Wednesday, July 20, 2011

How To Toolbox

How to save energy

Tips on the energy aspects of any sustainability initiative

“The goal of doing this is to get more money back than you spend, and to lower the amount of energy you use,” said Scot Horst, senior vice president of the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

Buildings, both residential and commercial, account for 36 percent of the energy used in the U.S. and 65 percent of electricity consumption, according to the Washington-based USGBC.

The Energy Information Administration breaks down where office buildings use their energy, and the majority comes from lighting, which accounts for 44 percent of the power used, followed by office equipment, at 24 percent.

Most companies are looking at changing their lighting systems and changing out their heating and cooling systems for more energy-efficient systems as first steps.

“These are really no-brainers (to save energy and money). You don’t have to go with some high-tech solution to do this,” said Cathy Turner, senior analyst with the New Buildings Institute in Vancouver, Wash.

Because office equipment consumes so much energy, policies that require shutting down computers and monitors when not in use and restricting what employees can plug into office outlets can shave energy use. Paying attention to details can have a huge impact on cost savings, Horst said.

• Consider a holistic approach: Coming up with a comprehensive plan on how to save energy is a first step. A company then can develop a roadmap of where to go, even it does not plan to take all the steps immediately because of costs. Savings from other items can be used to pay for more expensive items.

• Consider office policies: Creating an energy-efficient business is not an overnight process. It requires more steps than retrofitting lighting and putting in new windows. Consider how employees and company processes use energy and how they can be fine-tuned.

• Look at the long term: Energy savings multiply with time. Don’t look for the quickest payback, but the long-term ones that make the most sense and might be able to help pay for future upgrades. Also check for incentives that can shorten the return on investment.