Achieving Energy Efficient Corporate Sustainability in the US | EnergyLink
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Achieving Energy Efficient Corporate Sustainability in the US

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Has your business wanted to contribute to the United States sustainability effort, but unsure of where to start?

In this article, we will outline some easy, simple steps for you: 

  • Lower electricity usage via lighting retrofit, building automation systems, and solar
  • Decrease gas consumption via destratification (recirculating the warm air to the ground in the winter)
  • Reduce water consumption with more efficient faucets, boilers, etc
  • Rethink the way your company rids of waste by recycling, reducing trash, and more\

Lower Electricity Usage

By retrofitting your workplace lighting, using building automation systems, and installing solar in your building, you will lower the amount of electricity used immensely.

Most commercial spaces are over-lit, which leads to wasted energy usage. But over-lit spaces can also affect the productivity of employees.

Optimizing daylight and electric saves energy and creates a productive, comfortable environment. Dimming increases lamp life and reduces maintenance costs, which can significantly affect your bottom line.

Building automation and control systems provide a variety of features to help main tain your facility. However, it is not maximizing your energy savings, and by installing our ADMS (Advanced Demand Management System) back-end, with rooftop solar, it can limit your energy costs which will save your business thousands each year.

Decrease Gas Consumption

Destratification can solve a number of heating and air quality issues for your building.

In the winter, large diameter fans can be used for destratification by gently pushing the warm air trapped at the ceiling down to occupant level, creating a more uniform temperature throughout the space without causing a draft.

In addition to providing comfort to occupants, destratifying the air in a space has the added benefit of allowing for a lower thermostat set point, thus saving you more money.

A major focus for estimating winter energy savings is the difference in air temperature between the floor level and the underside of the roof, as well as taking into consideration outdoor air temperatures, with the assumption that after thermal destratification the air temperature will be essentially uniform within the space.

Reduce Water Consumption

Many are unaware of the fact that water use and energy use in building are linked.

In most cases, electricity or gas is used to heat water, so the less hot water you use, the less energy is needed to heat the water. In addition, your water company uses energy to purify and pump water to your facility, as well as in the treatment of your sewage.

As a result, part of your water and sewage bill is really an energy bill. Saving water reduces your water and energy bills!

Use water-saving faucets, toilets, urinals, etc to save water. Install controls that turn off faucets automatically to keep from wasting!

Rethink The Way You Rid of Waste

Do you want to lower costs at your facility as well as lower its environmental impact?

An easy and efficient strategy to reduce waste is to consolidate commonly used workplace supplies. Limit the purchase of these types of supplies to a single person or unit, which reduces redundant purchases and thus purchasing costs.

Locate the items in a central location for easy access and encourage staff to place their unneeded supplies in the central area. Reuse reduces the need for new purchases and reduces disposal of expired, obsolete or otherwise unused items.

A common source of waste is single-use tableware. Instead of purchasing and providing disposable tableware, encourage employees to bring their own reusable mugs, cups, plates and flatware. If your campus cafeteria doesn’t have a dishwasher, it can be cost-effective to install one and make the switch to reusables.

Improving your facility’s waste and recycling process is another achievable win. Create waste stations with bins for trash, recyclables and food or organics, if applicable.

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