26 Mar Tips to Reduce HVAC Costs in Commercial Buildings
The HVAC systems is responsible for the largest share of Energy Usage in most commercial buildings and as NYC awaits the oncoming summer season, the costs of running these systems will only go higher. The costs are further increased when HVAC units are old and inefficient, or when buildings have poor insulation and air leakage issues. However, there are many energy efficiency measures that can reduce your cooling costs.
The Cotocon Group lists down 4 major ways which can help NYC Building Owners reduce their Energy Costs.
Install an Energy-Efficient HVAC System
The first place to start when cutting cooling costs is with the HVAC system itself. If your commercial system is more than 15 years old, it is probably time for a replacement, as it is likely to start leaking and degrading to the point that the cost of repairs to fix the system are greater than the cost of getting a new system.
It is advisable to reach out to experts to size the right HVAC system for you. Units that are too large will leave the building too humid, while undersized systems will have to work overtime to maintain the desired temperature.
Invest in Building Insulation
Within the building and construction industry, the general evidence supports that well-insulated structures can reduce energy usage by up to 10 percent. In commercial spaces, 10 percent can add up to significant cash, especially when looked at from a year-over-year perspective. In order to minimize heat losses in industry and also in construction of buildings, thermal insulation is widely used. The purpose of thermal insulation of is to reduce the overall heat transfer coefficient by adding materials with low thermal conductivity. Thermal insulation in buildings is an important factor to achieving thermal comfort for its occupants. Thermal insulation reduces unwanted heat loss and also reduce unwanted heat gain.
Using Smart Controls for Air Conditioning Systems
When a building does not need cooling, a running air conditioner is a waste of energy regardless of its efficiency. However, there is also energy waste when the full cooling capacity is used with partial occupancy. Unfortunately, this is very common in commercial buildings, and many AC systems run at full output without considering the actual cooling needs.
Smaller air conditioning systems can be automated with smart thermostats, while larger commercial systems will need building controls. Using smart Controls is another good way of reducing HVAC operational costs.
Conduct an Energy Audit
An Energy Audit is the process of identifying, surveying and analyzing the Energy usage of a building. It is done to optimize the energy usage of the system, for example keeping the outputs the same while reducing the energy consumption. A successful energy audit results in energy and cost saving while also reducing the overall carbon footprint.
During an Energy Audit, health and safety are the primary concerns as well as reducing energy consumption and maintaining human comfort. An Energy Audit seeks to prioritize the energy uses according to the most cost-effective technique while also taking into consideration the comfort levels.