Using Building Benchmarking As A Tool

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

Here are 4 ways to use the building benchmarking process more that just a compliance requirement, but a real tool to improve the return on the building investment:

1. How are your buildings doing? Understand building performance at a building or portfolio level. See performance in simple metrics and benchmark a building against itself, a portfolio, its peers and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®.

2. Are buildings getting better or worse?

Prioritize where to focus attention by watching building energy use and expense move with weather normalization and changes in your building. Spend time finding solutions for those buildings with the greatest needs.

3. Where are the best opportunities for savings?

Implement solutions that will change building performance. Identify low cost operation and maintenance changes, and plan for improvements with a good return on investment.

4. Have past energy improvements paid off? Measure and prove the results. Every investment-large or small-should yield results. Tracking changes and improvements will allow you to build best practices and save more.

For more information on Benchmarking or if you building needs a Benchmark, contact Bill Schmalzel, LEED AP, COAC’s Director of Energy Services.

Benchmarking – more than just a compliance chore

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

Mandatory benchmarks are impacting sales and leases, know your number and take steps now to set your building apart.

California’s required building benchmarking ordinance (AB1103) can be seen as cumbersome and intrusive to a real estate transaction but when a benchmark is viewed as a valuable tool, it can be the used to enhance marketing appeal, illuminate energy savings, and increase a building’s value. The U.S. EPA found an average energy savings of 2.4 percent per year in buildings that consistently benchmark their energy use.*

Benchmarking uses Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager Software to compare your building’s energy usage to similar buildings and generates a benchmark score. This score is a good but basic indication of how your building is doing compared to others. This information can be very empowering to property/facility managers as a snapshot of the energy use effectiveness and then open discussions for savings opportunities. When benchmarks are adopted as a regularly used tool, very effective information can be created. Information like; knowing the “score” before and after any energy project to determine effectiveness, showcasing ongoing energy efficiency to a prospective buyer or tenant, or demonstrating increased building value by reducing operating costs. For instance, a 100,000-square-foot building that reduces its energy costs by 10 percent, say from $2.00 per square foot to $1.80 per square foot, increases its net operating income by $20,000 and building value at an 8 percent cap rate by $250,000.

To make benchmarking easier, COAC can step you through the process. We have benchmarked dozens of buildings in this region and can easily navigate the convoluted process for you. Whether your need is immediate, for a closing transaction, or a longer term program of benchmarking to identity savings opportunities or validate energy saving projects, COAC Energy Services can take care of it for you. Our website has an easy way to get the benchmark process started or you can email Bill Schmalzel directly to get started.

Learn More about benchmarks and how they can benefit your building.

* http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/downloads/datatrends/DataTrends_Savings_20121002.pdf

10 Steps To Energy Efficient Buildings

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

36% of the US electricity usage is drawn by commercial building space and 18% of the entire country’s energy consumption, and its pretty certain that a good portion of that is wasted. This Wall Street Journal article lists 10 relatively simple – and often inexpensive- ways to slash energy use in your buildings. Read More and Save Energy Here

No More Excuses For Not Using EnergyStar

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

Every facility manager and property manager knows about Energy Star? The program is now in its 20th year, and more than 20,000 facilities carry Energy Star certification. But as well known as Energy Star may be, there are many industry professionals that have misconceptions about the program, which may be preventing them from taking advantage of powerful resources that will help them to use less energy.

This 3-part article from Building Operating Management debunks many of the widely held misconceptions and excuses about the EnergyStar program, its many resources and the benefits available to building professionals. Read More. Commericial HVAC, Building Controls, EnergyStar, Mechanical Contracting

CEC Delays Benchmark Requirements For Buildings 5,000 – 10,000 Sqr. Ft.

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

On Tuesday, the California Energy Commission voted to postpone the building benchmark report requirement for buildings 5,000 – 10,000 square feet until July 1, 2016. An energy use benchmark report is required to be generated anytime the entire building is sold, leased to a single tenant or is refinanced. The CEC regulation, created from Assembly Bill 1103 in 2007, took effect for buildings of that size range on July 1 of this year.

All commercial buildings 10,000 square feet or larger are still required to create an energy-use benchmark report, this delay does not affect these larger buildings.

Data Loggers Identify Hidden Energy Waste

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

Your utility bill is a great indication of energy consumption, but it says very little about energy usage. If you want to get a clearer picture of that, add a new device to your toolbox. Low cost data loggers show specific system-by-system statistics, allowing you to hone in on inefficiencies and make informed, data-driven decisions that can save energy dollars everyday. (Read More)

Calculating Energy Conservation’s True Value

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

You could be missing up to 31% of the hidden value of energy conservation, according to recent research.

Benefits such as decreased maintenance costs and labor, avoided capital investment, and reduced sales taxes and environmental penalties are easy to overlook, but contribute greatly to the value of your conservation projects, according to energy expert Eric Woodroof, a certified energy and carbon reduction manager.
READ MORE HERE

Your Green Guy

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Cooper Oates Air Conditioning

Your Green Guy

Bill Schmalzel
COAC Energy Services Dir.
bschmalzel@coacair.com

You need a knowledgeable guide to navigate the complexities of any energy upgrade project. That “green guy” is Bill Schmalzel of Cooper Oates Air Conditioning.

LEED AP logo Bill is Certified Project Manager, a Certified Green Building Professional, a LEED AP, is a licensed real estate broker, and a California State Licensed Contractor. There is no one better to guide you through your energy upgrades from concept through project delivery.

Ygrene Certified Contractor Logo Bill recently completed the Ygrene training and is now one of the few certified Clean Energy Sacramento Program Contractors. “Now is the time to take advantage of this unique funding mechanism to make your building more efficient, increase occupancy rates, and reduce your energy usage every month” explains Bill. Contact Bill at 916.381.4611 or bschmalzel@coacair.com.