Keeping Your HVAC System In Great Condition

3 Strategies For Boosting Commercial HVAC Efficiency

2 December 2016

Herbert Franklin

As many business owners realize, it can cost a small fortune to heat even the smallest variety of office building. Yet it is possible to cut your energy costs by practicing a few key strategies. If you would like to learn more about managing the costs of operating furnace in a commercial building, read on. This article will discuss three important tactics to consider.

Work For A Tighter Envelope

The efficiency of any HVAC system is directly tied to a particular building's envelope. This term simply designates the degree to which your building is sealed against air leaks. As you can imagine, a loose envelope means that outside air will have a much easier time penetrating your building. Thus the most efficient--and least expensive--HVAC system is one that operates with as tight an envelope as possible.

The potential savings here are anything but negligible. In fact, by tightening your envelope, it may be possible to reduce your energy costs by up to 37 percent. The best way to do this is to hire an HVAC technician to perform what is known as a thermal imaging test. This technique utilizes infrared cameras to detect areas where air is freely entering your building from outside. By boosting the insulation in such areas, costly air leaks can be largely eliminated.

Lower Your Load

HVAC load--otherwise known as load capacity--is a term used to designate the amount of energy required to maintain an optimal temperature inside of your commercial property. The HVAC load of your building is directly influenced by the tightness of your envelope. Yet that isn't the only factor that can affect load capacity. You must also consider factors within your building itself.

For instance, lighting systems are a common source of increased load capacity. This is especially true of systems that still utilize incandescent bulbs. Not only do such bulbs require a much greater amount of energy, but compared to fluorescent bulbs they also give off a lot of heat. As a result, your air conditioning system will be forced to work even harder in the summer. Consider switching over to either a fluorescent or an LED lighting system.

Keep Track Of Usage Patterns

The bulbs, fixtures, and appliances in your building aren't the only things that can increase your load capacity. The way your HVAC system is used will also have a large effect on the cost of its operation. It is especially valuable to analyze usage data regarding when your system is running. You may find that the furnace or air conditioner are being turned on long before they should each day. After all, there is no reason to pay extra to heat an empty building.

For more information or assistance, contact companies like Advanced Heating & Cooling.

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