Improve Energy Efficiency In Your Commercial Building
 
Carbon emissions continue to be a significant concern not just for environmental conservationists but for businesses too. Commercial buildings are among the biggest emitters, producing up to 40 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions.

In the commercial setting, processes such as powering, heating, and cooling have a high carbon footprint. High CO2 emissions are an indication of energy inefficiency, and such inefficiencies can affect your business’s bottom line significantly.

Businesses can realize considerable long-term cost savings by implementing energy-saving technology and practices. The good news is that you do not have to break the bank to make your building more energy efficient.

Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Smart Lighting

A large portion of a commercial building's energy bill is attributable to lighting. By installing energy-efficient bulbs such as Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs, you can cut down your lighting energy costs by up to $75 annually.

Some businesses are reluctant to install LED lights due to what they see as a high upfront cost of retrofitting lighting fixtures to accommodate LEDs. However, energy-efficient bulbs do pay for themselves in lower electricity bills and CO2 emissions.

Consider the fact that LED lighting is 20 to 80 percent more energy efficient than standard incandescent bulbs. This means that within a relatively short time, and depending on your other practices, you could recoup your return on investment.

Additionally, while the cost of LED bulbs was prohibitively high in the past, the prices have reduced significantly as more and more consumers adapt to this innovative technology. Additionally LED bulbs have a longer service life, lasting 10 times longer than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

A reputable electrical contractor will recommend cost-effective ways to replace standard lighting fixtures with LED solutions.

Heating and Cooling

Up to 25 percent of the total energy consumption in commercial buildings is attributable to space heating and cooling. Inefficient boilers and HVAC systems can increase your energy expenses considerably. Additionally, the repair and maintenance costs of such equipment can add up fast.

If your building has older boilers and heating and cooling systems, replacing this equipment can give you value for money in the long term. Admittedly, installing new cooling and heating appliances is a significant investment requiring careful consideration.

Replacement of the boiler and HVAC system could deliver value if:
The equipment is well past its useful life
The cost of maintenance is significantly higher than the cost of buying new equipment
Your energy bills are abnormally high
The equipment is constantly breaking down or not performing optimally
Find out about rebates and tax credits that can help you purchase energy-efficient cooling and heating equipment affordably.

Technology Appliances

Information technology equipment is among the biggest energy consumer in commercial buildings. This equipment also generates a lot of heat, which can increase your cooling costs dramatically. If you are running on old IT equipment, consider upgrading these appliances with new, more energy-efficient ones.

Workers can also adopt several best practices to help minimize power consumption by IT appliances. For example, your office-wide energy-saving policy could require that workers put computers at efficient settings and switch off equipment when not in use.

Inexpensive strategies, such as installing smart power strips, can easily reduce your energy costs and emissions. Smart power strips cut off power to computers, phones, printers, and copiers when these devices are not in use, therefore avoiding energy waste.

Opportunities abound for making commercial buildings energy efficient. An experienced and certified electrical contractor can be invaluable in implementing a truly efficient electrical design for your property.

If you are looking to retrofit your building with energy-efficient lighting and systems, call the experts at Circle Electric, Inc. today.



 
Carbon emissions continue to be a significant concern not just for environmental conservationists but for businesses too. Commercial buildings are among the biggest emitters, producing up to 40 percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions.

In the commercial setting, processes such as powering, heating, and cooling have a high carbon footprint. High CO2 emissions are an indication of energy inefficiency, and such inefficiencies can affect your business’s bottom line significantly.

Businesses can realize considerable long-term cost savings by implementing energy-saving technology and practices. The good news is that you do not have to break the bank to make your building more energy efficient.

Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Smart Lighting

A large portion of a commercial building's energy bill is attributable to lighting. By installing energy-efficient bulbs such as Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs, you can cut down your lighting energy costs by up to $75 annually.

Some businesses are reluctant to install LED lights due to what they see as a high upfront cost of retrofitting lighting fixtures to accommodate LEDs. However, energy-efficient bulbs do pay for themselves in lower electricity bills and CO2 emissions.

Consider the fact that LED lighting is 20 to 80 percent more energy efficient than standard incandescent bulbs. This means that within a relatively short time, and depending on your other practices, you could recoup your return on investment.

Additionally, while the cost of LED bulbs was prohibitively high in the past, the prices have reduced significantly as more and more consumers adapt to this innovative technology. Additionally LED bulbs have a longer service life, lasting 10 times longer than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

A reputable electrical contractor will recommend cost-effective ways to replace standard lighting fixtures with LED solutions.

Heating and Cooling

Up to 25 percent of the total energy consumption in commercial buildings is attributable to space heating and cooling. Inefficient boilers and HVAC systems can increase your energy expenses considerably. Additionally, the repair and maintenance costs of such equipment can add up fast.

If your building has older boilers and heating and cooling systems, replacing this equipment can give you value for money in the long term. Admittedly, installing new cooling and heating appliances is a significant investment requiring careful consideration.

Replacement of the boiler and HVAC system could deliver value if:
The equipment is well past its useful life
The cost of maintenance is significantly higher than the cost of buying new equipment
Your energy bills are abnormally high
The equipment is constantly breaking down or not performing optimally
Find out about rebates and tax credits that can help you purchase energy-efficient cooling and heating equipment affordably.

Technology Appliances

Information technology equipment is among the biggest energy consumer in commercial buildings. This equipment also generates a lot of heat, which can increase your cooling costs dramatically. If you are running on old IT equipment, consider upgrading these appliances with new, more energy-efficient ones.

Workers can also adopt several best practices to help minimize power consumption by IT appliances. For example, your office-wide energy-saving policy could require that workers put computers at efficient settings and switch off equipment when not in use.

Inexpensive strategies, such as installing smart power strips, can easily reduce your energy costs and emissions. Smart power strips cut off power to computers, phones, printers, and copiers when these devices are not in use, therefore avoiding energy waste.

Opportunities abound for making commercial buildings energy efficient. An experienced and certified electrical contractor can be invaluable in implementing a truly efficient electrical design for your property.

If you are looking to retrofit your building with energy-efficient lighting and systems, call the experts at Circle Electric, Inc. today.