Energy-Saving Commercial Properties

Do you want to learn ways of saving energy in commercial buildings? It’s a smart way of reducing the operational and management cost of any commercial property and increasing their value. Apart from the operational efficiency, these eco-friendly facilities curb energy waste and promote the comfort of residents. Let’s share some modern energy-saving facilities and their benefits.

Apply Coordinated Efforts 

As part of the energy-savings goals of industrial or commercial property, managers can lower the cost of energy with cleaning solutions. While janitors are responsible for switching off lighting fixtures as they clean the building, motion sensors can activate darkness when office spaces are vacant. Also, tenants that forget to turn off electrical appliances in any commercial space can be penalized with extra charges on their energy bill. The extra charge will serve as a deterrent for other tenants.

Use Efficient Lighting Solutions

Light bulbs were invented over a century ago, but technology has replaced old filament bulbs with LED technologies. Commercial property owners can reduce energy bills when they install compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) instead of regular incandescent lamps in common areas. Generally, energy-efficient light fixtures increase the lifespan of electrical installations in commercial buildings. Also, commercial building owners can install high-intensity discharge lights as outdoor security lamps. In some parts of the United States, lighting retrofits can attract tax deductions for property owners.

Audit the Performance of HVAC Systems

Hire energy consultants every quarter to audit energy bills and assess the performance of your building’s boilers, chillers, systems that have built-in thermostats. An engineering consultation might also be beneficial should you find that you need to make changes to the building to accommodate better sustainability measures. HVAC systems in commercial buildings should use different settings during winter and summer seasons respectively. However, both commercial and industrial complexes should optimize their HVAC systems to operate at peak efficiencies while reducing consumption as well. Additionally, property managers should ensure their ideal energy consultant should is an expert in detecting hidden costs and reducing energy bills.

The Use Less and Pay Less Strategy

It might not be realistic for property managers to install occupancy sensors with light fixtures in every part of a commercial building. Instead, they can educate tenants on the benefits of reducing energy consumption, and encourage them to turn off electrical equipment after office hours. With energy reduction strategies, tenants can pay less for energy consumption (supply side savings), and utilize low amount (demand-side savings) of energy. Other measures include using power from renewable energy sources such as solar.

Install Programmable Thermostats 

Thermostats are special types of temperature management control switches that operate automatically. Commercial property owners can upgrade their old HVAC systems by installing programmable thermostats. This type of thermostats has temperature sensors that terminate the production of heat when any interior space is warm and resumes when the temperature reduces. Regular installations like industrial water heaters and HVAC systems in commercial buildings can work with built-in thermostats. 

However, the pipes that connect these industrial devices with their outlets should be lagged to prevent loss of energy. When the temperature rises, the tendency of losing energy is faster than at low temperatures. With well-lagged pipes, thermostats can ensure the availability of hot water in the heater that’s connected to central supply tanks for a long period. Also, programmable thermostats in HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) systems can regulate temperature and conserve energy.

Adopt Energy-Efficient Procurement Policy

An easy method of implementing energy-efficient procurement policy is to promote awareness programs for administrative and maintenance personnel. As part of the organizational policy, commercial and industrial property managers (including the owners of buildings such as the Docklands stadium in Melbourne) should work with procurement staff and suppliers. Also, the benefits of energy-savings goals should be communicated to tenants of respective commercial buildings. Additionally, the use of renewable energy equipment might reduce the cost of maintenance than relying on fossil fuel energy solutions.

Requirements for A Better Commercial Building

In any case, before we do any of the things recorded above, individuals are urged to join the Better Commercial Buildings Program in Victoria. Sustainability Programme in Victoria is putting forth financing to help the presentation of your business working of up to $30,000 per establishment through the Better Commercial Buildings program. The Sustainable Program provides financing for projects from framework improvement to network commitment. Peruse the related data beneath: 

Who can profit using the program? 

We are calling for applications from business building proprietors, specialists, occupants and office chiefs in Victoria, quick to recognize and execute productivity updates that lead to an improvement in structure execution. Business structures include workplaces, lodgings, retail and industrial, and some multi-purpose structures such as the function rooms in Melbourne CBD.

How would I know whether my structure needs a vitality productivity redesign? 

Some give-aways that you have to update your structure vitality proficiency are: 

  • Your staff/occupants have their very own warmers and work area fans to balance changing temperatures in the structure 
  • Staff/inhabitants gripe about the temperature and solace of the workplace 
  • You see an expansion in staff days off a long time 
  • You experience issues verifying a long haul occupant 
  • Your structure doesn’t as of now have a NABERS rating 

In the event that you are as yet uncertain, the principal period of the program will incorporate a sustainability review which will distinguish and plot the potential changes and how they can profit you. 

What are the advantages of making your structure more effective? 

Our Energy Efficient Office Buildings report shows that improved structure execution can prompt: 

  • Investment funds in sustainability costs
  • Increased inhabitant satisfaction
  • Lower retail leasing rates
  • Decreased occupant turn-over
  • Reduced support costs
  • Increased resource value
  • Increase rental returns
  • Improves tenant wellbeing and well-being
  • Reducing staff wiped out days
  • Improving the comfort level 

Furthermore, the Better Commercial Buildings program means to enable proprietors to improve their structure’s NABERS rating by and large by 1 star. 

What does the program give? 

This program gives coordinated subsidising help of up to $30,000 for business building proprietors to: 

  • Direct vitality reviews through a board of pre-affirmed specialist co-ops 
  • Execute vitality proficiency redesigns of their decision 
  • Measure and check building proficiency improvement. 

The program can likewise encourage access to outsider account to help with overhauls.