Energy Tips & Tools

Hidden Energy Losses in Your Facility

Uncover these often hidden sources of energy waste to positively impact your business’s bottom line.

Heating & Cooling

Building controls are designed to save energy. If they’re out of tune, however, they can actually increase heating and cooling costs and reduce comfort. Inspect and adjust building controls regularly to account for operational and seasonal variations, and to ensure that sensors and controls are properly calibrated. Well-tuned controls can save up to 30% on heating and cooling costs.

Air leaks require your HVAC system to work harder than it needs to. Conditioned air is constantly leaking out of buildings, and unconditioned outdoor air is penetrating the building envelope in many ways throughout the year. Seal gaps in windows and exterior doors with caulk or weatherstripping to slow down unwanted air exchange.

Phantom Loads

Many electronic devices, such as office equipment and vending machines, use energy 24/7, even when no one’s around. Don’t let your facility be haunted by this kind of energy waste. Use power management settings on computers. Plug devices into smart power strips that automatically shut off power when they’re not in use. Install occupancy sensors on vending machines; they turn on lights and ramp up compressor operation only when someone is present.

Personal Appliances

They may be small in size, but space heaters, fans, and mini fridges aren’t very efficient and they’re difficult to control. How much do these devices cost you? One 1,500-watt space heater operating at 500 hours a year will cost you about $75 at an average electric rate of 10 cents per kWh. A lot of these little appliances can take a big chunk out of your energy budget. To limit their use, maintain building temperatures in a comfortable range and make appliances readily available in a central break room area.