Guide to Building Energy Efficiency

Using the Six Steps to Energy Efficiency: First in a Series

2021 brings a new year with climate change re-emerging as a priority and buildings of all types will be entertaining energy conservation measures (ECMs) to lower costs, improve their carbon footprint and to improve health and comfort of the workplace. It is important to approach projects in a systematic manner to ensure maximum efficacy and a good rate of return. 

This article is intended to provide fundamental, step-by-step instructions for any type of entity to gauge and implement projects in office, industrial, residential or agricultural settings. The Six Steps to Energy Efficiency below should be completed in order when reviewing the feasibility of lowering energy expense and lessening carbon footprint. Structures built since 2010 were subject to higher energy codes and have less opportunity for energy use reduction, but the Six Steps to Energy Efficiency apply to all potential projects. All building owners/tenants can begin the process in the same order. 

Although entities will differ in percentage of energy use (i.e. office buildings generally use more lighting than manufacturing plants), the aggregate diagram below shows that most energy is consumed in heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC).  

The most effective measure to increase energy efficiency is to upgrade HVAC equipment. This measure, however, is the most expensive choice. Working through the steps sequentially will allow building owners/managers to realize gains with faster paybacks, allowing the capital to accrue and apply toward HVAC and renewable solutions while possibly reducing the heating/cooling system requirements.

There are numerous ways to calculate return on investment. The simple payback (SP) method is the easiest to understand and the most commonly-used metric to gauge returns and inform decisions. Determine the SP by dividing the cost of the investment required to implement an energy conservation measure, including installation and implementation, by the projected savings. The lower this SP result, the more feasible the project and the faster it will recoup the investment. 

Peter Drucker, the inventor of modern business management, famously said “You cannot manage what you cannot measure.” This sage advice is the foundation of North Carolina Energy Partners’ Six Steps to Energy Efficiency.

The first step is to contact your utility providers and request a yearly usage report for each account for the last two or three years. If your firm has an accounts payable department, it may have ready access to this information and adding energy tracking to their responsibilities can make sense. It is not uncommon to find that there are accounts for which you are paying the monthly minimum, but that you may no longer use in operations. Request that a utility account manager review your bills with an eye toward consolidating accounts and/or updating your rate plans. Concurrently, review what incentives the utility may be offering for energy conservation measures (ECMs) and how those might factor into your plan.

Click below for a full-screen view of all the Six Steps to Energy Efficiency

After collecting the data, compare your usage to other entities in your industry.  These two steps are the essential starting points for any energy reduction projects. This benchmarking can reveal both strengths and weaknesses in your energy consumption. Many associations have energy use data that is available to members. An industry professional will also have related metrics.

It is highly recommended that you engage an energy professional such as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or other professional certified by the Association of Energy Engineers (www.aeecenter.org), the Illuminating Engineering Society (www.ies.org), the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (www.acca.org), or firms that employ credentialed individuals. They all may offer energy audits or assessments and may also offer services that include holistic project management and ongoing monitoring and advisement.  

Once you have completed the first step and collected all of your data, you will want to gather input regarding behavioral changes from all affected/interested parties. Gaining buy-in from the entire team is paramount to a successful project. Front line personnel often notice examples of energy neglect like lights or equipment left on throughout nights and weekends, holidays, etc. and usually are happy to contribute.   An open brainstorming discussion with no “wrong answers” can yield great insights. Including an incentive-sharing reward with a portion of energy savings is inclusive, measurable and also very popular. A successful program will include reminders around critical use areas to keep everyone pulling in the same direction. Now get started and good luck!

The next article, Energy Efficiency Starts at Home, will cover detailed energy conservation measures and efficiency in residential housing. The same Six Steps apply there as well.  

Andrew J. Courts, Jr. is a Certified Energy Manager, LEED AP, and a strong advocate of sustainability and regenerative agriculture. He can be reached at [email protected]. He posts frequently on #allagconsidered. Please click and Follow to receive short pieces on sustainability and agriculture in your LinkedIn news feed. It is anonymous.