A recent article from a UG2 expert highlights how to tackle high energy costs at a time when every dollar counts.
UG2 Senior Vice President of Operations James Lane shared his thoughts, in a FacilitiesNet article, on finding ways to reduce energy costs—a strategy that’s now more urgent than ever. With lower occupancy rates and the impacts on property revenue, this is actually a perfect time to think about this issue, he believes, because it gives every building owner and facilities manager the chance to take a good look at energy consumption strategy.
“By coupling budget-friendly, easy-to-implement measures with the tax credits, incentives, and rebates available for bigger projects, you can tackle energy efficiency without breaking the bank,” he writes. “And you’ll be in a much better position when more people return to offices, schools, retail spaces, and entertainment facilities.”
Here are some key strategies to consider, according to Lane:
- Research technology innovations and find out what your competitors are using. Get demonstrations on equipment that looks promising and have consultations with energy experts. That way, you’ll know the breadth of what’s available, and what could be the best fit for your facility.
- Schedule a complete energy audit. A thorough audit can uncover issues with insulation, air exchange, and underperforming equipment. You can’t upgrade if you don’t know your blind spots.
- Know what rebates and tax credits are applicable for you, since that can go a long way towards improving ROI and justifying projects.
- Take a look at your lighting, which is often the simplest and fastest place to save money. Even seemingly easy changes like replacing old fluorescent tubes can come with a comparatively short payback. Lighting control systems and occupancy sensor lighting controls are other great tactics that can increase efficiency and lower your electric bills.
- Install variable frequency drives (VFDs), which allow you to vary the amount of frequency and voltage for a power supply to a motor, pump, or chiller, in addition to other controls. Putting VFDs on all major pieces of equipment can result in major power consumption savings.
- For all toilets, consider flushometers, since they release a metered amount of water and then close back up, using less water per flush than a typical tank system. This kind of system on sinks also turns off water automatically, adding to more efficiency.
- Think high efficiency for all equipment, especially condensing boilers, which could burn fuel at up to 98% efficiency without heat getting lost through the stack, chimney, or vent pipe.
- Get automated by putting in direct digital controls that turn systems on and off by demand instead of relying on time clocks. Since occupancy may be highly variable right now due to COVID-19, this can be a particularly smart move, especially if a workforce or students are transitioning back in phases.
For more of Lane’s insights, be sure to check out the full FacilitiesNet article. In the meantime, if you’re not thinking about strategies like these, it might be time to make the effort.
“Bottom line? There’s always an opportunity to be more energy efficient and realize greater cost savings,” Lane notes. “And you don’t have to spend a tremendous amount of money to do so.”