Energy consumption is undoubtedly one of the most significant expenses and the most expensive utility in commercial establishments such as malls, stores, and office buildings. From the lighting to the appliances and equipment, and the entire HVAC system that keeps your entire interior at a comfortable temperature, the energy cost keeps on going — more so for the latter during summer and winter where your HVAC needs to work harder. The higher your energy consumption, the lower your establishment’s bottom line.
As such, we’ll be taking a look at various tips to help you lower the energy consumption in your commercial building:
#1 HVAC Tune-up (or Upgrade)
A poorly-maintained HVAC system would be at risk of breaking down anytime, especially during heavy use (such as the cold and hot seasons of the year). If your HVAC system hasn’t undergone maintenance for a long time, not only will it function poorly, but it would end up using more energy to achieve its target temperature. So make sure that you perform a routine inspection, cleaning, and maintenance at least twice — once before summer, and another before winter to ensure full functionality and energy efficiency. Alternatively, if you’ve had the same HVAC system for years, you may want to consider upgrading your to a more energy-efficient and easier-to-maintain one instead.
#2 Switch Out the Lights: LED
If you’re not using them already, it’s highly recommended that you use LED lights instead of incandescent ones. Not only do they last almost 10 times longer, but they use around 75% less energy. If you’re renting out commercial space, you may also want to encourage your tenants to do the same.
#3 Smart Lighting System
Still on the topic of lights, you may also want to upgrade to a smart lighting system that adjusts its brightness level when it detects sunlight, and are programmable to automatically turn off during certain hours (i.e., closing hours) so you won’t end up leaving the lights on overnight when they’re not needed.
#4 Utilize Shade
Awnings and other exterior windows and door coverings can help block sunlight from entering into your building and raising the temperature, which can cause your HVAC to use more energy to lower the ambient temperature. Alternatively, you can also use manual or automated/smart blinds or shutters on your windows to block off sunlight and provide insulation from the interior of your building.
#5 Automated Doors
Not only are automated doors safer, more convenient, and improve customer perception of your building, but it can also help save energy. With manual doors, there’s always the possibility that customers or even employees forget to close the door when they enter or exit, or that the door isn’t fully closed when they do, causing cold air to escape and hot air to enter. Open or ajar doors can significantly affect the energy consumption of your HVAC system, which is why installing automatic doors to your commercial building in Utah can help out in lowering your energy bills.
#6 Train Your Employees
If you don’t have any automated systems in place, the next best thing is to train (and remind) your employees to perform tasks that would save energy. For example, everyone should be reminded to properly close doors behind them, use blinds when needed, turn off AND unplug appliances that aren’t in use, and so on.
Conclusion
Keeping your energy consumption low can be a bit difficult, especially in a busy commercial building. Still, with these simple tips, you’ll be able to cut down your energy bill and increase your profit.