How to Cut Energy Costs for Commercial Buildings
Commercial Building is an umbrella term and it covers a broad category of buildings where various activities of commercial nature take place. Offices, retail stores, warehouses, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc. are a few examples. The energy consumption, which comprises mostly electricity and natural gas, varies according to the usage which often depends on the activities that take place in such buildings. The more the consumption, the more the energy cost. Although every building consumes a different amount of energy, there are some common ways to reduce its cost.
Use Power Efficient Electrical System
Electricity is the most widely consumed energy in every sector and the commercial sector utilizes it for conducting business, big and small. It is also used to provide services but running the commercial buildings is the biggest use of all. This includes lighting the premises, air-conditioning, operating electrical equipment, and much more. Installing an electrical system that is power efficient is one way to cut the energy consumption, thereby saving on electricity bills. A team from Pro Point Electrical can install such an electrical system easily.
Using energy-efficient lighting for indoors as well as outdoors is not only an environment-friendly approach, it is also a great way to reduce the energy cost. Along with lights, a building naturally requires cooling and heating systems. The standard air-conditioning unit uses a significant amount of power to run. However, a star-rated air-conditioner with an energy-saving mode is bound to require much less energy. Similarly, certified wiring for connecting the electrical equipment reduces energy consumption as it prevents wastage of power.
Upgrade the Heating System
If the building has obsolete or significantly old heating equipment, it is evident that it will require more natural gas to generate enough heat. An inefficient boiler is also bound to waste much energy and the amount increases with wear and tear of the equipment over time. Replacing such a heating system with a new one is an excellent solution to that problem. It is an investment that will give good returns for years to come by reducing the natural gas bill.
However, just buying new equipment is not enough. The heating system needs regular maintenance so if any problem arises, it can be dealt with swiftly. To maintain a good heating system, it is essential to fix any problems the moment they are detected. It not only prevents wastage of energy, but it also stops the issue from getting bigger. For instance, if a damaged part is repaired as soon as the damage gets noticed, it won’t put a load on the heating system or affect the other parts.
Regularly Check the Ventilation System
The ventilation system plays an important role in making sure the heating and cooling systems are able to keep the building warm or cool according to need without any leakages. If there are any leakages in the ventilation system, it will naturally lead to wastage and more energy being consumed by the heating or cooling system as a result of it. A heat recovery ventilation system is better than a standard ventilation system as it makes sure the energy that would normally be wasted is recovered.
Air vents need to be free of any blockage in order to work properly. The air needs to flow without any restriction throughout the building otherwise there will be no warming or cooling effect. The boiler or air conditioner will consume energy but the result will not be felt without clear vents. It needs to be made sure that nothing is clogging the airways and that none of the equipment or items kept in the building become obstructions to the airflow.
Make Sure the Insulation System is Good
Buildings with a good insulation system have little trouble with the air leaking out. Whether the weather outside is hot or cold, the inside of the building stays at the temperature set through the cooling or heating equipment. This lowers the requirement for the boiler or air conditioner to keep running, in turn lowering the energy consumption and the cost incurred on it. Poor insulation, on the other hand, can cause the air to leak from different places.
A high-power insulation system can be installed to eliminate the chances of the air inside the building escaping. This is an efficient approach in itself but making air-sealing repairs before the installation goes a little further when trying to save energy. Air sealing covers every little spot from where the air can leak and when the building is insulated on top of it, the inside of the building remains safe from any effect of the outside weather, keeping the space at an ideal temperature.
Change Energy Suppliers
This solution is only applicable if the supplier of electricity and natural gas for the building charges a higher price as compared to other suppliers in the area. If that is the case, it is a good idea to switch to the one which supplies energy at reasonable rates. This can significantly cut the energy cost. It is prudent to keep an eye on the rates being charged by the suppliers in the area where the building is situated for this very reason.
Use an Energy Management System
An energy management system, in simple words, is a mechanism made out of computer tools that collect and record data related to energy consumption. The accumulated data is then presented and the cost is assessed by analysing the usage. This helps in providing an idea about where the cost-cutting methods can be implemented. This is a sound way to reach low levels of energy consumption and maintain the same long-term.
Conclusion
Buildings, especially offices for business whether small scale or large scale, consume enough energy to make the cost a big cause of concern. It is always a wise move to search for ways to cut back on the said cost. Saving on energy bills gives businesses the opportunity to improve the workplace environment which leads to a boost in the productivity of the employees. Thus, it can be said that cutting energy costs benefits in more than one way.
