20 Sep Energy Efficiency Tips for the Upcoming Winter Season for Your Building

When days get shorter, and the temperature falls, it is time to prepare your building for the upcoming winters. While this might not be very apparent, temperature affects 44% to 67% of energy demands in your building.     

During winter, you will use more space heaters and HVAC solutions to cope with the increasing cold. This will automatically drive up your energy needs and increase your expenditure even before you know it. 

If this has been a concern for you, then you are in the right place. In this blog, we will explore some of the most effective winter energy-saving tips for your building. So, let’s dive in!

Tip 1: Weatherproof Your Building and Ensure Proper Insulation 

Most people do not realize this, but buildings waste about 30% of their total energy. Ineffective weatherproofing and lack of proper insulation are major reasons behind this wastage. You must take the appropriate measures to address these issues in the following ways:

• Insulate Ceilings and Walls: First, you need to insulate your ceiling and walls to retain the heat inside the building. If your insulation falls short, do not hesitate to upgrade because it will help save more in the long run. 
• Use Storm Windows and Shutter: When it comes to insulation, you must leverage the potential of storm windows and shutters. This will add another insulation layer and prevent heat from escaping the building. 
• Find and Seal All Leaks: Any gaps, cracks, or even holes around the window are major reasons your building must be wasting energy. Don’t be complacent here; identify those gaps and seal them with insulation to retain warm air. 

Tip 2: Take Care of your Lighting and Electronics

It is no secret that every lighting fixture or electronics in your building runs on electricity. Naturally, they account for a lot of energy your building consumes, and you must take measures to lower their energy consumption. So, here are some things you can do to enhance energy efficiency in commercial buildings:        

• Use Energy-Efficient Appliances: Most electronic appliances of today’s age are designed to be energy efficient. Whenever you replace any existing appliances, always choose energy-efficient solutions for long-term savings. 
• Use LED Lighting: Another important thing you can do here is use LED lighting solutions to save energy. These lightings don’t just last very long but also consume less energy, fostering better savings in the long run. 
• Unplug Electronics: The last thing you want to do is leave your appliances plugged in while not in use. Most electronics continue to draw power even when not in use, making it very important to unplug them after use.      

Tip 3: Ensure Proper HVAC Maintenance  

HVAC energy consumption in commercial buildings is much more significant than many would like to believe. Things only get worse when you fail to ensure proper maintenance for these systems, and they consume even more energy. This is why you need to:

• Schedule Regular Maintenance: Hire an HVAC maintenance professional and check the system before winter. This is very important for identifying any potential issues beforehand and repairing them properly. 
• Clean your Air Filters: You must regularly check your HVAC system’s air filters and clean them for better airflow. In case the filter is worn out or damaged, make sure to replace it quickly before it hampers the building’s energy efficiency.   

Tip 4: Embrace Solar Energy 

The sun truly holds immense power, yet we barely use that power to our advantage. If you are looking for an easy, sustainable, and reliable way to save energy, solar energy is the perfect fit. You can leverage solar energy in the following ways:

• Install Solar Panels: Put your building’s roof to good use and, if possible, cover the entire roof with solar panels. This will help you maximize the sun’s energy and even enhance commercial HVAC energy efficiency.     
• Invest in Batteries: While the sun does turn up every day, it might always be at its best, mainly due to unpredictable cloud cover. This requires you to make the most of the sun’s energy on brighter days and store that energy in batteries. You can then use this surplus energy during the rainy season or on cloudy days.   

Tip 5: Bring Some Behavioral Changes 

Apart from all the necessary changes you can make to the building before winter, there are some changes you need to make in yourself as well. Most people do not care to admit it, but some behavioral traits do contribute to increased energy consumption. So here are some of the changes you can try:

• Close Vents in Room You Don’t Use: The first thing you must do is close all the vents in any room you don’t use that often. This is important for proper insulation and avoiding unnecessary heating in rooms you don’t use. 
• Lower Your Thermostat: Another simple but effective thing you can do here is lower the thermostat temperature whenever possible. Instead of relying on the thermostat for heat, you can simply wear some layers of clothing and stay warm. 
• Turn Off Lightings When Not Needed: Granted that we all need artificial light to survive in today’s day and age. But this also means that there are times when no one is using the room, and you can turn the light off. This might not make a significant impact, but every energy unit counts.           

In Conclusion 

Preparing your building for the cold is much easier than you imagine when you have the right energy efficiency tips for winter. But the important thing here is to ensure you adhere to and make the most of these tips. Simple things like closing the vents when not needed or using LED lighting fixtures can make a lot of difference.   

So, if you are truly serious about preparing your building for the upcoming winter, make sure to reach out to the NYC LL97 Compliance Consultants. These experts will help you get the most energy savings from your building.