Reducing your building’s energy use

Sustainability and ESG are on the minds of so many business owners and maintenance managers, and energy use is a major part of the equation. Annually, small and midsize office buildings (under 100,000 square feet) use about 13 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per square foot, with lighting, HVAC, and computing often making up most of that use.

By increasing sustainability efforts and lowering energy use, businesses can improve efficiency, lower their bills, and get closer to achieving their ESG goals.

Here are some practical steps owners and managers can take to reduce the energy use in their buildings:

• A common misconception is that fans provide cool air, but they simply move air around. That means that they may provide relief with air movement, but they are not helping in an empty room. Turning off fans while rooms are not in use means saving energy.
• Invest in smart thermostats which can be programmed to turn air conditioning on and off during peak times, as well as providing real-time data, and machine learning algorithms that offer higher automation and control. Smart thermostats can learn from user behaviours, adapt to preferences, and adjust the temperature settings accordingly to maximize energy efficiency.
• Older light bulbs tend to use more energy, so switching to LEDs can help lower your bill, especially if you have a large amount of lighting. Think stairwells, offices, common rooms, restrooms, and more. You may also want to consider sensor technology so the lights only come on when the space is in use and are not using energy when they are not needed.
• Equipment still uses energy, even when not in use, so unplug devices like computers, photocopiers, coffeemakers, and more when the office is empty. Asking everyone to unplug before they leave may not be a practical solution, but smart plugs can be set to cut power to the devices or can be used with an app to control when the devices use power from the outlet.
• Maximizing natural light can also help decrease lighting, as well as providing some heat to the building during the colder months. Adding daylight harvesting systems will measure natural light levels and adjust artificial lighting accordingly to make the most of the daylight and decrease energy use.

As sustainability and ESG continue to be top priorities for many businesses and their customers, reducing energy use is one way business owners and maintenance managers can save money, increase efficiency, and make a positive environmental impact.

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