The return of colder weather always has building owners and facility managers looking for ways to reduce energy use and operate their commercial properties more efficiently. But this year, the stakes are especially high.
Supply chain disruptions and inflation are impacting operations of all kinds. The unpredictable costs of resources like crude oil and iron ore are cascading into other items like diesel fuel and building appliances. This is leading to significant price increases across the board, giving building managers headaches.
When the heat goes on, energy costs rise.
Volatile energy costs stand out as a challenge for businesses — for a good reason. It is estimated that about one-third of total non-fixed operating expenses go toward energy use in commercial buildings. More than half is spent on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
More notably, 30% of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted on average, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). And that presents a notable opening for energy savings. So what can you do? One obvious option is to simply cut back on energy usage. But turning down the thermostats can only go so far. Here are three phases to help you manage energy costs this winter.
First, maximize what you have.
Regular maintenance is a best practice for minimizing your energy usage. There are a whole host of opportunities to keep the heating plant humming:
- Boiler and furnace tune-ups
- Pipe insulation or retrofit
- Steam trap repairs and stack dampers to better modulate airflow
- Monthly filter checks
- Outdoor air reset controls that continually react to outdoor temperatures to optimize heating performance
Take advantage of all rebates, incentives, and programs. Xcel Energy is now offering numerous bonus rebates to help its business customers.