When you hear the words “energy savings,” the idea of capital improvement may come to mind. But did you know you may save up to 20 percent in energy-related expense every month without a capital investment? Here’s how you can put this money back in your pocket, with minimal time, effort and cost.
HVAC.
Sally arrives for work at 6 am and turns everything on to her comfort. The problem is, everyone else arrives at 8 am. Instead of relying on Sally, you can rely on a programmable thermostat. It lets you control the temperature within a tight range (75 to 78 in the summer; 68 to 70 in the winter) to keep employees comfortable. It also lets you dial the system back at night and off on weekends. A programmable thermostat can cost as little as $15.
Lighting.
If you’re like me, you’re in and out of your office—often attending meetings elsewhere in the building or off-site. Why pay for lighting an empty room? If you are in your office less than 50 percent of the day, an occupancy sensor can pay for itself, turning the lights on and off as needed. Similarly, an automatic dimmer lets you take maximum advantage of free natural light, rather than pay for bulbs and lumens when they aren’t needed. The cost of a typical occupancy sensor: about $13. The cost of an automatic dimmer: about $12.
Building Envelope.
Heat gain and loss can have a significant impact on your utility expense, not to mention occupant comfort. This is one of the easiest areas in which to find potential savings. Simply use your hands to feel around windows and doors on a cold day. Any draft you detect is infiltration of outdoor air, and it comes with added cost to you. Check the weather stripping and caulking where it is coming in. Replace as necessary to stop the leakage of air in… and the leakage of dollars out. The cost of weather-stripping for a window or door: about $2. A tube of caulking: about $1.
Hot Water.
Think of your water heater as a piggy bank you can adjust for maximum savings. Start with the temperature control; don’t heat the water more than is actually needed. The ideal setting will depend on your local code and application (a dishwasher, for example, requires a higher temperature for purposes of sanitation). Next, feel the outside of the tank. If it is anything but cool to the touch, wrap it with a thermal blanket. Too, insulate the pipe coming off the heater. Install low-flow aerators on sinks and lavatories to minimize the heat loss at the point of use…and save on water consumption to boot. Cost of a tank insulation blanket: about $13. Cost of a typical low-flow aerator: about $2.40.
It doesn’t take long to look at your performance in these four areas. The potential payback definitely makes the effort worthwhile. When you run a tight ship, it pays you dividends!
Wayne Washington
Founder and CEO
Facility Management and Engineering