2026 Audits: Why Starting In Q1 Matters
If you own or manage a commercial building, 2026 feels far away. But when it comes to 2026 energy audits, the smartest move is to start now, especially in Q1.
Booking early can help you stay ahead of deadlines, avoid stress, and make sure your audit is completed on time. In this article, we’ll explain why starting your audit process in Q1 matters, what can go wrong if you wait, and how to plan your audit timeline the right way.
Why Starting Your Energy Audits Early Matters
More cities and states are requiring energy audits for large buildings. These audits help reduce energy use and improve building performance. If your property is in a city with local energy laws, you may need to complete an energy audit in 2026 to stay in compliance.
Not sure if this applies to you? If your building meets the regulatory size of your local energy law, usually 25,000 square feet or more, you’ll be legally liable to get compliant.
Missing your audit deadline can lead to:
- Fines or penalties
- Loss of incentives or rebates
- Issues with tenants or building buyers
That’s why early planning is key.
Why Q1 Is The Best Time To Start
January through March (Q1) is the best time to start energy audits early. Here’s why:
- Audit firms book fast. Many buildings are on the same timeline. That means good audit teams fill up quickly, sometimes before spring even starts.
- Some audits take months. Depending on your building’s size and type, the audit could take several weeks to complete. That’s before filing, approvals, or final reviews.
- More time = fewer surprises. If problems are found, you’ll want time to fix them. Starting early gives you breathing room.
- Spreading demand avoids bottlenecks. Most buildings try to finish their audit in Q3 or Q4. That leads to delays, last-minute scrambling, and rushed work.
- Q1 pricing is often more flexible. Many audit firms offer better pricing or easier scheduling earlier in the year.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long?
Delaying your commercial building audit planning will cause real problems. If you push your audit to the second half of the year, you will face:
- Limited availability. By Q3, top audit firms are booked. You may have to wait or work with teams that don’t specialize in your building type.
- Higher costs. Rush jobs or last-minute bookings often come with added fees.
- Risk of missing your audit deadline. Not all delays are in your control. Waiting too long increases the risk of late submissions.
- Penalties. Some cities charge fines for each month an audit is late, sometimes thousands of dollars.
Your 2026 Energy Audit Booking Timeline
Here’s a simple breakdown of how to think about the year ahead:
📅 Q1 (Jan–Mar):
┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓
┃ ✅ Best time to book
┃ ✅ More availability
┃ ✅ Lower pricing
┃ ✅ Early problem detection
┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛
Q2 (Apr–Jun):
⚠️ Limited slots left
⚠️ Projects start to overlap
⚠️ Less flexibility on timing
Q3 (Jul–Sep):
❌ High demand
❌ Rush fees likely
❌ Risk of delays
📅 Q4 (Oct–Dec):
—————————————————————————
🚫 Emergency bookings only
🚫 Many firms turn away last-minute work
🚫 High penalty risk if not submitted in time
—————————————————————————
How To Prepare For The 2026 Audit Season
Here’s what you can do now to stay ahead:
- Check your property status. Make sure your building is subject to a 2026 audit. If you’re unsure, we can help check.
- Get your building data ready. Utility bills, equipment info, and building size are key details for an audit.
- Talk to an audit team early. They’ll help you understand the full process, costs, and schedule.
- Reserve your audit window. Even if you’re not ready to begin right away, blocking a spot on the calendar gives you peace of mind.
Book Your 2026 Audit Pre-Rush
Every year, building owners push audits to the end of the year, and regret it. Planning early helps avoid the rush, control costs, and meet your 2026 energy audit requirements without stress.
Whether you’re managing one property or an entire portfolio, Q1 is the best time to start.
👉 Book your 2026 audit now, Q1 scheduling starts fast.
Ready To Plan Your 2026 Energy Audit?
If you’re looking for support with 2026 energy audit planning, we’re here to help. Our team can check your compliance needs, walk you through the timeline, and reserve your preferred slot before calendars fill up.
The earlier you book, the more options you’ll have, and the easier your audit season will be.
Let’s make 2026 simple by getting your free, no-obligation, instant audit quote. It takes 90-seconds and sets you up for next year’s audit, today.
