Not having a good strategy in place for your building could cost you a bundle in the coming months. Even if you’ve already been smacked with frigid temperatures and piles of snow, it’s not too late to analyze your building — and your energy strategy — for energy-saving faux pas. Here are some “worst practices” to look for and correct:
- Not energy testing. Taking a “by guess and by golly” approach to your building’s energy profile is one way to guarantee unnecessary energy use. If you haven’t yet hired a qualified energy consultant to do a thorough analysis of your facility, consider doing so now. Chances are excellent that they will be able to save you many times their fee in reduced energy costs.
- Not tracking your data. Do you analyze your energy use on a monthly basis? If not, why not? If your electric bill suddenly jumps for no apparent reason, you need to know so that you can proactively seek out the cause.
- Putting up with minor issues. Dripping faucets and drafty hallways may not seem like big deals, but they do represent energy leaks that can add up to significant expense over time. Properly air sealing your building envelope and scheduling routine inspections of your HVAC and plumbing systems will help eliminate unnecessary energy losses.
- Leaving equipment running 24/7. Back in the day, leaving on lights and IT equipment was common practice. Now we know better. Powering down computer equipment and turning off lights at night and during weekends or other off hours cuts overhead significantly. So does adjusting the thermostat so that your HVAC equipment runs less during these hours. Many types of equipment can be put on timers to make energy saving effortless.
- Not involving occupants. Human behavior accounts for a large portion of potential energy savings. If the people who are using your building don’t cooperate, much of your energy-saving effort could go — sometimes literally — out the window. Communicate with building occupants about what you are doing to save energy, and why. Let them know what’s in it for them, and how they can help. You can even make it fun by holding contests between units, or by giving rewards when they help you meet your energy goals. Ask for their feedback and suggestions, too. They may have insight into what is or isn’t working in their part of your facility that you don’t, because they are there on a daily basis. Read this GreeniacsGuide on greening your office for tips and ideas to help you garner participation in your building’s energy saving program.
- Not anticipating future energy trends. Sure, energy prices may be tolerable in your area. But assuming they will stay that way is a mistake. What if the price of oil doubles next year? What if they decide to shut down a power plant that supplies your area, and not replace it? (It happens, and it can do nasty things to electricity rates.) Be aware of energy trends and take appropriate actions. For instance, installing a renewable energy system to power part of your facility now could help your company avoid having to suddenly deal with an unplanned-for energy crisis in the future.
If you find that you have been following energy worst practices, don’t feel bad, because you’re not the only one. Instead, take it as a challenge. Start tracking your energy use and improving your as time and budget allow. Come next winter, compare and see how much you were able to save. It will probably be a lot!
Ryan McNeill is the president of Renewable Energy Corporation, one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest residential solar energy companies.
