Consider these easy, often budget-friendly, strategies for maintaining your energy costs
At a time when building owners and campus managers are more environmentally conscious than ever, keeping energy usage in check should be at the top of everyone’s to-do list. The good news is that there are many cost-effective ways to increase efficiency while reducing energy budgets. With modern trends and increased education in the integrated facilities services profession, finding energy savings opportunities does not mean revamping an entire engineering strategy or installing solar panels and wind turbines (unless you want to). There are numerous ways to create more efficiency in a way that’s often budget-friendly and easy to implement. Possible options include:
Replace toilets with low-flush models that conserve water usage. The newest styles use as little as 1.6 gallons of water per flush, compared to a standard toilet, which can use from 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. That is a huge savings on your water bill, and it also puts less stress on pipes and other plumbing infrastructure.
Be more proactive with equipment maintenance. Clean cooling and heating coils use less fan and pump energy. Properly lubricated gears, bearings and other power transfer devices operate efficiently and use less energy. When your equipment runs properly, the need for repairs and potential shutdowns is reduced. Broken and worn out equipment also adds material to the waste stream and increases waste disposal costs. You will save costs over time by being proactive and ensuring that equipment has a longer lifespan.
Install touchless faucets, which lower water usage and provide a higher level of health and safety. These motion-sensor faucets help prevent the spread of viruses and prevent water overflow, thanks to an automatic turn-off mechanism, which means another boost for your water bill savings. They also have self-charging batteries, so you’re not adding to maintenance costs.
Change light bulbs to energy-saving options. Just a few bulbs don’t make much of a difference, but think about the hundreds and possibly thousands of bulbs throughout a facility. LED lighting also reduces hazardous material use and disposal of mercury and other heavy metals. Since each one lasts up to 12 times longer than traditional bulbs, cost savings add up quickly with less replacements, less maintenance time, less universal waste, and lower electricity bills.
Implement motion-detector lights, in areas that are only occasionally utilized, such as storage rooms, emergency stairways, parking garages, or unused office spaces, since keeping the lights on at all times is an energy drain, but keeping them off can be a safety hazard. Motion-detector lights solve both issues, resulting in a smart energy usage strategy.
Ensure filters are changed regularly. Just like in a home setting, a commercial filter that is clogged or dirty can cause heating and cooling systems to work harder, which means more energy usage and potential shorter equipment lifespan. In any facility or campus, there may be hundreds of different types of filters being utilized in various systems, which means it’s important to stay on top of maintenance schedules.
Another great tactic: Get a UG2 Energy Services Audit. We have some of the top facility services managers and engineers in the industry, and they love to talk about efficiency. They can identify issues like insulation problems, air exchange concerns, and underperforming equipment, which can all be a major impact on your energy efficiency and budget. The audit team also makes recommendations based on occupancy and usage, so you can have a tailored energy program that benefits your operation—and your bottom line.
Contact us today to set up an audit and discover ways you can make your facility or campus into a more environmentally friendly, efficient, cost-effective operation.