Energy costs are no laughing matter when it comes to running a business. Necessary expenses for heating and cooling systems tend to stack up as an office or workplace grows, and they also extend toward many other broader issues that deserve our attention. These include the rise in the cost of daily living in our own localities and the rate at which we consume energy worldwide and its impact on our environment.
That said, we present you with a some of the best practices that your business can adopt in order to save on heating, cooling, and overall energy costs.
Invest in a Smart HVAC System
Of primary importance in this equation is your office’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, or HVAC system. The ideal HVAC system for a commercial environment maximizes on the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer, all while keeping occupants comfortable throughout the hot and cold seasons. A good HVAC vacuum pump is also very important if you want to perform maintenance on your own HVAC system. So make sure you have a vacuum pump as well.
One way to level up the HVAC system’s overall efficiency is to invest in smart technologies. A smart HVAC system will be able to use features such as sensors to “learn” about an indoor environment’s characteristics, such as its ambient temperature, humidity levels, and occupancy. This enables the system to perform room-to-room temperature control or to regulate air and heat passage depending on whether or not an area is currently occupied.
To illustrate an example, a smart HVAC system can intelligently control damper valves, or the valves that regulate airflow inside the ducts. Equipped with efficient mini motors for valve actuation, these damper valves can control the ingress or egress of cool or warm air depending on the needs of an indoor environment. In other words, this kind of system will allow for more efficient energy management inside an office or commercial environment.
Replace all outdated heating and cooling equipment within the Complex
In relation to this, one of the reasons why your business might be racking up on heating and cooling expenses is because certain components of your HVAC system aren’t working up to par. Unbeknownst to you, some parts might be outdated or broken, and prone to costly problems like air leakage. We suggest running an inventory of all the equipment pertaining to the HVAC system so that you and your restoration contractor can properly assess what needs repairs or replacement.
Conduct Energy Audits
You don’t have to worry about skyrocketing energy-related expenses by yourself. There is also the very practical option of requesting an energy audit from a licensed professional. This way, you can learn exactly what your office’s energy situation is, as it will differ from business to business and building to building.
Enroll your business in an energy savings program. On the subject of partnerships, we also recommend seeing what tax incentives or rebates your local government or the federal government may provide, in exchange for actions like switching over to more energy-efficient equipment. If you are a U.S. resident, you’ll find relevant resourcesat the Energy Department’s official website.
Control natural Light and Shading in the Office
Factors like extremely hot weather can affect your office’s energy consumption habits. With that in mind, keep the temperature in your office cool with blinds or window films. This way, occupants can resist the urge to keep tinkering with the air conditioning system.
Remind your Employees to Save Energy
One last tip that will go a long way is to remind your employees of the difference they can make—in ways that go past the company budget. Circulate a company memo to make sure that air conditioning and heating devices are turned off when not in use.
Best of luck on tapering down costs, and scoring great savings not only for your business, but for the environment as well!
