11 Commercial Energy-Efficient Solutions for a Better Return on Your Investment

It is important to turn off the lights when they are not in use. Occupancy sensors and timers are a great alternative, and can help reduce energy use significantly.

The typical desktop computer, monitor, and shared printer draw about 200 watts per day. A single monitor, if left on overnight, can draw about 100 watts per day. Most computer equipment have an energy saving mode, but you must make sure it is enabled. Not doing so, could add $30 or more to an annual energy bill.

Space Heaters are quite the energy sucker, drawing a kilowatt or more of power. The need for a space heater may be a determining factor in the need for a more energy-efficient heating and cooling system.

During closed hours, turn down temperature settings in warm seasons, and up in cooling seasons. How to save on your AC bill this summer?

If possible, dim your hallway lighting by 30 percent during daytime hours to reduce your energy consumption. Want to Learn More about Dimmers? LED lighting Control guide

Making sure that your HVAC system is regularly cleaned and serviced can help to prevent costly heating and cooling bills.

This is the process in which engineers diagnose a building’s energy system to ensure that they are operating appropriately and efficiently. Studies have shown that monitoring a building’s energy systems can lead to reductions of 10 to 15 percent in annual energy bills. Commissioning usually costs between 5 and 40 cents per square foot.

For a 50,000-square foot office building, that is equal to about $11,000 in savings per year!

If your facility uses T12 fluorescent lamps, replacing them with T8 lamps and ballasts can reduce your lighting energy consumption by 35 percent. When designing lighting for a new parking lot, for example, consider using low wattage LED lights, instead of high-pressure sodium lamps.

A Highly efficient packaged air-conditioning/heating unit can reduce cooling energy consumption by 10 percent or more over a standard-efficiency, commercial packaged unit.

For Office spaces that have large swings in occupancy, energy can be saved by decreasing the amount of ventilation supplied by the HVAC system during low-occupancy hours.

If your roof needs a recoating or a paint job, consider white, or another highly reflective color to minimize the amount of heat the building absorbs. This change can often reduce peak cooling demand by 15 to 20%