Rising utility bills don’t always mean you need to replace your HVAC system. In many cases, improving your building’s efficiency can involve just a few simple adjustments to how you operate your facility.  From HVAC maintenance to building controls, our HVAC experts at Cooper Oates are sharing their top tips to help lower operating costs, improve occupant comfort, and extend the life of your equipment.

1. Retro-Commission Your Building

Retro-commissioning is essentially bringing your building back to its original design. Over time in commercial buildings, HVAC settings are adjusted by different contractors, tenants, and maintenance staff often resulting in the system no longer performing optimally. Another big culprit is tenant improvements (TI’s) that don’t take the facility’s HVAC system into consideration. TI’s often focus on the layout of the space, rather than the air systems in the building. Air balance is usually also left out of the conversation (see point 2).

Retro-commissioning restores proper operation, improves comfort, and often eliminates the need for space heaters (or fans) under desks. Cooper Oates can evaluate your building’s performance through our Commercial HVAC Maintenance & Service programs.

2. Air Balance Your Building

An unbalanced HVAC system creates hot and cold spots that lead to comfort complaints and wasted energy. Air balancing ensures conditioned air is properly and evenly distributed throughout the building.

3. Inspect Your Building’s Insulation

Damaged or missing insulation, as well as pressure imbalances, allows conditioned air to escape making your HVAC equipment work harder. Improper insulation and pressure imbalances can drain your energy budget! It can be helpful to have a qualified commercial HVAC contractor to perform a thorough inspection of infrastructure and building pressure analysis to ensure your insulation is doing its job

Roof insulation shouldn’t be overlooked, either: an aging roof can be a major source of heat gain, forcing your HVAC system to work overtime during the central valley’s hot summers. When it’s time for a roof replacement, consider a membrane roofing system with multiple layers of insulation to improve thermal performance and reduce energy costs.

(Learn more about the role of building pressure in commercial facilities here)

4. Upgrade to LED Lighting

Switching to LED lighting is one of the fastest ways to reduce electrical consumption. LEDs also last longer and require less maintenance than traditional fixtures.

5. Install Smart Building Controls

Direct Digital Controls (DDC) and web-based systems like Pelican allow you to automate HVAC schedules, lighting, and even parking lot lights. Cooper Oates can help implement building automation and controls that improve efficiency while giving facility managers greater control.

6. Eliminate Plug-In Energy Wasters

Personal space heaters, mini refrigerators, coffee makers, and other appliances left plugged in can quietly increase energy use. Educating staff and tenants around personal appliances helps keep utility costs under control. Some of these items are also considered fire hazards when left unattended.

7. Monitor Tenant After-Hours Energy Use

A single tenant working late can keep large HVAC systems, cooling towers, and pumps operating long after normal business hours. Energy monitoring systems identify unnecessary after-hours consumption and can allow you to track and recover energy costs from tenant use.

8. Repair or Replace Damaged Duct and Insulation

Leaky ductwork and insulation wastes conditioned air before it has a chance to do its job. Sealing leaky ducts improves system efficiency and occupant comfort. However, even sealed ductwork loses efficiency if insulation is missing or deteriorated- so ensuring your ductwork is properly insulated can greatly reduce your HVAC system’s workload. A professional like us can help with the testing.

9. Install Occupancy Sensors

Installing motion sensors to automatically turn off lights in unoccupied spaces can reduce unnecessary electricity use with very little maintenance. Light tubes or skylights can also help reduce energy use.

Stay Current on HVAC Maintenance (And Make Sure Economizers Are Working)

Routine maintenance keeps equipment operating efficiently by ensuring filters are clean, coils are free of debris, refrigerant levels are correct, and electrical components are functioning properly.

Pay special attention to economizers. Economizers reduce cooling costs by using cool outdoor air instead of mechanical cooling when conditions allow, essentially providing “free cooling” to indoor spaces, reducing your energy bill. Cool mornings are best for a couple of hours of free cooling. Regularly checking your economizers, which is included in a preventative maintenance agreement, makes sure they are working efficiently to reduce the load on your mechanical systems.

11. Shut Down Boilers During Summer

It may sound obvious, but boilers are sometimes left operating during warmer months due to incorrect control settings. Reviewing seasonal schedules prevents unnecessary energy consumption. Unless the boiler is a part of the temperature-humidity controls like in a hospital environment.

12. Fix Water Leaks Quickly

Water leaks can keep pumps running overtime, wasting both water and electricity. Routine leak checks and prompt repairs reduce utility costs while protecting your plumbing and mechanical systems. Cooper Oates’ Commercial Plumbers can perform plumbing site inspections to identify and repair leaks before they become expensive problems.

13. Review Temperature Setpoints

Adjusting building temperatures by just one or two degrees can result in noticeable energy savings- but make sure your settings still meet lease agreements and maintain occupant comfort. Some lease agreements state that temperatures must be 74 in the summer and 68 in the winter and we have seen these ranges all over the place.

14. Replace Aging HVAC Equipment

Older HVAC equipment becomes less efficient over time and often costs more to operate and repair. Upgrading to modern, high-efficiency equipment can reduce long-term operating cost and make the investment well worth the up-front price tag. Cooper Oates can help determine whether repair or replacement is the better long-term investment for you based on a thorough equipment evaluation.

If you are unsure about the future of your equipment, check out our blog post for 6 key indicators an replacement is needed, here)- or give us a call for a free consultation at 916-381-4611.

15. Take Advantage of Utility Rebates

Many utility providers offer rebates for qualifying HVAC upgrades, controls, and energy-efficient equipment. These incentives can significantly help reduce the upfront cost of improvement projects.

16. Maintain Your Cooling Towers

Poorly maintained cooling towers waste water, consume more energy, and can shorten the life of connected HVAC equipment. It’s important to schedule regular cleaning, inspections, annual services, and water treatment for cooling towers to operate efficiently.

Lower Energy Costs Begin with the Basics

Rising utility bills can be overwhelming, but improvement is possible with small, simple changes. Many of the biggest energy savings come from addressing issues that are often overlooked: poor airflow, outdated controls, deferred maintenance, and inefficient equipment operation. Taking a proactive approach to mechanical maintenance helps reduce operating expenses, improve tenant comfort, and protect your building investment.

Since 1972, Cooper Oates has helped commercial building owners and facility managers throughout Sacramento and Northern California improve HVAC and Plumbing performance, reduce energy consumption, and keep your buildings operating efficiently. Whether you need preventative maintenance, system upgrades, building automation, or commercial plumbing services, our team of experts is eager to help!

Get Started Today

Contact Cooper Oates or call 916-381-4611 to take the first step in a more efficient heating, cooling and plumbing experience for your building. We’ll show you how we’ve upheld our reputation for excellence and expertise.