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How an ITA Can Help You Verify Energy Savings Claims

How an ITA Can Help You Verify Energy Savings Claims


Reading Time: 12 minutes
Key Takeaway: An Independent Technical Advisor (ITA) protects you from wrong, inflated, or unclear energy-savings claims by checking the data, the method, and the results before you sign anything.

Introduction (PAS Framework – ~120 words)

Many organisations today face the same problem: everyone is promising energy savings, but nobody is really proving them. And when the numbers look too good to be true, they usually are. That is where things start to feel risky, especially when a project involves long-term payments or guaranteed savings.

A Case Study: A Successful EPC Project in a Malaysian University showed how much can go right when everything is verified properly. But what if you don’t have the technical skills to check those claims yourself?

That is where “How an ITA Can Help You Verify Energy Savings Claims" becomes crucial. An ITA steps in to confirm what is real, what is exaggerated, and what is missing—so you can make confident decisions without fear of being misled.

Summary Box

  • Topic: How an ITA supports organisations by verifying energy-savings claims.

  • Why It Matters: Wrong or inflated claims can lead to financial loss and poor project results.

  • What You’ll Learn: The steps, methods, and protections an ITA provides.

  • Keyword Used: “How an ITA Can Help You Verify Energy Savings Claims"

How an ITA Can Help You Verify Energy Savings Claims

(2400 words, eighth-grade reading level)

Energy projects always come with a promise: lower bills, better equipment, and long-term savings. But how do you know the promised savings are real? How do you confirm that the consultant or contractor used the right method? Or that the numbers actually match your facility’s real conditions?

This is exactly why many organisations today are turning to Independent Technical Advisors (ITAs). In this article, we will explore How an ITA Can Help You Verify Energy Savings Claims in a simple, clear, and practical way. By the end, you will see how an ITA protects your money, your operations, and your long-term goals.

1. What an ITA Actually Does

An Independent Technical Advisor is not a contractor, not a vendor, and not a salesperson. Their job is simple: check the facts and confirm the truth.

They help you by:

  • Reviewing all technical assumptions

  • Checking the baseline calculations

  • Confirming the proposed equipment performance

  • Verifying the savings model

  • Highlighting missing information

  • Protecting you from misleading claims

In short, they make sure everything you sign is backed by real data and not guesswork.

This is why organisations use ITAs for EPC projects, energy audits, feasibility studies, and grant applications. And because the ITA is independent, they do not gain anything from overselling or exaggerating the savings.

2. Why Energy Savings Claims Are Often Wrong

Savings numbers can be wrong for many reasons—even when no one is intentionally lying. Errors usually happen because:

  • The baseline data is incomplete

  • The wrong calculation method is used

  • Equipment performance is assumed, not measured

  • Weather or operating hours are not considered

  • The wrong comparison year is selected

  • Faulty meters or missing logs cause gaps in data

  • Modelling software is misused

  • Contractors copy-paste numbers from previous proposals

This is where the danger begins. A small mistake in baseline calculations can lead to a huge error in savings claims. And once the project starts, it’s too late to change the terms.

An ITA prevents this from happening by checking every step before you commit.

3. How ITAs Verify Baseline Energy Use

The baseline is the most important part of any energy savings claim. It is the “before” picture. If the “before” picture is wrong, the “after” savings will also be wrong.

An ITA verifies the baseline by:

  • Checking at least 12 months of energy data

  • Looking for missing months, spikes, and abnormal trends

  • Comparing data with weather conditions

  • Reviewing building operating hours

  • Interviewing the facility team about real usage patterns

  • Inspecting equipment conditions

They ensure the baseline truly reflects how the facility was operating before the project. This prevents inflated or impossible savings claims.

4. How ITAs Validate the Savings Calculation Method

Savings exist only if the calculation is valid. Contractors often use formulas that look impressive but have hidden issues.

An ITA checks:

  • Whether the formula follows international standards

  • Whether the assumptions match real-life conditions

  • Whether the model accounts for load variations

  • Whether the equipment performance is backed by certified data

  • Whether the savings model includes maintenance or degradation

This step is extremely important because small errors in formulas can create huge differences in estimated savings.

5. Tools ITAs Use to Confirm Accuracy

An ITA uses a mix of tools and techniques to confirm whether the claims are reliable. These include:

  • Data loggers

  • Energy modelling software

  • Simulation tools

  • M&V protocols (IPMVP, ISO 50015)

  • Historical data matching

  • Cross-checking with manufacturer performance curves

Each tool helps validate a different part of the savings estimate. Together, they give you a complete picture of whether the proposed savings are realistic.

6. The Difference Between “Possible,” “Probable,” and “Guaranteed” Savings

Not all savings claims are the same. An ITA helps you understand what type of savings you are being promised:

Possible Savings

These are savings that could happen, but only under very ideal conditions. Often used in marketing or early estimates.

Probable Savings

Savings that are likely to happen based on real data and proper modelling. These are more reliable.

Guaranteed Savings

Savings that the contractor promises under an EPC (Energy Performance Contract). If the savings fall short, the contractor pays the difference.

An ITA helps ensure the guaranteed savings are achievable and backed with evidence—not just hope.

7. Case Example: When an ITA Saved a Client Millions

Imagine a commercial building owner who was told they would save RM 2.5 million over 10 years by upgrading their chillers. The proposal looked impressive. The savings model seemed strong.

But when the ITA checked the details, they found:

  • The baseline used a “hot year” instead of a normal year

  • The weather adjustment was missing

  • The chiller efficiency data came from a brochure, not a test report

  • The operating hours were assumed, not measured

  • The metering data was incomplete

After corrections, the real savings were only RM 900,000 — not RM 2.5 million.

Thanks to the ITA, the client avoided signing a 10-year contract based on unrealistic numbers.

8. How ITAs Protect You During EPC Negotiations

In EPC projects, savings are everything. If the savings are wrong, the whole contract becomes a problem.

An ITA reviews:

  • The M&V plan

  • The payment structure

  • The guarantee level

  • The risk allocation

  • The equipment specs

  • The penalty clauses

They ensure the contract protects you — not just the contractor.

9. How ITAs Improve Transparency in Energy Projects

Transparency is one of the biggest benefits an ITA brings.

They provide:

  • Clear reports

  • Easy-to-understand charts

  • Side-by-side comparisons

  • Explanations in plain language

  • Independent recommendations

This makes it easier for management to make informed decisions without being confused by jargon or complicated models.

10. What Happens If You Don’t Use an ITA?

Without an ITA, companies often face:

  • Overestimated savings

  • Wrong equipment sizing

  • Higher energy bills than expected

  • Long disputes with contractors

  • Contracts that are impossible to enforce

  • Poor project ROI

  • Delayed results

  • Unclear M&V reporting

In many cases, the cost of hiring an ITA is far lower than the losses from a poorly verified project.

11. The ITA’s Role After Installation

An ITA’s job doesn’t end once the equipment is installed. They also help verify the actual savings after the project.

They:

  • Check metering accuracy

  • Compare “before and after” data correctly

  • Adjust for weather and occupancy changes

  • Validate M&V reports

  • Confirm whether guaranteed savings were achieved

This protects you from disputes and ensures the contractor delivers what was promised.

12. How to Choose the Right ITA

A good ITA should have:

  • Experience in EPC projects

  • Knowledge of IPMVP and M&V protocols

  • Strong engineering background

  • Data analytics skills

  • No conflict of interest

  • Clear reporting style

  • A reputation for honesty and accuracy

Choosing the right ITA can make or break your project’s financial success.

13. Why ITAs Are Becoming Essential Under EECA 2024

With the new EECA requirements, organisations must now prove:

  • Real savings

  • Accurate baselines

  • Proper reporting

  • Verified improvements

An ITA helps you stay compliant and avoid penalties or mistakes in energy-savings claims.

Conclusion & Call to Action

We have explored How an ITA Can Help You Verify Energy Savings Claims in clear and practical terms. By now, you can see how an ITA protects you from exaggerated numbers, misleading proposals, and costly mistakes. They confirm the truth behind every savings claim so your investment stays safe and your decisions stay confident.

If you want support verifying savings claims, reviewing EPC proposals, or meeting EECA requirements, WhatsApp or call 0133006284 today. Getting expert support now can save you from major problems later. 

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