Surprising Ways That Your Building Wastes Energy

Winter 2011
Commercial Connection
The energy experts for all your mechanical systems…Service Maintenance • Building Automation • Energy Solutions
“Stairway to Savings”
Surprising Ways That Your Building Wastes Energy
O
kay, so now the lighting upgrades
are done, your new “state-of-the-art”
energy-efficient HVAC systems are in
place, and the building-automation system
is tuned like your personal air guitar ready
for Jimmy Page’s “Stairway to Heaven” solo.
Now you can put the headphones on, sit
back and watch your energy bills plummet,
right? Well, maybe not; we’re betting that
there are some things you’ve never realized
could make such a big dent in your energy
efforts.
Leaving Electronics And Appliances
Turned On
According to the U.S. Department of
Energy, office equipment makes up about
16% of your energy use. The EPA estimates
that more than $1 billion each year is
frittered away on electricity for computer
monitors that are left on. Install powermanagement software on your computers
to control monitors and CPUs. While this
might seem like an insignificant action,
sleep mode can slash energy expenses by
up to 50%.
Coincidentally, the EPA provides free
power-management software to anyone
who wants it. You can download it on an
individual or network basis. And, to put
many IT and FM concerns to rest, the
software won’t cause any problems with
network security. Also, unplug things that
aren’t in use; most equipment will still
siphon energy to sustain timers, clocks, etc.
Dirty Filters
Clogged filters reduce airflow, which
makes the blower work harder to push
air through (which increases energy
consumption). The cooling coil gets its
cooling from a compressor; with the airflow
either going too fast or too slow, you may
end up with icy situations. You’ve got so
much blockage that you’re not getting
enough airflow across the cooling coil.
The cooling coil is saying, “I need cooling
because my thermostat is calling for
cooling.”
Now, all of a sudden, it’s opening
that valve and causing a lot of cold water
or refrigerant to go through that coil,
Newsmakers
(Above left) The Hutchinson team joins the ranks of more than 5,000 walkers in the South
Jersey Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk. (Above right) We’re growing again!
New team member Gina Redrow has joined the Commercial Group.
but the air isn’t dissipating that cooling
energy properly. Therefore, you’re getting
very cold temperatures at the HVAC unit,
you may get freezing, you may get extra
condensation along the coils. The problem
isn’t just an energy problem, but an entire
mechanical one. It is recommended that,
during peak cooling and heating seasons,
filters be changed or cleaned monthly.
Dripping Faucets
Everyone knows that leaky faucets waste
water, which is problem enough. But, have
you ever thought about how a dripping
faucet might up your water-heating bill?
Water heating in an office can account for
up to 9% of total energy load. One hot
water faucet that leaks at a rate of one
gallon per hour wastes $30-$120 in energy
per year.
Unnecessary Vending Machine Waste
Vending machines use electricity 24/7.
We recommend shutting off refrigerated
drink vending machines at night and
on weekends. Don’t worry about the
beverages getting too warm; 200 cooled
soda cans in a machine has enough thermal
mass to sustain the shutdown. Of course,
don’t turn off the ice cream machine!
De-lamping vending machines can also
save energy and money. Assuming an
average operating cost of 6.39 cents per
kilowatt-hour, one machine can cost $225
or more to run. De-lamping that single
machine can save $100 per year.
Dirty Windows And Skylights
This is an easy one: keep your windows
and skylights clean. If dirt and dust is
blocking daylight, the occupants will turn
on more overhead lighting, etc.
continued on page 4
“Your Energy Experts”
Commercial • Industrial • Institutional • Residential
Heating • Ventilation • Air Conditioning • Plumbing
621 Chapel Avenue | Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
856-429-5807 | toll-free: 888-777-4501
tel:
Visit us at www.hutchbiz.com
Plumbing services provided by: George Hutchinson III, LMP; Plumbing License Number 6311. New Jersey Licensed Electrical Contractor, Scott Johnson, License Number 9285B.
What’s New at
Hutchinson?
Hutchinson has been fortunate to be selected as a
partner for the following projects:
• Flaster Greenberg P.C. A&E Construction
• Holman Mini Cooper EP Guidi Construction
• DYFS Landmark Properties
• Holman FLM Maple Shade OCI Construction
• Stratford Friends School E Allen Reeves
For the Owner:
• Planet Fitness Service Contract
• Destination Imagination Service Contract
• D&J Electronics Service Contract
• Shields Business Solutions Service Contract
• Costello and Mains, P.C. Service Contract
• Surety Title Building Automation
• Medport Diner Building Automation
• Health South Rehabilitation Building
Automation
Look for more information on these projects in
upcoming issues of The Commercial Connection.
“Stairway to Savings”… continued from page 1
Inefficient Equipment Start-Up And Sequencings
Think about when your equipment is turning on, how many pieces are
turning on at the same time, and when it’s all shutting down. As the U.S. EPA
states, if each piece of equipment in your facility is starting up at 8 a.m., your
peak demand will be much higher than if equipment starts up sequentially at
7:45 a.m. Consider preventing additional cooling or heating in the last hour of
operations. You can’t prevent the system from pulling in the outside air, but you
can control the amount of air through the space by putting in CO2 sensors. It
will let you know when it’s necessary to pull in more outside air or let the fan run
at a higher speed. The cost of that sensor pays for itself within days!
Exhaust Fans That Run All The Time
Depending on the type of facility, the operation of exhaust fans may be
bumping up energy usage. Office parks, high-rises, retail stores, etc., usually
exhaust about 100 cfm per stall, and it’s set to run 24/7, regardless of whether
the place is shut down or not. In those situations, shut off the exhaust fan 15
minutes after the last person uses the bathroom for the day. You could also
connect toilet exhaust fans to light switches or occupancy-based sensors with a
15-to-30-minute time delay, controlling fan use that way.
Incandescent Exit Signs
Older exit signs that use fluorescent and incandescent lights draw more
power than newer LED models. One incandescent exit sign can cost $25 per
year to power; LED-based signage costs approximately $1 per year. $25 vs. $1
per year may not seem like much, but think about it, how many exit signs are in
your building? So, remember to tune-up your energy efforts and soon you’ll be
buying a “Stairway to Savings.”
We’re doing our part. This newsletter is printed on environmentally-friendly paper—50% recycled, using 25% post-consumer waste, and is composed of a mixture
of fibers from certified forests, post-consumer recycling processes and fibers from other controlled sources.
621 Chapel Avenue
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
tel: 856-429-5807
fax: 856-429-5852
www.hutchbiz.com
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for South Jersey regional economic development.