Discuss The Strategy To Reduce The Electricity Consumption by Hvac Equipment'S in A Typical Office Buildings
Discuss The Strategy To Reduce The Electricity Consumption by Hvac Equipment'S in A Typical Office Buildings
If you don’t already have a proactive maintenance program for your HVAC system, it’s a good idea to schedule semi-annual
service with a qualified HVAC service company. They can make sure your system is operating at its most efficient settings
and that parts or components are in good working order.
The temperature you set your thermostat is largely a matter of personal comfort, but many systems have optimum
temperature ranges that ensure they’re using energy efficiently. Consult your owner’s manual or with your service technician
to find out the most energy-efficient temperature range. It’s also a good idea to avoid fluctuating temperatures too frequently
– such as turning the AC way down on a hot day – as this can make your HVAC system work harder and less efficiently.
Most people think about stopping air infiltration in colder winter months, but it’s also crucial during AC season – any air
leak in your home robs your HVAC system of efficiency since that heated or cooled air is lost. Ensure that all windows are
shut and that doors have good weather seals before turning on the HVAC system.
Particularly in older homes, inadequate insulation is another factor that can lead to losing heated or cooled air from the
HVAC system. If you’re unsure about your home’s insulation levels, consult with an energy auditor or insulation
professional for guidance.
Setting the thermostat to the coolest temperature in the winter or highest temperature you find comfortable can seem like a
small step, but the energy savings can be substantial. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, setting your thermostat
back 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours at a time during the heating season can save you 5 to 15 percent in heating bills each year.
If you don’t have, installing a programmable thermostat one can go a long way in to help reduce energy use when you’re not
home. The less your HVAC system has to work to maintain comfortable temperature levels that aren’t necessary because no
one is home, the more savings you’ll see on your heating or cooling bill.
Changing your HVAC system’s air filters once a month, or as directed by the furnace or filter manufacturer, helps ensure
your system has smooth, uninterrupted air flow.
Window coverings can have a big effect on your home’s heating or cooling load. In cooler months, harness the sun’s free
warmth by keeping curtains, blinds or drapes open on south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight in. Close them
at night to add an extra layer of insulation between the glass and your home interior. In the summer, keep window coverings
closed during the day to reduce temperatures.
HVAC EQUIPMENT
Building managers often underestimate the value of an energy-efficient HVAC system. To ensure HVAC systems are truly
energy-efficient, consider a solution that uses low water temperatures, so it can quickly react to changes in indoor
temperature. When a system requires less time to react to temperature changes, it will help reduce the overall energy
consumption necessary to keep occupants comfortable year-round.
When planning new construction projects, maximizing space can be one of the most effective ways to reduce cost. Instead of
traditional, bulky HVAC systems, consider space-saving units to help capitalize on added space. Since space-saving systems
free up areas in a building, extra space can be used for an additional floor, which can directly translate to another revenue
source in an office or apartment building.
An outdated HVAC system that is constantly failing or requires additional maintenance will drain a building’s resources.
Ensure that maintenance costs remain low by installing newer, more durable components such as heat pumps, radiators and
high-efficiency condensing boilers. Since these systems use the most up-to-date technology, they will require less repair and
reduce costs associated with excessive maintenance or replacement.
4. Be mindful of set-up
HVAC systems that are poorly set up will end up heating or cooling an empty building and wasting energy. Create a smart
plan for HVAC system setup by considering the varying occupancy levels of the building throughout the day and year. If the
building is empty during a certain season such as summer, consider significantly reducing cooling requirements during this
time. Additionally, if there are times of day when the building regularly has an influx in occupancy, reduce temperatures
accordingly to accommodate changes.
HVAC systems that are used in conjunction with renewable energy sources such as geothermal or solar sources will use
considerably less energy than traditional systems. Also, using renewable energy sources with HVAC systems will help
eliminate the need to rely on costly and unstable fossil fuel prices. While renewable energy source systems can be a large
upfront investment, they provide the highest continual cost-savings through reduced lifetime energy consumption.
“Often, building managers will just look to one small part of an HVAC system to save money rather than the entire system,”
says Makarewicz. “By using a holistic approach that takes all parts of the system into account, and using energy-efficient
equipment, buildings can significantly reduce one of the primary operational costs.”