| IMPROVE EFFICIENCY |
| After the energy audit has been completed, all data
collected will be analyzed and efficiency improvements
will be identified. Each potential alternative will be
evaluated on how it will help your business reduce or
eliminate energy waste. Only those alternatives that make good economic sense
(without changing the way you do business) will be
considered. We will identify and quantify your energy uses and recommend workable
solutions that are proven to save you money. Every business wants to save energy. Our program will recommend exactly how to eliminate wasted energy associated with your particular line of business. Some of our recommendations are very simple, such as turning off computers and office machines when they are not being used. Other recommendations will require some changes that may involve hiring tradesmen with contractor’s licenses, such as skilled electricians, plumbers, and heating and cooling contractors. Some projects make use of building automation specialists who can install and program controls that will save you money. Building Envelope The building envelope is an essential aspect of energy use. This is the "skin" that connects the building to the outside world. If the building envelope is inadequate, the building will be subject to substantial intrusion from heat gain or heat loss that can, depending on the season, dramatically affect energy use. We look at the exterior of your facilities and check for areas that are not properly insulated. Our audit will check the entry areas, ceiling and roof insulation, windows, skylights, fans, ducts, and any other penetrations that may cause a loss of interior temperature-conditioned air. Most buildings have areas that can use upgraded insulation, weather-stripping, caulking, door sweeps, and other enhancements. These low-cost improvements can save a significant portion of your annual heating and cooling expenses. We will recommend these low cost (or no cost) improvements as part of the overall recommendations that will save you money year after year. Lighting Significant savings can come from redesigning, controlling and updating lighting. Your business has specific lighting requirements for your employees and customers during normal business hours. It is very important that the quality and quantity of lighting is maintained to provide a comfortable work environment for your employees and that your customers are satisfied with the presentation of your products. We will recommend optimal changes and controls to your lighting system that will provide the light levels needed for your type of business, while eliminating wasted energy. Lighting controls play a critical role in electric lighting systems, by turning the lights on and off with a switch, or by adjusting the light output with a dimmer. Properly specified and installed, lighting controls help managers achieve an organization’s goals for lower energy costs, improved worker satisfaction and greater flexibility. Lighting controls can reduce lighting energy use by 50% in existing buildings and by at least 35% in new construction, while reducing peak-demand charges. While programmable, time-clock based controls turn lights on and off based on a schedule, occupancy sensors turn the lights on and off based on whether the monitored area is being used. The result can be savings of 35-45%. HVAC Systems HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. It is a very important area of energy use, with air conditioning alone accounting for over 35% of the energy consumed in most buildings. There are three basic categories of how to address HVAC energy use: 1) Use less heating and cooling by adjusting the set point temperature. 2) Turn the units off when the area is not being occupied. 3) Make the system operate more efficiently. Many buildings have no provision to reduce energy consumption when the building is empty. Sometimes a simple programmable thermostat can provide significant savings for the entire facility. The location of the thermostat (and who has access to changing the temperature set-points) can have a major impact on the costs associated with heating and cooling your building. All HVAC units require periodic preventative maintenance to keep the machines working properly. Changing air filters, cleaning and repairing ducts, calibrating control systems, and other general maintenance tasks will greatly improve the efficiency of the HVAC units and will save energy waste. Changing air handling motors to variable speed drives (VSD) can save 75% of energy used to move air throughout your building. Water Heaters Hot water heaters come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although they all heat water to a set temperature, they may do this in different ways. Some have electric coils inserted into the water, others heat with gas-fueled flame from below, and others use heat pumps to transfer heat. Regardless of how the water gets heated, they can all be classified into two distinct groups – tank and tankless. Tank heaters store hot water in a holding tank so that it is available for instant use. This is useful when there is a large demand and the reservoir of hot water is necessary. The main problem with tank heaters is that they expend a large amount of energy to hold water in a tank before the hot water is used. In some instances, it may be days or weeks between uses. But because the water loses its heat over time, the water heater will have to cycle on and off continuously over those days or weeks, regardless if the tap is ever opened or not. Another problem with tank heaters is that they have a defined capacity, after which there is no more hot water. Users have to wait for the tank to refill and reheat before more hot water is available. A tankless water heater can be a better option because it resolves both of the major problems with tank heaters. It heats the water and sends it directly to the point of demand. There is no tank and thus no added cost of storing the water. The tankless heater can use gas or electricity as a heating source. While gas is far more efficient, electricity is more versatile, for instance, for very small units that can fit under isolated sinks. Machines “Machines” represent a very large category. In many respects, this term basically covers everything not previously discussed. It includes a wide range of items, from stereos and televisions, to computers and printers, to tools and electric motors, to dishwashers and refrigerators. Anything that uses electricity or fuel to accomplish a task is a machine. No matter how big, small, imposing, or vexing a machine may be, it always comes down to two things – electrical or fuel consumption. Soda machines, computers, copiers, water coolers, and other office devices are plugged in 24 hours each day. There is a lot of wasted energy (and money) associated with machines that is often overlooked. Changes in the way machines are used or improvements in their efficiency of the machines can amount to significant additional energy savings. |
Our Energy Audit is a focused review of how your facility uses energy.
Potential alternatives will be identified and evaluated that will reduce energy waste and save you money!
After the energy audit has been completed, we will only recommend changes that make good economic sense (without changing the way you do business).
Every business owner wants to save energy and money. Our program will recommend
exactly how to eliminate any wasted energy associated with your particular line of business.
