"Sustain walked in with a 140-page energy audit and walked out with a roadmap we could actually defend to the board. Fourteen months later, we'd reduced energy spend by $2.1M across 34 facilities — and our net-zero pledge finally had a credible timeline behind it."
Margaret Holloway
VP of Operations, Meridian Industrial Group
$2.1M
Energy spend reduction · 34 sites · 14 months
Every question a CFO asks — answered below
What does an energy audit actually cover?
Most in-house audits stop at the equipment your facilities team already knows. A full ASHRAE-compliant audit maps every load in the building — including the ones quietly inflating your utility bill every month.
| Criterion | In-House Approach | Sustain-Led EngagementRecommended |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Limited to facilities staff expertise; typically HVAC and lighting only.✕ | Whole-building: envelope, HVAC, electrical distribution, compressed air, process loads, controls.✓ |
| Methodology | Walkthrough inspection; rarely metered.✕ | ASHRAE Level II/III with sub-metered interval data, thermal imaging, and blower door testing.✓ |
| Deliverable | Internal memo; not suitable for board or investor review.✕ | 140-page report with CAPEX/OPEX breakdown, NPV per measure, and compliance mapping.✓ |
| ESG Validity | Self-reported; third-party auditors will flag gaps.✕ | Third-party verified; accepted by GRI, TCFD, and GRESB frameworks.✓ |
| Duration | 6–14 weeks per site; no parallelization. | Multi-site parallel deployment; portfolio of 20 sites completed in 8–10 weeks.✓ |
* ASHRAE Level II/III audits are required for GRESB Green Star rating and SEC climate disclosure filings beginning FY2025.
How long before we actually see ROI?
The gap between audit and savings isn't technical — it's organizational. Without a dedicated project structure, measures stall in procurement. Here's what the timeline looks like with and without external management.
| Criterion | In-House Approach | Sustain-Led EngagementRecommended |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first savings | 18–30 months from audit initiation to first implemented measure.✕ | 6–9 months from engagement start to first measure commissioned.✓ |
| Average payback period | 4.2 years (industry self-reported average, ENERGY STAR 2023). | 2.1 years across Sustain portfolio — 180 completed engagements.✓ |
| Incentive capture | Typically captures <40% of available utility rebates and IRA tax credits.✕ | Dedicated incentive analyst captures avg. 91% of eligible programs per site.✓ |
| Cost exposure | Staff time + contractor bids without benchmarked pricing; 15–25% cost overrun common.✕ | Fixed-fee audit; contractor bids reviewed against 12,000-project cost database.✓ |
| Financing options | CAPEX only; competes with core business investment.✕ | Access to C-PACE, ESPC, and green bond structures; off-balance-sheet options available.✓ |
† Payback figures based on 180 completed Sustain engagements, 2019–2024. Individual results vary by portfolio age and baseline utility rates.
What happens to operations during implementation?
The question CFOs ask second, and facilities directors ask first. Retrofit projects don't have to mean production downtime. The difference is in how work is sequenced and who owns the schedule.
| Criterion | In-House Approach | Sustain-Led EngagementRecommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operational disruption | Facilities staff manage contractor access; production interruptions average 3.4 days per site.✕ | Dedicated project manager; work scheduled around shift patterns. Avg. 0.6 days disruption.✓ |
| Compliance risk | Permitting managed by local contractors; gaps in code compliance documented in 38% of DIY projects.✕ | In-house code compliance team; all permits pulled and closed before final invoice.✓ |
| Staff burden | Facilities director typically absorbs 60–80% of project management load.✕ | Single point of contact; weekly status reports; facilities staff involvement < 4 hrs/week.✓ |
| Commissioning | Informal; performance verification rarely documented. | Formal commissioning report with pre/post metered comparison; M&V plan included.✓ |
| Ongoing monitoring | Dependent on facilities staff bandwidth; drift goes undetected for months. | Optional 12-month monitoring & verification retainer with automated anomaly alerts.✓ |
‡ Disruption data from post-project surveys across 94 manufacturing and logistics sites, 2022–2024.
The numbers behind every recommendation we make.
The 2024 Energy ROI Benchmark aggregates outcomes from 180 engagements across manufacturing, logistics, and commercial real estate. Download the full report or watch a two-minute summary below.
Download the 2024 Energy ROI Benchmark
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Two-minute summary of key findings
$847M
Cumulative savings documented · 2024
Watch 2-Minute Summary
Key findings from 180 engagements
180
Engagements
23%
Avg. reduction
11 mo
Avg. payback