Sharing Expertise for Immediate and Long-Term Impact at BOMA International
Across the country, facility managers are working to innovate around energy conservation. At UG2, acting as citizens of our industry and our customers’ industries means identifying and sharing strategies that will bring immediate and long-term benefits to our customers, and serve our planet in the long run, too.
At the 2026 BOMA International Conference, Matt Montanez joined a panel of experts from the Building Engineers Committee to present an energy conservation playbook for commercial buildings. The panel made the case for an action plan with 30-, 60-, and 90-day benchmarks, beginning with a focus on audits, sensor calibration, and operational stability and ultimately incorporating advanced diagnostics, real-time energy adjustments, and performance tracking and KPIs.
The presentation opened with a review of the core principles of energy conservation, and touched on financial benefits and operational advantages as well as issues of compliance and certifications. Presenters also shared building-specific guidance that prioritized approaches with an immediate impact and return on (low or no) investment.
Matt and other panelists discussed strategies pertaining to office buildings:
Plug-load management. Using automatic sleep settings on office devices and reduce energy consumption by 40 percent.
Day-cleaning programs. Shifting janitorial work to daytime reduces after-hours lighting and HVAC usage.
Zonal HVAC Control. This strategy saves on the waste of cooling and heating unused spaces.
The panelists’ recommendations for retail buildings included:
Exterior lighting controls. Timers and daylight sensors can optimize signage and parking lot lighting.
Nighttime energy audits. Identifying unnecessary energy use in unoccupied areas can significantly reduce waste.
HVAC maintenance practices. Regular filter changes, coil cleaning, and sensor calibration improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Optimal hot water settings. Setting domestic hot water systems to 105–110°F ensures safety and energy savings without compromising comfort.
When the panel noted that facility managers can have an immediate impact through simple maintenance like sealing leaks and cleaning coils, Matt used the metaphor of riding a bike with low tire pressure to emphasize the impact regular maintenance can have on energy expenditure.
Collecting Data to Communicate Impact—And to Set Your Facility Apart
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Matt told attendees, in discussing how critical data is, not only to assessing progress and demonstrating compliance, but also in making the case to building owners and decision makers.
As the panel suggested strategies for communicating conservation benefits to everyone from facility engineers and management to stakeholders and decisionmakers, Matt said it is natural to encounter resistance. Data and case studies can help engineers, owners, and managers understand how these investments set them apart from the competition—and competition is something that resonates with building engineers.
“You may face some resistance, even from your Chief Engineer, when it comes to potential changes,” said Matt. “It’s important to get the buy in and really sell the reason for looking into making adjustments. Most Chief Engineers are competitive in nature. That can provide a good buy-in strategy if needed.”
The presentation won kudos from attendees and earned coverage in the Buildings article, 14 Low- and No-Cost Energy Wins That Deliver Real Results. Read the article to learn about the panels’ recommendations in detail, and if you have questions about customizing a conservation action plan for your specific needs, get in touch with UG2 today.