Reducing energy demand: Making changes and procuring benefits for commercial buildings - by Jim Dumas

Jim Dumas, Solect
Energy

It’s no secret that one of the highest costs for commercial buildings in the Northeast is the cost of energy—an issue landlords and companies wrestle with endlessly each year. For many, a switch to solar or other renewable sources seems like the best first response to the constant battle with local energy prices. While this might be part of the solution, there are other measures to consider first when looking to manage energy systems and before moving head on into a new energy source.

A holistic energy management service takes into consideration energy reduction, optimization, generation, and storage. The first step in your path to successful energy management is to assess your energy load and efforts to not only reduce your use, but also manage it efficiently.

Reducing energy demand through energy efficient technologies and practices will result in savings and also help to determine appropriate alternative energy generation and storage needs for the future. There are a number of immediate actions commercial buildings can take to move toward energy reduction and increase energy efficiency before going solar. Some of the main areas a business should focus on include:

Lighting: Making the switch to LED efficient bulbs typically results in immediate, significant savings. It also creates an optimal visual environment for employees during work hours. There are many different forms of lighting controls to choose from, including occupancy sensors, which operate only when a room is occupied, and daylight harvesting, which utilizes natural sunlight in the building to automatically adjust lighting to optimum levels. An additional form of energy efficient lighting controls is called addressable systems, which allows users to adjust lighting levels individually – not only making work environments more enjoyable, but also reducing the amount of light and therefore energy used.

Automation/Controls: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and other operating equipment have a major impact on energy use in commercial facilities. Energy Management Systems (EMS) are a seamless and cost-effective automation solution which allow equipment to run on different schedules and turn off or power down when they are not needed.

Operating Equipment: On a similar note, replacing old operating systems—like water heaters and furnaces with new energy efficient models can greatly reduce energy use and, thus, costs. In addition, introducing new technologies such as a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system can operate at an efficiency level of 80%, while the conventional method (producing heat and power separately) typically has a combined efficiency of only 45%.

Building Envelope: A big part of energy efficiency is making sure that the energy you’re expending to heat and cool a building is being contained within the building and not leaking out. Buildings that are properly insulated and contain efficient windows ensure that the energy circulating within the building is kept inside. There are a number of efficient insulation solutions that can be implemented including the use of fiberglass, foam boards, mineral wool and spray foam. Green roofs are also an option, which provide better insulation during the winter months and have cooling benefits in the summer. In addition, cool roofs, or painting roofs white to reflect sunlight, can help businesses (depending on the region) save on energy costs related to air conditioning in the summer.

One widely known resource available to Massachusetts businesses to help assess and execute energy reduction measures such as the ones mentioned above is the MassSave program. MassSave is a publicly funded program, sponsored by the state’s gas and electric utilities, that helps residents and businesses reduce energy use and related costs through a variety of energy efficiency services.

Whether it’s installing or replacing energy efficient equipment, or offering efficiency programs, guidance and financial assistance, MassSave’s Commercial and Industrial energy savings program provides expert advice on any given solution to achieve the unique goals and interests of the business. The program is a great way to start energy sustainability and cost reduction efforts.

The first step to implementing a solid energy management program is to reduce energy consumption and increase building efficiency. In taking the necessary steps and creating a plan of action that works best for the particular business, it can do an enormous amount in the long-term for both commercial buildings and the environment. To implement a comprehensive energy management plan, energy generation, optimization and storage should be also be considered. We look forward to addressing each of those areas in upcoming articles.

Jim Dumas is founding principal and chief operating officer of Solect Energy in Hopkinton, Mass.