Buildings account for about 36% of America’s total energy use and 65% of our electricity consumption. Commercial buildings use about 20% of the country’s energy and most of that is in the form of space heating, space cooling and lighting.
Sitting on top of many commercial buildings are big metal boxes containing heating, cooling, ventilation and air conditioning units – HVAC systems. Most of these are packaged systems that basically run all the time and receive little maintenance. They are not very efficient and are among the biggest energy consumers in buildings. Air handling units are a more modern technology for buildings that use sophisticated controls to ensure efficient operation.
A recent study by the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory looked at the energy savings provided by using advanced energy-efficiency controls in heating and cooling systems in commercial buildings. A yearlong trial at malls, grocery stores and other buildings across the country demonstrated remarkable results: the use of these systems could reduce electricity consumption by an average of 57%. Actual savings ranged from 20% to 90% and it was the largest buildings that saved the largest percentage of their energy.
Saving energy saves dollars so that installing advanced system controls is a good investment for building owners. The payback period varies from building to building but typical system upgrades pay for themselves in three years or less. The DOE has an Advanced Rooftop Campaign designed to help building owners improve their energy efficiency. Given the results of this study, it is something well worth doing.
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Electricity use slashed with efficiency controls for heating, cooling
Photo, posted May 17, 2012, courtesy of Ken Lund via Flickr.
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Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.