Conduct a regulatory energy audit
Under European law, companies are required to conduct an audit of their energy consumption every four years, accompanied by an action plan to reduce it: this is known as a regulatory energy audit.
Conduct a regulatory energy audit
In 2023, the revision of the European Energy Efficiency Directive led to the replacement of the employee threshold with a consumption threshold. Gone is the 2012 version’s threshold of 250 employees or €50 million in revenue! From now on, companies that have averaged more than 10 TJ/year over the past three years (equivalent to 2.7 GWh) are subject to an energy audit. Implementing an energy management system in accordance with the recommendations of ISO 50001 still allows for exemption, provided that valid certification is submitted by October 11, 2027.
Read our FAQ on the European Directive of September 20, 2023, here!
For energy consumption exceeding 85 TJ/year, French law provides three options to choose from:
- Submit a ISO 50001 certification by October 11, 2027
- Have signed an Energy Performance Contract (EPC)
- Hold a ISO 14001 certification be in effect by October 11, 2027, and have completed an energy audit by October 11, 2026, just like smaller consumers.
Transposed into French law by the DDADUE Act of April 30, 2025 ( Article 25 ), the European directive will take effect on October 1, 2025
It also requires the annual publication of the action plan resulting from the audit and the implementation rate of the plan’s measures, explaining, where applicable, why any measure or measures with a return on investment period of less than five years have not been implemented.
An energy audit isn't free, but it's well worth the cost: by conducting one, you'll identify energy savings of 10 to 22% , which you can quickly turn into financial savings with the right methodology. AFNOR Energies and its team of qualified auditors have mastered this methodology thanks to their expertise in the standards, protocols, and best practices governing this process (EN 16247, ISO 50002, IPMVP). You can then enter the results into the ADEME platform.
What's in it for me?
A Baseline Assessment at T 0 - Item by item - Energy source by energy source - Financial burden Raising Awareness - Waste - Unexpected financial savings Clearly Identified Areas for Improvement - Item by item with a reliable IRR
What should I do next?
State Your Intentions - Objectives and Priorities - Commitment to Investment - Project Team Implement Your Action Plan - Monitoring and Reporting - Measurement and Verification Tools Integrate the Approach into an Energy Management System (EMS) - Continuous Improvement - Holistic Approach - ISO 50001 Certification
What is the connection between an energy audit and an energy performance certificate (EPC)?
The term "energy audit" is also used in the context of housing, following the reform of the energy performance certificate (EPC) . In fact, since July 2021, homes classified as Category F or G (the so-called “energy-inefficient homes”) must undergo an audit listing potential renovation work. Consulting firms qualified to conduct the “Building” energy audit required of large companies are also qualified for this activity. Finally, the term “energy audit” also applies to inspections conducted on renovated homes that are beneficiaries of the government’s “Ma Prime Rénov’” program.
How is an energy audit conducted?
The energy audit must be conducted by a duly qualified auditor, whether internal or external, who carries out the audit in accordance with a standardized methodology. In this case, the methodology described in the standards NF EN 16247 , a set standards addressing general requirements , of buildings , of processes , of transportation and skills specific to auditors . The standard now introduces the concept of the level of detail in audits, defining three levels:
- simple audits
- audits for which significant energy consumption must be measured (rather than estimated)
- audits for which recommendations for action must be based on quotes—not on estimates
By encouraging audits based on actual consumption, the revised standard introduces a requirement to establish a measurement plan for the purposes of the energy audit and cites the standard as a reference in this regard NF EN 17267 August 2019. This plan will help you assess the impact of the energy-saving measures identified during the audit. The action plan must address all the opportunities for improving energy consumption identified in the areas of buildings, processes, and transportation.
Training to Become an Internal Auditor
Companies subject to mandatory energy audits may designate an in-house representative to conduct the audit. However, since the audit must be conducted in accordance with a standardized methodology based on the NF EN 16247 standards, this person must have a thorough understanding of the standards. AFNOR Compétences offers several training courses designed for this purpose:
- Transportation Energy Audit: Methodology and Practical Tools
- Building Energy Audits: Methodology and Practical Tools
- Industrial Energy Audit: Methodology and Practical Tools
