It's no secret that buildings consume a lot of energy. In the United States, commercial and residential buildings account for about 40 percent of total energy consumption, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. There are many factors that contribute to this high percentage, but one of the main reasons is that buildings are generally very inefficient when it comes to energy use
There are many ways to make a building more energy efficient, but it often requires a significant investment of time and money. However, there are some relatively simple and inexpensive changes that can be made that can have a big impact on a building's energy consumption. Here are three things you can do to reduce your building's energy consumption:
1. Educate occupants on conserving energy
Building users can play a key role in saving energy. According to Vornado Reality Trust, between 60% and 80% of the energy used in buildings is used by the tenants of the spaces. To better engage occupants, it is recommended to share energy savings goals and openly share energy efficiency data with them. You can provide a toolkit and checklists to implement best practices. Posters posted in high traffic areas of buildings or online dashboards can be good tools for communicating with tenants. Education and awareness can be done through letters or newsletters to tenants, web portals or seminars held on a regular basis. Some owners go so far as to install special displays on the switches to make users aware. Green committees can also be set up and reward programs developed to further engage tenants in achieving goals.
2. Conduct an energy audit
Everything that gets measured gets better, and the first step to reducing energy consumption is to determine where to start. The energy audit makes it possible to identify the various equipment and systems in the buildings and to collect initial information on their optimal functioning and their energy consumption. This audit makes it possible to identify the first areas for improvement. The audit can also be an opportunity to make a true digital inventory of the components of the building to facilitate the subsequent implementation of an energy management system.
3. Implement an energy management system
Once the energy audit has been completed, managers have all the information in hand to draft a plan to improve the energy efficiency of their building. All they have to do is to choose a system to monitor in real time the various equipment and systems in their building, which are often connected to a BMS (Building Management System). The data collected can be presented in a real-time dashboard that makes it possible to monitor energy consumption, better plan maintenance and successfully carry out continuous improvement projects.
Reducing the amount of energy consumed by buildings is essential to helping the environment and saving money. There are many things that can be done to make a building more energy efficient, but it often requires a significant investment of time and money. However, there are some relatively simple and inexpensive changes that can be made that can have a big impact on a building's energy consumption. Education occupants on conserving energy, conducting an energy audit, and implementing an energy management system are all things that can help reduce your building's overall energy consumption.