5 Ways to Achieve Energy Efficiency in a Commercial Building

If you’re a building manager or energy manager, you’ve likely had several conversations lately about increasing your locations energy efficiency. With all the software, hardware and other technology coming in to play, where do you start? Below we’ve outlined 5 ways to achieve the energy efficiency your commercial buildings are looking for. 

1. Energy Audit

Clean windows, install retrofits, seal gaps and cracks, and check the weather stripping. You’d be amazed how many managers want to become energy efficient, but have a current infrastructure that isn’t buttoned up. Meaning, the building isn’t performing as it was designed. In order to take your efficiency to any kind of next level, your current consumption and optimization needs to be full proof. An energy audit can help to spot issues and get the building to where it needs to be to look at how to then make it more energy efficient.

2. Energy Efficiency Funding

Federal and local programs exist to help businesses with funding their energy efficiency improvements. Often times, as a business you can lobby for this money to help in your upgrades. Look into local programs first and how to apply, then work your way to the state level. The U.S. Department of Energy is always a good place to look and try to see what’s available.

3. Automation through IoT Integrations

There’s no doubt that being able to automate certain software and hardware functions can drastically help reduce energy and emissions, but the big question is where to start. As is usually the case, starting simple is often the best and most efficient. Installing light switches with built-in occupancy and/or daylight sensors can be a quick win. As you get more complex, heating, ventilation and HVAC systems, as well as lighting and plugged in machinery, uses the most energy. Automating controls around HVAC, for example, can be an easy way to power down when your commercial building is not running at full capacity. Numerous IoT devices can be integrated into a commercial building’s network that will automatically monitor power, environment, and security.

4. Big Data

While big data may not seem to fit with this article, there’s a special reason we are including it – it can make your systems really, really smart. Have you ever heard the term “You can’t manage what you can’t measure”? Often times systems, like HVAC or heating, will run on a program, which can power up and down at certain times during the day to help with energy controls. However, what if you had software that could constantly monitor that performance and usage on a daily basis and then adjust according to help save even more energy. Well, that’s what this kind of software can do. However, it’s really important to have the correct infrastructure to support big data, automation and the rest, which brings us to our last bullet point.

5. Advanced Wireless Networks

If you’re in the position to advance your energy efficiency, then you’ll want to ensure your infrastructure is fully supported to get everything you can out of these components. With that said, an advanced wireless network, capable of connecting your various systems, supporting intelligent software and full automation is imperative to energy management system success. All of which can be connected to a centralizes control hub for continuous monitoring by the building or energy manager.

RESOLUTE Partners offers warehouse security systems, cannabis video surveillance, Commercial Surveillance Systems, iot integration solutions, Live Video Monitoring Services, and video security solutions for commercial and government enterprises. Contact Us to learn more.

Michael Blanco

Michael S. Blanco is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Resolute Partners, LLC, where he leads strategic initiatives across various divisions. After owning family entertainment centers in New England, he co-founded Resolute Partners in 1996, launching the first Internet cafés for the U.S. Navy and partnering with AT&T for global deployment. A pioneer in wireless communications, Michael has expanded the company’s focus to include Energy Management/IoT, Cybersecurity, and Managed Video Security. He holds a degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology.