According to the US Energy Information Administration there has been an increase in the cost of energy every year. In 2021 alone, the cost of electricity in the retail business rose at its fastest rate. Not only that, but commercial buildings use larger amounts of energy due to their need to operate large machinery in huge operating areas.
With technology rapidly developing, there are steps that you can take if you operate a commercial building that can help you lower your energy demands.
Update Lighting to LED Lights
Commercial businesses should all be making the transition from using traditional light bulbs to LED lights if their goal is to reduce energy demand. According to Energy Star, LED lights are just as bright as traditional light bulbs but use up to 90% less energy. Also, LED lights themselves are more cost-effective due to their lifespan – typically lasting fifteen times longer than traditional light bulbs.
Not only that but new technology offers LED lights in many different fixtures and some may even come with smart technology abilities, increasing your chances to lower energy demands while also maximizing your savings. This is because you can set up your LED lights to run on an automatic schedule, which ensures that the lights are off during the close of business. Be sure you get them installed by a qualified electrician, such as Apex Electric, to get the best service.
Insulated Cellular Shades
Insulated cellular shades are blinds that fold up in an accordion-like way and have multiple layers that prevent hot or cold air from entering or leaving the windows. According to Energy.gov, properly installed cellular shades can provide up to 10% savings in heating energy demand during the winter months. In the summer months, they can reduce unwanted heat from entering the windows by up to 60%.
Make sure that your commercial building has properly installed shades in your windows and you will be reducing your energy demands in any season.
Energy Saving HVAC Systems
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and refers to whatever system is responsible for keeping you cool in the summer and keeping you warm in the winter while indoors.
Updating your HVAC system and making sure that you have one that is properly running is essential to minimize energy demands. You may run into the issue of having an older system that doesn’t run properly anymore and this can increase the energy demands and cost you a lot of money. If you update your HVAC system, you will see an overall decrease in energy demand.
Programmable Thermostat
New technology allows us to control even our thermostat settings easily from a smart device. Install thermostats in your commercial building that you can program to run your cooling or heating system more efficiently. For example, you can set up your thermostat to automatically turn off when there is no one in the building and to automatically turn on when people would normally arrive.
Additionally, many thermostats will show you when energy usage is typically higher and you may be able to make adjustments based on the information that is gathered. One strategy is to keep the thermostat set as low as possible when energy costs are lower. That way, when energy costs are higher, you won’t have to run your cooling system since you will already have a cool room.
Energy Efficient Appliances
If you are using appliances in your commercial building, make sure that you invest in energy-efficient ones. According to EnergyStar, an energy-efficient refrigerator alone is 9% more energy efficient than those that meet the federal minimum for energy efficiency. By replacing your old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones, you are sure to increase the savings in your commercial building.
Final Thoughts
Technology is rapidly evolving and providing us with new ways in which we can lower our energy demands. For example, making quick and easy additions, such as insulated cellular shades, can eliminate the hot or cold air from entering or exiting the building. Adding smart devices such as lighting fixtures and thermostats can give you control over your energy and set up a schedule to maximize your savings by reducing the energy demand.
Take some time to evaluate your HVAC system also and make sure that you have one that is reducing energy rather than using too much energy. And finally, switching to smart appliances and ditching your old ones can also help you lower energy demands. Make some changes to your commercial building today and start lowering your energy demands.
