How to Reduce Energy Use in New England’s Commercial Buildings

June 15, 2010

Presenter

Dan Ruben

Executive Director, Boston Green Tourism

Assess Your Building’s Energy Performance, 1

Benchmark your facility using measures like EPA Energy Star and against bldg energy checklists

Develop a tracking system for your energy use—what get’s measured gets done

Consider a professional audit and retro-commissioning

Assess Your Building’s Energy Performance, 2

Review the following aspects of your bldg’s energy performance:

– Operations and maintenance – Lighting– Plug load– HVAC system– Other energy-consuming systems

Identify Financial Resources

Find funding in your capital budget for energy efficiency projects

Identify tax breaks and utility rebates from your utilities http://dsireusa.org/ and your electric utilities. Incentives are rich in 2010!

Lump your capital expenses for energy efficiency into one project--pairing projects with lower and higher ROI’s into one package that meets your organization’s ROI target

Operations and Maintenance, 1

Some bldg managers reduce energy use by 10% with a rigorous maintenance schedule:

– clean coils– replace filters– calibrate controls– lubricate and adjust equipment – repair leaks in heating system ducts – optimize fresh air economizer operations – Replace worn weather stripping and seals

Train bldg operators; consider Building Operators Certification Program (www.theboc.info/)

Operations and Maintenance, 2

Turn off when not needed: – HVAC– lighting– electronics

Best option for shutting down this equipment: up-to-date EMS’s with occupancy sensors; if not available, have staff do it

Operations and Maintenance, 3

Drapes/Blinds: strategically open or close them; keep closed during summer to eliminate heat gain; keep them open to gain heat in winter and provide free lighting

De-lamp Set hot water at 120 degrees

Lighting

Use natural light when possible. Shut off unneeded lights with motion or occupancy sensors and

timers; use photocells for exterior lighting Replace standard incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR

compact fluorescents (CFLs) Replace T-12’s with T-8’s or T-5’s LED’s will ↓ reduce energy, labor and a/c costs even more than

fluorescents. Install LED’s for exit signs, down-lighting, hard-to-replace lights, etc. Be wary of lemons. Determine when, not if, your bldg will switch to LED’s.

Reduce Plug Load

Use the most energy efficient equipment that suits your needs

At a minimum, select Energy Star equipment

HVAC Central Plant Systems, 1

Proper size is important Energy-efficient boilers and chillers Use free cooling when possible Consider an energy recovery ventilation

system Energy Mgt. Systems: make sure they have

good user interfaces, occupancy sensors, and scheduling and setback capabilities

HVAC Central Plant Systems, 2

Variable speed drives Demand control ventilation Recover waste heat: combined heat and

power, laundry waste water, commercial refrigerators

Insulate ducts, pipes, etc. Use ceiling fans to augment a/c

Building Shell

Insulation and air sealing: particularly important for small bldgs

↓ solar gain with window tinting, awnings, solar shades, windows with low solar heat gain

Other Major Energy Consuming Systems, 1

Laundry: – Ozone– Wash full loads only– Outsourcing may be more energy efficient

Swimming pools and hot tubs: use covers Vending machines: use misers

Other Major Energy Consuming Systems, 2

Kitchen: – variable flow exhaust control on hoods – new dishwashers use < ½ the hot water of older

units – replace refrigerators from before 1994

Computers: ↓ energy use by up to 50% by using Energy Star equipment, laptops, power mgt, web-based software, fewer servers, etc.

Consider Renewable Energy

Solar thermal (hot water) and PV (electricity): more expensive than most efficiency measures; rich incentives often make them reasonable

Solar panels can be a marketing tool Purchasing renewable electricity: usually

more expensive; large buyers can often buy a portion of electricity at cost via reverse auctions

Contact Information

Daniel RubenExecutive Director, Boston Green Tourismdan_ruben@usa.net617-527-7950www.bostongreentourism.org