Choosing An Efficient Cooling System For Building Owners
Before choosing a cooling system, building owners need to consider the future needs. This can involve incorporating new technologies and changing the use of a building. Building owners should avoid providing excess capacity as it might not be needed in the future. They should also consider modular equipment to allow for future expansion.
Energy-Efficient Cooling Systems
Building owners can cut their operating costs by choosing energy-efficient cooling systems. You can keep your tenants happy and reduce your energy bills by choosing the right equipment. Inefficient systems can result in high operating costs and excessive cycle time. Furthermore, they may not properly dehumidify your building.
Energy codes set minimum efficiency requirements for HVAC systems in buildings. Building owners should check their codes and understand how the HVAC system is designed. According to the 2012 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, 44% of the total energy consumption in commercial buildings is used for HVAC and refrigeration.
Energy-Efficient HVAC Equipment
It’s important for building owners to purchase energy-efficient HVAC equipment in order to lower their energy bills and increase efficiency of their buildings. Not only can this equipment reduce operating costs, it can also increase the life of the system. Proper maintenance is crucial to ensure equipment runs at peak efficiency. Failure to perform preventative maintenance can result in minor efficiency loss and major breakdowns, costing building owners more money in the long run.
In addition to the savings, high-performance HVAC equipment can also reduce building carbon footprint. A building’s energy consumption can be reduced by as much as 30%. Installing energy-efficient HVAC equipment that has a payback period between three and five years can help achieve this. However, if the payback period is extended to seven years, it can reduce energy costs by 50% or more.
Energy-Efficient Building Materials
A great way to lower your building’s energy bills is to use energy-efficient materials. These materials can also lower internal temperatures by up to 5 degrees Celsius. They can also reduce electricity consumption by up to 30% Your specific needs and budget will determine which building materials you choose.
Insulated concrete panels (ICFs), are a great choice for insulation walls of buildings. These panels are made with foam insulation sandwiched between two layers. These panels can be permanently attached to your building and can help you save up to 50% on your cooling and heating bills.
Energy-Efficient Building Design
When choosing an HVAC system for a building, there are many things to consider. First, the design should be in compliance with current energy codes. In addition, the building owner should know how the building will be operated. This will help the building owner make energy-efficient decisions for the building.
Next, a building owner should consider the future of the building. Changes in the use of the building or the incorporation of new technologies can increase the demand for cooling. It is not a good idea to have more capacity than is necessary. Instead, the mechanical room should be sized appropriately and modular equipment should be used if possible.