Insulation Tips to Improve Commercial HVAC Efficiency
A building constructed for commercial use is entirely different from a residential one. The scale and complexity are on another level as the systems required to run the daily operations of its various spaces require more energy. Due to the difference in energy needs, it is paramount that there are ways to improve energy efficiency.
Among the methods for enhancing your building's energy efficiency, you can expect that improving your HVAC system and optimizing its function are the best ones to consider. There are various ways you can utilize, but the one that stands out the most is improving your building's insulation. If you're looking for such methods, here are some tips you may consider:
#1. Utilize Dampers
The HVAC system has a component integrated into its installation known as dampers. Their composition consists of plates or valves that open and close to control airflow to specific areas or rooms within the building. Commercial dampers have an intended design that prevents the air conditioning of unoccupied spaces. Still, you can also utilize them to adjust the temperature on a room-by-room basis, ensuring that conditioned air gets delivered to where they need to be.
#2. Use Insulated Concrete Forms
Using insulated concrete forms to create a structure is a technique to increase energy efficiency. ICFs are hollow, interlocking concrete blocks built from a considerably more energy-efficient component than traditional wood or concrete construction. They are resistant to fire, sound, air, and moisture most significantly. The airtight barrier provided by ICF construction is sure to improve energy efficiency.
#3. Apply Spray Foam
When a commercial structure has fiberglass insulation, there is a chance that cavities will form in it. It reduces the heat released within a building, negatively impacting your energy bills forcing you to spend more funds to keep your occupants comfortable. When applied appropriately by an experienced technician and combined with other techniques, the precise spray foam protects the structure.
#4. Install Solar Shading
Solar shades are a terrific way to add some additional energy savings to your building. These shades function by shielding a commercial building from sunlight in the summer and allowing the winter sun to pass through a low angle in the winter to warm the area effectively. Overhangs, louvers, blinds, awnings, and sunshades are all examples of solar shading.
#5. Implement an In-Ground Construction
Another excellent option to boost a commercial building's energy savings is to build it utilizing an in-ground construction or below-ground design. It will assist in managing the heat in the summer and can be become far more cost-effective in the winter with the use of below-grade insulation. This type of insulation keeps warmth from escaping through the walls during the colder seasons and helps to improve energy efficiency.
Other Ways to Enhance HVAC Efficiency
Here are more ways to further enhance your HVAC's efficient function:
Create a Seasonal Maintenance Plan: You can contact a professional contractor to maintain your system annually for a more thorough cleaning. It will increase your commercial HVAC systems' overall performance and efficiency and detect faults before they become full-fledged disasters.
Clean or Replace Your AC Filters Regularly: A clogged air conditioner filter can impede airflow and cause significant damage to your device, lowering commercial HVAC performance. Ensure to replace your filters every three months at the absolute least. By taking this essential step, you can save up to 10% on your energy bills.
Installing access doors and panels can help your maintenance personnel when they do their tasks of cleaning, replacing, and inspecting HVAC components by providing convenient and safe access to critical HVAC components. It is a contingency measure to protect your building from potential harm. These installations have many uses.
Take the smoke vents, for example. Aside from their primary function as a way for hazardous particulates to escape, your maintenance team could use them as an entryway to conduct various maintenance procedures.
Install a Programmable Thermostat: When used in combination with your cooling system, a programmable thermostat enables you to alter temperatures autonomously at all instances, including when no one is around - a significant boost to commercial HVAC performance.
For instance, towards the conclusion of every shift, you could modify the interior temperature to be nearer to the outdoor. By this moment, everyone has gone home so that the adjustments will have no effect. It will lower the stress on your HVAC system and boost the efficiency of your commercial HVAC system.
Upgrade to a Zoned HVAC System: Not all spaces and individuals require the same level of cooling. Using temperature zones, you'll be able to disperse cooled air to different segments of the area based on your preferences. A bustling office space with a lot of workstations, for instance, requires more cooling than a conference room that people hardly utilize.
You can have more command on your commercial HVAC performance by using a zoning system, particularly in office rooms that rarely have occupants.
Inspect Your Ductwork System: If you run a business out of an outdated commercial building, the odds are that the ducting system isn't up to par, which might lead to air leaks. Your air conditioner will have to function extra hard to make up for the lost air, lowering your commercial HVAC performance.
By hiring an HVAC expert to insulate and seal your ductwork correctly, you may drastically reduce your system's amount of energy wasted.
Utilize a Dehumidifier: Humidity is the level of water in the air. When the humidity level in an office space becomes too excessive, moisture builds up, making the building warm, humid, and unpleasant for people to occupy. Invest in a dehumidifier throughout the summer to keep your people comfortable, reduce the strain on your air conditioning system, and enhance commercial HVAC efficiency.
The Bottomline
There's a reasonable probability that if you don't know some strategies you may use in your building, it will waste a significant amount of energy and cost a lot more to run. Building owners will save a lot of money every month and boost their overall profitability if they follow these suggestions. Ensure to have the approval of a licensed professional before deciding.
