Ten Energy Saving Ideas (That You Might Not Have Thought About)

Thanks to NICOR for the article: With rising energy costs and increasing environmental concerns, there is no shortage of information telling facility managers how they can become more energy efficient. Strategies such as heating and cooling system maintenance and energy efficient lighting, while important, often receive a little too much attention. Reinforcement is a good thing, but can often lead to redundancy. There are many energy saving strategies that often go unnoticed that can lead to significant improvements in efficiency. Below are ten ideas that you might not have thought about. While many of them may require some upfront investment in time and money, they can have a significant long-term impact on your energy costs.

To lower cooling costs, install a reflective coating on the roof. White or reflective roofing reflects heat and helps keep buildings cool. This can lead to significant energy savings, depending on climate, the number of stories, and the ratio of the roof area to the overall building envelope area. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label or Cool Roof Rating Council on roofing products.

Reduce solar heat gain. Install shades and awnings in the south- and west-facing windows. Add reflective solar films to windows. This can significantly cut down on cooling needs and will have the added benefit of reducing ultraviolet radiation. Instruct staff to close shades or other window treatments during summer months to reduce heat gain. See "Be Selective When Blocking Solar Heat Gain."

Use variable frequency drives on air-handling units. Building areas such as offices and administrative areas often have little or no occupancy during evening hours and on weekends. A variable frequency drive (VFD) can be used to reduce airflow (and the kilowatt hours needed to drive the air) by up to 80%. This can result in significant energy savings for up to 12 hours a day during the week and 48 hours over the weekend. See "Fresh Ideas for Improving Ventilations System Efficiency."

Install skylights. Skylights equipped with photo sensors and lighting controls can cut energy use in commercial buildings by reducing the use of electric lighting whenever sufficient daylight is present. In one example, a grocery store used skylights and photocells to reduce lighting energy use by 30% during a monitored two-week period. See "Using Skylights to Save Energy."

Design your landscape for energy efficiency. A well-designed landscape can reduce cooling costs by 15% to 50% and heating bills by 25% to 40%, according to U.S. EPA statistics. For example, evergreen trees located on the west and northwest sides of a property relieve air conditioning costs by blocking the powerful rays of the setting summer sun and reduce heating costs by protecting the building from harsh winds in the colder months. Likewise, deciduous trees on the east and south sides of a property provide cool shade in the summer, but warm sunlight is able to penetrate the trees’ branches when they drop their leaves in the winter. See "Landscape Irrigation: Water Conservation Strategies."

Install an energy recovery ventilation system. Energy recovery ventilation systems provide a controlled way of ventilating a building while minimizing energy loss. They reduce the costs of heating ventilated air in the winter by transferring heat from the warm inside air that is being exhausted, to the fresh (but cold) supply air. In the summer, the inside air cools the warmer supply air to reduce ventilation cooling costs. Most energy recovery ventilation systems can recover about 70%–80% of the energy in the exiting air and deliver that energy to the incoming air. They are most cost effective, however, in climates with extreme winters or summers and where fuel costs are high. See "Energy Recovery in Commercial and Institutional Buildings."

Network printers. Many office buildings are loaded with multiple printers that consume a surprising amount of energy. According to U.S. Department of Energy estimates, the average printer uses nearly 400 kWh of energy per year, or about $40 in annual energy costs. A building with a printer in each office could we wasting hundreds of dollars. Since printers use energy even when they are not printing, sharing printers among multiple employees is a great way to save energy, cut down on equipment costs, and discourage paper waste. See "Energy Saving Strategies for Office Equipment."

Install air curtains in open or frequently opened doorways. Air curtains save energy by keeping temperatures controlled inside, while keeping the heat or cold on the outside from coming in. Air curtains also prevent insects, dust, and odors from penetrating the building. They are typically available in a number of sizes and strengths. Traditionally used in large warehouses, air curtains can also be used in coolers and freezers, delivery doors, store entrances, drive-up windows, and many more applications. See "Justifying Air Doors/Air Curtains."

Install LED exit signs. Facilities managers seeking ways to cut down on energy costs often overlook exit signs. Exit lighting is required by law in most commercial and institutional buildings and must operate continuously. Significant savings can be achieved by using energy efficient lighting technology, such as light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. LED is rapidly becoming the standard in exit lighting due to its high energy efficiency and long life (20 to 50 years). It has the highest initial cost, but requires little maintenance. Overall, LED lamps can save nearly 90% in total operating costs compared to traditional incandescent lighting. See "Energy Efficient Exit Lighting."

Utilize laundry equipment controls. Many commercial and institutional facilities, such as lodging, hospitals, and restaurants, have laundry rooms. Laundry rooms must be air conditioned to ensure worker comfort and safety. Laundry room equipment, such as steam tables, however, generates heat that can dramatically increase cooling loads. Consider installing an electrical actuated steam valve and mechanical timer on your steam table. This will ensure that the equipment operates only when in use, and will help to lower air conditioning costs. See "Laundry Operations: Reducing Your Energy Load."