December 21, 2015

Careful planning and regular maintenance can lower your commercial HVAC costs.

With the energy market shifting towards dynamic pricing, facility management professionals are concerned about how to lower commercial HVAC costs. It is not easy to control pricing in this market-based environment. But with careful planning, management, and regular maintenance, it is possible to cut down on your HVAC costs significantly.

Adjust Temperature Setpoints

In general, a building requires maintaining a temperature of 78 degrees during the summer and around 68 degrees during the winter, according to energy conservation construction codes. In reality, most housing structures have daytime temperatures between 72 and 75 degrees throughout the year. More comfort calls for spending more on energy bills. Facility management professionals need to take steps to raise awareness about the importance of setting the daytime temperature to the state’s energy conservation construction code. It is also important to note that some buildings may require maintaining a setback temperature to ensure a low level of heating or cooling during unoccupied periods.

Preventive Maintenance

Without regular maintenance, mechanical parts and control instruments in the HVAC system may lose efficiency. Regularly monitor the performance of the mechanical system and take timely steps to repair and replace any damaged components. Perform regular preventive HVAC maintenance, rather than waiting for the system to become damaged and in need of costly repairs.

Energy Efficient Equipment

HVAC systems that lack efficiency can cause an increase in energy bills. This is because you may need to run the system for a longer time to get the desired results. Facility management professionals need to make sure that a building’s heating and cooling system is equipped with energy-efficient systems.

Utilize the Latest Technology

Facility management professionals should make sure a building is equipped with updated system controls. This helps to set operating targets and predict operating expenses for a particular period of time. Some HVAC systems allow you to monitor your HVAC system remotely.