Module: Energy Auditing & Energy Management

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Energy Auditing & Energy Management
Module Code	MEC1058 (ITS: MM535)
Faculty	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

The increasing economic and environmental cost associated with energy use and generation, coupled with inefficient operation of energy intensive systems have led to an increase in demand for skilled, experienced energy auditors and system engineers equipped with backgrounds in energy management. This module aims to provide the energy-specific technical, economic, and managerial skills required to conduct energy audits, compile reports, and provide recommendations for energy efficiency best practice for a range of engineering systems.

Learning Outcomes

1. Examine and apply the principles of ISO 50001 (energy management standard) and ISO 50002 (energy auditing standard).
2. Examine and compare the key legislative drivers for energy management and energy efficiency.
3. Identify energy hotspots throughout the relative processes and systems using relevant theoretical approaches: thermodynamics, thermofluids, electrical engineering of AC and three-phase systems including power factor mitigation.
4. Conduct comparative analyses of competing systems and apply benchmarking principles for stand-alone energy audits (BER, ISO, SEAI approaches and standards).
5. Apply suitable economic/financial methodologies to assess and improve energy systems.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Course Material & Discussions
Independent Study	153.5	Study and Group Assignment, including detailed review of energy system.
Tutorial	10	Problem practice
Total Workload: 187.5

Section Breakdown
CRN	10603	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Lorna Fitzsimons	Module Teacher	Ronan McCann

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Review and evaluate the state of the art in energy management for a given energy system or technology. Assess case studies of processes / systems, and calculate and analyse energy efficiency opportunities using suitable methods (exergy analysis, financial evaluation).	25%	n/a
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	75%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Energy context, management and efficiency drivers
Review and compare the current energy context, and examine and compare the key legislative energy drivers in Europe and Ireland. Examine the environmental impact of energy consumption - carbon emissions, climate change, SDGs, Montreal protocol etc.

Energy Auditing
Introduction to auditing; auditing methodologies; scope; process analysis; auditing instrumentation; reporting and evaluation.

ISO standards
Review, analyse and compare the main standards and approaches for energy management and energy auditing (ISO 50001, ISO 50002, SEAI, ASHRAE).

Economic and financial methods for energy management
Apply methods for project evaluation: Break-even point, NPV, IRR, simple payback. Project costs: CAPEX and OPEX; fixed and variable.

Process and building energy
Identify and analyse typical SEUs in common engineering processes and buildings using suitable approaches and methods such as thermodynamics, thermofluids, electrical engineering fundamentals. Evaluate the performance of common engineering systems: turbines and compressors; heating and cooling; motors and VFDs; pumping and piping networks. Examine building performance methodologies such as DEAP and NEAP.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Albert Thumann,D. Paul Mehta: 2020, Handbook of Energy Engineering, Seventh Edition, CRC Press, 486, 9788770223027
Thumann, A., & Younger, W. J.: 2008, Handbook of energy audits, The Fairmont Press, US,
Yunus A. Ã‡engel,Michael A. Boles,Mehmet Kanoglu: 0, THERMODYNAMICS: AN ENGINEERING APPROACH, SI, 9789813157873

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None

New proposed module for DC195a (CAMi) & DC814 (MMMEc) for a masters in “Sustainable Systems & Energy Engineering” major.