WHEN SHOULD YOU INVEST IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES?

Jun 10, 2022 | Energy, Finance

No matter how new your facility may look, you’d probably be surprised to uncover how many energy-saving opportunities could be saving you money. So, how do you know when it’s time for energy efficiency upgrades in your facility? Here’s a guide to help you understand if your facility is a good space for upgrades. This piece will also explain how different energy upgrades can help your facility and save you money.

THE FIRST STEP TO ENERGY UPGRADES—AN ENERGY AUDIT

Before you look into energy efficiency upgrades for your building, it would be wise to conduct an energy audit. A professional energy efficiency improvement company can perform the audit in your facility. An energy evaluation will uncover the ways in which your building consumes energy. This will help you determine what upgrades you can do to make your building more energy efficient. An audit will involve a walk-through inspection and other techniques to reveal the most effective approaches to upgrading your building.

COMMON FACILITY UPGRADES TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY

There are several aspects of your facility you can upgrade to improve energy efficiency and lower costs. A few of the most common upgrades include window, lighting, and control upgrades.

ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS

Energy-efficient windows are an important consideration when looking into efficiency upgrades. Upgrading your windows will result in better insulation and more energy savings. The standard today is a double-glazed low-E window with insulation between the panes. These windows result in reduced heating and cooling system requirements, which means lower heating and cooling costs for your facility. When choosing replacement windows, look at ENERGY STAR certified windows to see the most energy-efficient options.

LEDS AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

It may never have occurred to you how much energy the current lighting sources in your building are using. However, traditional forms of lighting such as fluorescents and incandescents are not the most efficient lighting sources. In fact, they can be the main thing that’s causing your utility bill to be outrageously high month after month.

LED light bulbs are known for their energy efficiency and cost-saving qualities. In addition to saving you money on your utility bill, LED bulbs also have the following benefits:

  • Better, higher quality, more natural lighting for employees and customers
  • Reduced heat emitted from lighting (air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard, resulting in even more savings)
  • LEDs are safer, since they provide better light and are cool to the touch
  • LEDs last for up to 50,000 hours (50 times longer than a typical incandescent, 20-25 times longer than a typical halogen, and eight to 10 times longer than a typical CFL)
  • LEDs are environmentally-friendly

CONTROL UPGRADES

Various control upgrades can improve the energy efficiency of your commercial building. For example, advanced technology solutions can control things like lighting and temperature to ensure optimal energy usage at all times. Installing motion sensor lights, remote monitoring systems, and automatic temperature systems will save you money by controlling the energy-using systems in your building.

WHY INVEST IN ENERGY-SAVING UPGRADES?

Aside from the simple fact that you’ll be saving energy, there are many other reasons to invest in energy efficiency upgrades for your facility. Two of the biggest reasons for energy upgrades are cost savings and tax incentives.

REDUCING ENERGY COSTS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES

While the initial cost of upgrading your facility may require some capital expenditure, the return on investment in the long run will make it well worth it Changing or upgrading the aspects of your facility that use the most energy with more energy-efficient products will result in huge savings for your business. The ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator was developed to address the “we don’t have the money” objection that many organizations face when trying to implement energy efficiency projects. It answers three critical questions:

  • How much new energy efficiency equipment can be purchased from the anticipated savings?
  • Should this equipment purchase be financed now or is it better to wait and use cash from a future budget (to avoid paying interest)?
  • Will we lose money by waiting for a lower interest rate?

The CFO calculator will create a sense of urgency and help you see why you should invest in an energy efficiency upgrade project.

TAX INCENTIVES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) went into effect to offer businesses tax deductions for the costs of improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. Several tax deductions are available for improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. These tax incentives and deductions make it even easier and give businesses that much more of a reason to upgrade.

EXPERTS IN ENERGY UPGRADES. SKILLED FACILITY IMPROVEMENT SPECIALISTS.

At Skilled Services LLC, optimal energy performance for your facility is our priority. Our team of experts has extensive knowledge about energy efficiency upgrades and the improvements that need to be made to lower your utility bill. Ready to learn more about how you can save? Contact Skilled Services today.