAC, motors, compressors, controls, plug loads, etc.
ANSWER: We’re not just checking boxes, we’re electricians who actually install the solutions we recommend. That means our reports are based in the real world, not just theory.
At Bierlein Trombley Electric, we don’t just point out problems, we help you solve them, phase them, and keep your operations running smoothly. Whether you’re a property manager, business owner, or facility director, our energy audits give you clarity, confidence, and control. Let’s talk about your building’s energy use. Schedule an on-site consultation and let’s find out where your savings are hiding.