Final answer:
The objectives of an energy audit are to review consumption, identify wastage, improve efficiency, and monitor use over time, whereas benchmarking compares one's energy systems against standards or best practices. The major difference is that energy auditing is detailed and internal, while benchmarking is comparative and establishes performance targets.
Step-by-step explanation:
Objectives of Energy Audit
The objectives of an energy audit include the systematic review of energy consumption within a building, process, or system to understand the energy dynamics and to identify opportunities for energy efficiency and cost savings. It helps in:
Determining the energy consumption of specific equipment or systems.
Identifying energy wastage.
Finding cost-effective ways to improve energy efficiency.
Setting a baseline for monitoring energy use over time.
Objectives of Benchmarking
Benchmarking is the process of comparing the performance of one's energy system against a standard or a set of best practices. Its objectives include:
Understanding how a facility's energy use compares to similar facilities or standards.
Setting performance targets for energy management programs.
Motivating energy conservation through goal setting and progress tracking.
Major Difference
The major difference between energy audit and benchmarking lies in the scope and application. An energy audit is concerned with detailed evaluation and analysis of energy flows and efficiency within a specific system, seeking to reduce energy input for the same output. On the other hand, benchmarking is often broader, focusing on comparing one's energy use to others, to identify performance relative to peers or standards and to establish meaningful targets for energy performance improvements.