A major portion of your company’s energy bills comes from the operation of your heating and cooling system. In fact, the US Department of Energy states that as much as 30% of a commercial building’s energy consumption goes to waste. However, there are steps you can take to improve commercial HVAC energy efficiency. For example, with strategic planning, smart investment, and regular maintenance, you can reduce the overall heating and cooling consumption of your building.
There are many options to improve HVAC equipment efficiency, but we have compiled our top five suggestions for companies to make their commercial HVAC system more efficient.
- Retrofit or Replace. This option is ideal for especially old systems. HVAC has advanced greatly over the years, so oftentimes the best option to save money long term is to invest in retrofitting an old system with new technology or replacing the system entirely. While this may be more expensive upfront, the system will be much more energy efficient, which will save money long term.
- Regularly clean or change your air conditioner filters. A dirty air conditioner filter can restrict the air flow and damage your unit, resulting in decreased commercial HVAC efficiency. Make sure to change your filters at least once every three months. Doing this simple step will lessen your energy waste by as much as 10%.
- Check your ductwork system and have it sealed and insulated. Do you conduct your business in an old commercial building? If so, chances are high that your building’s ductwork system is less than desirable, which can result in air leaks. These will make your air conditioner work even harder to compensate for the lost air and will decrease your commercial HVAC efficiency. Calling Bachman’s to properly seal and insulate the ductwork will significantly lower the amount of energy your system is wasting.
- Install a programmable thermostat: Using a programmable thermostat in conjunction with your cooling system allows you to automatically change temperatures at all times, even when there’s no one at work – a huge benefit to commercial HVAC efficiency. For example, you can automatically set the indoor temperature closer to the temperature outside at the end of each workday. Everybody has gone home by this time, so no one will be affected by the changes. Doing so will reduce your HVAC system’s workload and increase your commercial HVAC efficiency.
- Preventative Maintenance. One of the best ways to ensure energy efficiency is with proper preventive maintenance. Approximately half of the energy in a typical building is consumed by its HVAC system. A neglected system slowly loses its ability to keep your workspace comfortable at the same level of efficiency it once did. An added benefit is that energy-efficient performance translates into lower utility bills. Savings from efficient equipment operation can be substantial.
