In the face of global warming, property owners are increasingly inclined to adopt various energy-efficient methods to reverse and mitigate the adverse effects of weather change.
With cooling, heating, and lighting being the culprits behind increasing energy costs in commercial buildings, many commercial property owners are curious about how to satisfy their energy demands without spending so much or endangering the environment.
Here are key components of an energy-efficient commercial building to point you in the right direction.
The Smaller, the Better
The idea that a thriving business needs to occupy a large office is misconstrued. In the post-pandemic era, it has become clear that businesses can operate remotely and still meet their set targets. Therefore, a big office that employees rarely frequent is unnecessary.
With this in mind, business owners are urged to opt for smaller premises that are easier to maintain.
Plus, you save significantly on energy and operation costs.
Fortune Magazine revealed that the typical American vehicle spends 95% of its lifespan parked. Be sure to account for parking space as most employees may prefer to leave their car at work and use alternative transport or the company vehicle to handle errands.
Eco-Friendly Lighting Solutions
LED light bulbs efficiently light different spaces in your commercial building night and day without raising concerns about running up your power bill. While natural light is ideal during the day, not all offices can bank on this alone.
Also, the lights must come on after the sun sets to keep the business running.
Strategically placed LED lights can add to the aesthetics of your commercial space while enhancing movement and function throughout the office.
From desk and corner stand lights to ceiling lights, energy-efficient commercial buildings use led bulbs that consume less power and are easily customizable to fit one’s needs.
High-Efficiency Air Conditioning
Cooling and heating remain a persistent headache for business owners yet to transition from energy-sucking to more energy-efficient HVAC systems. Heating and cooling consume over 30% of a commercial building’s energy.
The number increases by another 30% due to leaks and duct losses during space conditioning.
The need to transition to a high-quality, high-efficiency HVAC system is unquestionable if you want to keep your energy consumption manageable. Choose HVAC systems with a high energy efficient rating and install ceiling fans to increase energy efficiency on your property.
Ceiling fans are excellent at distributing the air and help reduce strain on the HVAC systems.
Incorporate Retrofitting in the Design
Retrofitting is a common term in construction that refers to modifying an existing structure to suit your needs.
If you intend to renovate or build a commercial premise from scratch, instead of procuring costly reconstructions by tearing everything down, retrofitting demands that you enhance aspects like the foundation, walls, windows, roof, and other spaces and transform the space into what you envision.
A recent consumer survey revealed that 88% of people who want a new roof prioritize durability, while 83% prefer longevity. Considering how costly it is to put up a new roof if the roof on the existing premises passes the longevity and durability checks, there’s no need to install a new one.
Retrofitting can save you plenty of time and money as you’ll spend significantly less in purchasing construction materials and save on energy costs with all the construction machines running simultaneously.
Renewable Energy is a Key
Renewable energy is generated from natural sources like wind, sun, and water. While electricity is what most people use and prefer, the skyrocketing costs are forcing business owners to explore other options which are friendlier to the environment and easy on the pocket.
An energy-efficient commercial building has measures in place to use renewable energy, whether partially or entirely.
Businesses in this category have solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, micro-hydro power systems, wind systems, or a hydroelectric system installed to furnish their constant need for power.
Renewable energy is the way to go for a business that aims to reduce its carbon footprint, cut energy costs and earn incentives from the government for its contribution to preserving the environment.
Power saving is integral to sustainable power usage in any business premises. All your efforts to keep your energy costs low will prove futile if everyone doesn’t participate in conserving energy.
Therefore, the staff must learn to turn off unnecessary lights, plug off unused appliances, and open the windows instead of leaving the HVAC system on for 24 hours. The pointers above hint at what it takes to own and operate an energy-efficient commercial building.