Did you know that 20% of all the energy we use in the U.S. powers commercial buildings? This can be anything from office buildings to schools to government offices. With this much of our energy use going to commercial buildings, we must work to keep these buildings as energy efficient as possible.

However, according to EnergyStar.gov, the average commercial building wastes 30% of the energy it consumes. With this in mind, there are a variety of ways that commercial building owners can work to improve energy efficiency measures to save more energy and money over time.

5 Commercial Building Energy-Saving Tips

Unfortunately, the same energy-saving tips for homeowners are not necessarily effective for older commercial buildings. That’s why we’ve put together a list of simple tips that you can use to improve energy efficiency in your commercial building.

  1. Turn off lights when not in use.
    When you are not using lights or daytime light is sufficient, be sure to turn off the lights within the building. This includes during the nighttime when no one is working in the office. Turning off lights when not in use can reduce lighting expenses by up to 40%.
  2. Monitor computer power usage.
    Computers use a lot of energy over time, so it’s important to be smart about how you manage computer use. Use power management functions to ensure that computers and computer monitors go to sleep when not in use. You should also activate sleep settings on other office equipment such as printers, copiers, and scanners.
  3. Use smart power strips.
    Plug any electronics into smart power strips that allow you to designate which electronics are always on and which are switched off when not in use. Using a device like this can help you save energy by turning off the power supply to devices that do not need to be on continuously.
  4. Use a programmable thermostat to adjust temperatures at night.
    To save energy when the building is not in use, you can use a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperatures at night. This will ensure that you are using less energy when the building is unoccupied, while still maintaining comfortable temperatures during the day when the building gets the most traffic. Also, remember to adjust thermostats during seasonal temperature changes to save energy.

Repair damaged and missing insulation.
Just as insulation plays an important role in home energy efficiency, it’s also a vital part of maintaining efficiency in commercial buildings. Repair any damaged insulation and replace missing insulation with the proper insulation for your commercial building. Proper insulation helps ensure that hot and cool air is not escaping the building.

Save Energy with Routine Commercial HVAC Maintenance

In addition to the tips above, you must get ongoing commercial HVAC maintenance for your building’s heating and cooling systems. This goes beyond just changing the air filter regularly. You also need to get annual tune-ups and maintenance services to ensure that your system is working properly. Wear and tear on your HVAC system’s parts can make your commercial heating and cooling equipment work harder than it needs to. This not only results in increased energy usage but can also cause lasting damage to your system.

Sheldon's Heating & Air Conditioning provides commercial HVAC services to businesses in Riverside, CA, and beyond. Our commercial HVAC maintenance plans are ideal for Southern California business owners that want to improve their building’s energy efficiency to save more money over time.

Call us to learn more about our commercial HVAC maintenance services: 877-274-1882.

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