As summer approaches, it's time to start thinking of ways to improve your building's heating system for next winter. For the typical commercial building, HVAC costs make up about 35% of monthly energy usage figures. Because they make up such a large percentage of energy costs, heating and cooling systems are ripe for efficiency improvements in many facilities.
Maintaining your current system or upgrading to newer, higher-efficiency units can only take you so far. If you want to go a step beyond, then you'll need to start looking at the many ways that modern technology can improve your building's energy footprint. Here are just three ways you can upgrade your heating system with a dose of 21st-century technology.
1. Smart Control Devices
Smart thermostats aren't just a fancy option for upscale homes anymore. These devices are now commonly found in many commercial facilities. Installing thermostats with smart technology can allow you to control the temperature remotely in your building and also set programmable schedules to reduce energy usage at certain times of the day.
Installing Wi-Fi thermostats can be especially helpful if many of your employees may be working from home for some time. You can use the connectivity of these devices to keep your building's interior at a minimum temperature or to ensure that only those zones currently occupied are being heated. If used wisely, smart thermostats offer a cost-effective option to control your heating costs.
2. Building Management Systems
If you're ready to step up a notch, then a full building management system may be right for you. Despite the intimidating name, these systems are highly scalable and accessible for many facilities. A building management system (BMS) allows you to automate some of your building's HVAC equipment, offering a higher degree of control than the schedules found on simple programmable thermostats.
With a building management system, you can tune your building's HVAC equipment for maximum performance, maximum energy efficiency, or any program in between. Properly configured management systems can also reduce strife in the office by maintaining a comfortable temperature without requiring direct employee control.
3. Upgraded Sensors
Although most building management systems can work with any existing HVAC equipment, you can achieve even more substantial efficiency gains by adding additional sensors. Room temperature and humidity sensors allow more precise control of heating equipment, minimizing wasted heat. Sensor-controlled vents can even be open and closed on-demand to provide room-by-room heating.
Ultimately, there's no replacement for using and adequately maintaining a high-efficiency heating system, but there is always more you can do to improve your energy costs. Working with a professional commercial HVAC contractor can reveal a variety of technological options to reduce your utility overhead and increase the comfort of your building's occupants.
For more information about commercial heating services and their options, contact a professional.
Share30 April 2020
I know it can be difficult to make yourself think about getting your furnace running when the skies are sunny and the temperatures are hovering around 90, but it is the best time for you to think about your heating system. Getting ahead of the winter preparation game will help to save on the cost of the repairs because the need for furnace maintenance is usually at a low during the fall season. This blog will show you what you can do to prepare your furnace for winter and when you should hire a professional HVAC technician to take care of it for you.