Air Conditioning Technician and A part of preparing to install new air conditioner.

Is it time to repair or replace your HVAC?

January 3, 2018

According to the EPA, HVAC systems make up approximately 38 percent of facilities’ energy use. Another statistic states replacing an HVAC system that is more than 10 years old can save a facility as much as 20 percent or more …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Businessman with briefcase walking in minimalistic interior with blank wall. Mock up, 3D Rendering

Green Products, Part One: The Wool-Based “Smart Wall”

October 18, 2017

Walls have lagged behind in terms of efficiency and technology. According to Lucas Johnson, a Seattle-based consultant for 475 High Performance Building Supply:   Most walls are built with toxic materials and end up being vapor retarded or, in many …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Interior of walkways and skylight in modern office building

Daylighting can save you 33%

August 9, 2017

Daylighting is the practice of allowing a controlled amount of natural light into a building to reduce electric lighting costs. A daylighting system includes skylights and windows along with a daylight-responsive lighting control system. Such a system can reduce energy …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Blue metal roof on an industrial building.

Green Retrofitting, Part Two: Cool Metal Roofing

July 12, 2017

This is part two in an ongoing series that will explore ways in which facilities can affordably retrofit to recoup energy costs and help the environment. This month we are focusing on cool metal roofing.   Metal roofs have been …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Futuristic office building

Green Retrofitting, Part One: Window Film

June 28, 2017

Get ready to have your mind blown. According to a study by the Electric Power Research Institute, energy-related expenditures costs companies $800 billion annually in the US. And what’s more, nearly 42% of heating and cooling energy is wasted. The …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Directly Below Shot Of glass Skylight in a modern building.

The energy and LEED benefits of reflective roof coatings

April 19, 2017

A facility in coastal Texas had a major problem. The roof of its 1,000,000 square foot facility had multiple, persistent leaks caused by high heat, humidity, UV degradation, and tropical storm damage. The leaks were so bad they caused work …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Keep Parking Lots Secure and Well Lighted

Keep Parking Lots Secure and Well Lighted

October 28, 2015

An important part of a facility’s integrated security measures — parking lot lighting — doesn’t get discussed as much as it should be. Nevertheless, it deserves a facilities manager’s attention on three fronts: Security, energy savings and uniformity (more consistency …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Fault Detection and Diagnostics: How Does Your Facility Talk to You?

Fault Detection and Diagnostics: How Does Your Facility Talk to You?

December 22, 2014

You may recall our recent blog post featuring the advantages of Smart Grid technology, tools that bring 21st century interconnectivity and better management to electrical delivery systems in real time. Very soon, more facilities managers may have access to even …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Using BIRDS to Save on Energy Costs at Your Facility

Using BIRDS to Save on Energy Costs at Your Facility

November 18, 2014

Over the past year, we’ve featured a number of posts that offer new ways for facilities managers to lower energy costs at their buildings, from ASHRAE’s bEQ program to using Smart Grid technology. Saving energy remains vitally important. The U.S. …

Tagged: energy efficiency

Managing Plug Loads Saves on Energy Costs at Your Facility

Managing Plug Loads Saves on Energy Costs at Your Facility

August 28, 2014

Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that can make the biggest differences between a positive or negative line item on a facility manager’s operations budget. Take, for example, the unobtrusive plug load. It’s defined as energy used by electric equipment powered …

Tagged: energy efficiency