Reducing Commercial Energy Costs

Infrared and real image showing lack of thermal insulation on Residential building
Infrared and real image showing lack of thermal insulation on Residential building

The old saying goes something like “take care of the nickels and dimes, and the dollars will take care of themselves.” It’s a sage piece of advice that can apply just as readily to your building portfolio as it does to a cash drawer. While a sudden hole in the roof is a huge problem, there’s also no way it’ll be let go for even a second. That’s the sort of thing that gets handled same-day, before it can do any further damage. But what about the little stuff? Is your building losing money it shouldn’t?

Chances are that the answer is yes, and you probably already know where: heating and cooling; insulation and electricity — the constant, ubiquitous expenses that we’ve become used to. But these kinds of expenses tend to be the ones that can benefit the most from a little extra scrutiny, and even seemingly minor influences can add up to big savings in the long run.

Air Conditioning

Your HVAC system is one of the more highly-taxed utilities you’ve got, and it’s components run the length and height of every building, in nearly constant operation to maintain a comfortable work environment. If any part of the system is under-performing, it can cause your energy costs to creep up. This could be anything from the vents and ductwork to the AC units, themselves. The regular care and maintenance of existing systems, and careful planning and installation in the case of new systems, is paramount to ensuring that they are operating at peak efficiency. This routine care and inspection process should also extend, not only to the building’s ductwork, but also to considerations such as keeping furniture or other features free of any vents and shading your exterior AC units.

Insulation

The insulation in a building is another area that should bear some scrutiny. Missing or damaged insulating material within the building or in the ductwork should be found and addressed where it exists, and particular care should be taken with older buildings. But your windows and doors should also be evaluated for their ability to insulate. While there is little that can be done to prevent the heat exchange caused by opening a door, purchasing doors and windows that are more energy-efficient can amount to huge savings on heating and cooling costs over the life of the building.

Electricity

There are many ways to cut an electricity bill. You could simply instruct your employees to be energy-conscious and power off any lights or machines at the end of the workday, but in this day and age, there are numerous solutions available to automate the use of electricity and ensure that a building is only consuming as much as it needs. Likewise, your thermostat can be automated to reduce heating and cooling costs while the building is not occupied. Energy-efficient light bulbs and other appliances can also be installed — though more expensive than their conventional counterparts, they pay for themselves over time.

Scroll to Top