Find the waste, cut the power bill for good

Energy efficiency advice from an electrician is worth more than energy efficiency advice from a consultant who has never touched a switchboard. SynthWire's energy efficiency audits are grounded in actual measurement — not generic benchmarking tables or software-generated estimates based on floor area. We attach data loggers to your switchboard, measure real load profiles over time, and analyse actual consumption patterns before making a single recommendation. The result is a costed, prioritised report that tells you exactly where energy is going, what the highest-impact interventions are, and what each one will actually cost to implement versus what it will actually save on your bill.

Load monitoring and data logging — starting with measurement

The foundation of any credible energy audit is measured data. SynthWire installs clamp-on current transformers at the main switchboard — or at sub-board level for larger premises — and logs real power consumption at 15-minute intervals over a minimum of five to seven days. This gives us an accurate picture of base load (what runs 24/7), peak demand (when and how hard the building is working), and any anomalous consumption spikes that indicate faulty or inefficient equipment. For commercial clients with interval metering through their retailer, we layer that data with our own board-level measurements to cross-reference and validate. You do not get a report built on assumptions; you get a report built on your actual numbers.

Power factor — the energy cost you are probably not seeing

Power factor is the ratio of useful (real) power to total (apparent) power drawn from the grid. Inductive loads — motors, compressors, older fluorescent ballasts, uninterruptible power supplies — draw reactive current that the network must supply but that does not do useful work in your building. Most commercial electricity tariffs include a demand or power factor component that charges you for apparent power, not just real power. A poor power factor means you are paying for energy you are not using. SynthWire measures power factor at the board as part of every commercial audit. Where correction is warranted — and for medium to large commercial premises with significant inductive loads, it frequently is — we calculate the required capacitor bank sizing, model the bill reduction, and provide a firm installation quote. Power factor correction typically pays itself back within one to three years and then runs at pure saving for the life of the capacitors, which is fifteen to twenty years.

LED retrofit analysis — beyond the simple bulb swap

LED lighting retrofits are one of the highest-returning energy efficiency investments available, but the analysis needs to go beyond counting lamp sockets. Lumen output, colour rendering index, beam angle, control compatibility, and the existing wiring configuration all affect whether a retrofit will actually deliver the claimed savings or create new problems. SynthWire audits every luminaire in the facility, models the reduction in wattage and heat output, checks compatibility with existing dimming controls, and identifies any wiring modifications required to support direct-wire LED tubes or new drivers. We calculate simple payback period and ten-year net present value for the retrofit at your current tariff, factoring in available government rebates under relevant state energy efficiency schemes where applicable. You get a business case, not just a product recommendation.

• Standby and phantom load mapping — appliances drawing power overnight with no benefit
• HVAC compressor and motor efficiency check — age, duty cycle, and inverter retrofit opportunity
• Compressed air system leak detection where applicable — often 20–30% of compressor output
• Hot water system assessment — resistive element versus heat pump opportunity
• Sub-metering recommendations for accurate cost allocation across departments or tenancies
• Tariff structure review — ensuring you are on the right network tariff for your load profile

The audit report — your costed roadmap

Every SynthWire energy efficiency audit concludes with a written report delivered within five business days of data collection completion. The report is structured as a prioritised action list, not a technical essay. Each recommendation includes: what the issue or opportunity is, how we identified and measured it, the estimated annual energy saving in both kilowatt-hours and dollars at your current tariff, the estimated cost to implement the measure, the simple payback period, and whether SynthWire can carry out the work or whether a specialist contractor is required. Recommendations are ranked by payback period so you can target the quick wins first and plan the longer-payback items into future capital budgets. We include an executive summary page suitable for presenting to a board, body corporate committee, or building owner who wants the bottom line without the technical detail.

Ongoing monitoring and verification

An audit is only useful if the recommendations get implemented and the savings are real. SynthWire offers a follow-up monitoring engagement three to six months after the main works are completed — we reinstall the data loggers, measure the new consumption baseline, and produce a savings verification report that confirms the actual reduction achieved versus the modelled reduction. For clients with ongoing capital improvement programs, we can roll this into an annual energy reporting service. This is also increasingly valuable for businesses with sustainability reporting obligations or tenants requiring documented energy performance data as part of lease negotiations or ESG commitments.

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