Commercial Recommendations

SMALL OFFICE BUILDINGS

Energy Use

The principal energy uses in most office buildings are divided about evenly between lighting, HVAC, and plug loads. Retrofit measures that improve the efficiency of lighting and office equipment, as well as those that improve windows and shading, can lower the demand on the building’s cooling system. Combined with such retrofits, it’s often possible to install an energy-efficient new chiller that is substantially downsized from the old one, saving over $1,000 per ton. This can result in both initial and life-cycle savings that are quite substantial. Careful glazing and overhang designs can increase the contributions of passive solar in the winter months, while variable output, energy-efficient boilers can take up the slack as needed.

Many small offices are leased from building owners who may not be enthusiastic about improving the energy efficiency of their property when tenants are paying the energy bills. However, it is frequently possible to persuade landlords to make energy-saving improvements a part of long-term lease agreements since these not only improve the property but also save money and make the space more attractive to present and future tenants. Indeed, such measures as lighting retrofits are often good investments by tenants even in the absence of landlord contributions.

Measures that are frequently found to be cost-effective include the following:

High-efficiency lighting

• Replace T-12 fluorescent fixtures with T- 8 or T-5 fixtures with electronic ballasts.
• Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to replace incandescents and save energy and maintenance costs.
• Install and adjust automatic dimming controls to take advantage of daylighting.
• Install and adjust occupancy controls.
• Install LED exit signs.
• Upgrade parking lot lighting to save energy and reduce the environmental impacts associated with lighting the sky instead of the parking lot.

Find a list of ENERGY STAR-qualified CFL bulbs at www.energystar.gov/ia/products/prod_lists/cfl_prod_list.pdf. A list of ENERGY STAR-qualified LED exit signs can be found at www.energystar.gov/ia/products/prod_lists/exit_signs_prod_list.pdf.

HVAC

• Downsize to a new high-efficiency chiller in conjunction with lighting and other retrofits.
• Choose high-efficiency packaged A/C units listed by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency in their Tier 2 guidelines (www.cee1.org/com/hecac/ac_tiers/impcttbl.htm).
• Use condensing boilers with large turn-down ratios whose efficiencies improve with turn-down.
• Switch over to direct digital controls.
• Install variable air volume air handling systems with variable speed drives.
• Install premium-efficiency motors.
• Install demand-controlled ventilation.
• Ventilate garages in response to environmental conditions.
• Upgrade the energy management system; optimize settings to reflect usage, respond to changing weather patterns, and control peak electric loads.
• Continuously commission the building.
• Verify economizer function and control.
• Consider using cool air from the cooling tower with water-cooled chillers.
• Consider indirect-direct evaporative cooling.

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency designates specifications for high-efficiency commercial packaged air conditioning equipment and maintains a database of qualifying products at www.cee1.org.

Building Envelope

• Install high-efficiency glazing carefully chosen for sun exposure on each facade and other variables.
• Install interior or exterior shading devices.
• Install insulation in strategic locations.
• Undertake air sealing, including duct work.
• Install a cool roof.

Learn more on the Building Envelope Energy Efficiency Measures page.

Plug Loads

• Use low-energy sleep functions on computers, printers, and copiers.
• Use the duplex copying mode to save energy and paper.
• Choose ENERGY STAR office equipment and appliances.
• Install Vending Miser on vending machines.

Details on office equipment that meet ENERGY STAR criteria for energy efficiency are available at www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=ofc_equip.pr_office_equipment.

Employee

• Ensure building maintenance and cleaning staff are enthusiastic about savings and adopt work habits that support energy efficiency.
• Involve all employees in energy savings efforts, provide efficiency education for work and home, and encourage employee suggestions on energy savings opportunities.

Benchmarking

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy through the ENERGY STAR® Program have developed an energy performance benchmarking tool. The tool enables building owners to evaluate the energy performance of their buildings on a scale of 1-100 relative to similar buildings nationwide. The rating system accounts for the impacts of year-to-year weather variations, as well as building size, location, and several operating characteristics. Buildings rating 75 or greater qualify for the ENERGY STAR label.

Eligible space types, representing over 50% of U.S. commercial floor space, include:

• Offices (general offices, financial centers, bank branches, and courthouses)
• K-12 Schools
• Hospitals (acute care and children's)
• Hotels and Motels
• Medical Offices
• Supermarkets
• Residence Halls
• Warehouses (refrigerated and non-refrigerated)

For further information or to download the performance benchmarking tool, see www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=evaluate_performance.bus_announcing.

Assistance

Utah Power has a host of programs targeted to meeting its customer’s energy efficiency needs. Visit the Utah Power profile page by clicking here.

© 2006 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
2260 Baseline Road, Suite 212, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-0078 fax: (303) 786-8054 info@swenergy.org