What Goes Into an Eco Energy Retrofit?

Today, energy efficiency is valued for its reduction ofincandescent lighting are three common examples.
utility cost and carbon pollution. But performing an ecoUnlike LED and fluorescent T8 lighting, these types of
energy retrofit entails more than scheduling an installerlamps become progressively inefficient as they age,
to replace your building's old technologies. Instead, itlowering in brightness while still consuming the same
begins with having an energy efficiency consultingamount of energy. If you want to save big on
company perform an energy audit of your building, theelectricity, purging your facility of bad lighting is a crucial
information from which is used to identify problemmeasure.
areas and target their best solutions.Another operating system that's commonly
When you consult with an energy efficiencyrecommended for retrofitting is an HVAC system. If
consultant, you make the decisions about what to doyour HVAC system is over ten years old, chances
and when to do it. But it's helpful to know what toare that it contains "oversized" parts that use more
expect before you speak with a consultant, as yourenergy than necessary to produce the optimal effect.
building's problems and their solutions might not meetFor example, air distribution fans, which account for
your expectations. Although performing an energyroughly 30 percent of an HVAC system's electrical
retrofit deals with replacing specific technologies, itusage, are commonly larger than they need to be; a
does so by taking a systematic approach to aproblem that can be amended by implementing smaller
building's basic operating systems.fans. Other HVAC elements that are commonly
One operating system that's commonly recommendedtargeted for retrofitting include oversized chillers and
for retrofitting is interior lighting, which can be surprisinginefficient boilers.
if you think of lighting cost in terms of light bulbs.A third element of your building that could be
Unbeknownst to most building owners, interior lightingrecommended for retrofitting is its envelope, which
accounts for roughly 60 percent of a commercialplays a significant role in your heating and cooling bills
building's annual electricity usage-a figure that can beconcerning how well your building retains warm air in
reduced by 50 percent or more with energy efficientthe winter and cool air in the summer. Should it contain
lighting, especially when a lighting control system thatone at all, your building's ideal envelope could be
turns lights on and off according to movement isdetermined by several factors, including climate, building
implemented.type, and your building's specific needs. But
The types of lighting recommended for replacementimplementing the best envelope can be crucial to
are numerous, but fluorescent T12, metal halide, andslashing your utility cost.