Conduct 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 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

Apply for energy audit certification

According to a decree dated November 24, 2014, an external service provider is deemed qualified to conduct an energy audit if it holds a quality certification in each of the areas in which it performs the energy audit (buildings, industrial processes, or transportation), in accordance with a set of requirements regarding resources and competencies. Consulting firms, have your competencies recognized and don’t miss out on a market of 5,000 large companies for which energy audits have become mandatory!

AFNOR Certification guides you toward the required certification. Administrative and technical criteria, skills, resources, and experience: everything is evaluated to demonstrate your ability to successfully carry out your assignments. Please note that under the decree of July 10, 2025 Regarding the procedures for conducting energy audits in companies and the procedures for recognizing the competence of energy auditors, the qualification will be replaced by a certification, which will become mandatory as of July 1, 2026. Our subsidiary, AFNOR Certification, is preparing for this change.

What does the ISO 50001 standard cover? How does it relate to regulations? You’ll find answers to all your questions in our FAQ.