Making companies more energy efficient is a no brainer.

It's relatively easy, it saves money, and it is most cost effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. A July 2009 McKinseyreport concluded that, "energy efficiency offers a vast, low-cost energy resource for the U.S. economy - but only if the nation can craft a comprehensive and innovative approach to unlock it."

The hope is that companies start taking a closer look at the energy consumption within their buildings and take action to make them more energy efficient. Buildings are a big part of our climate problem, but the business case exists to reduce their impact.



YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT... (no tickling please)

According to Flex Your Power, a 50,000-square-foot office building of average operating efficiency can reduce costs by $40,000 per year just through no-cost and low-cost efficiency upgrades. Energy efficiency upgrades also can bring long-term benefits for building owners, as asset value typically increases by an estimated $3 for every $1 invested in energy efficiency.
Check out the facts: In 2007, the energy used by residential and commercial buildings accounted for 35% of U.S. GHG emissions. California's energy efficiency outreach campaign, "Flex Your Power," estimates that most commercial buildings could cut energy use by 30% through investments in improved efficiency. Along with cutting GHG emissions, efficiency improvements could translate into major savings for the companies operating those buildings. The U.S. commercial sector spends $108 billion a year on building energy bills, with more than $20 billion spent on office building energy costs alone.  The need for renewable energy is on the rise.  For more info contact: Design@EmcoSystems.net

Heat & Cool Efficiently 

As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling.
So making smart decisions about your home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills and your comfort. Take these steps to increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. For more information, see our Guide to Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling (708KB) or contact Design@EmcoSystems.net.

Change your air filter regularlyCheck your filter every month, especially during heavy use months (winter and summer). If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 3 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
 

Tune up your HVAC equipment yearly Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. To learn more contact: Service@WeatherMasters.net

Maintenance Checklist
Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

• Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.
• Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.
• Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.
• Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.
• Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific

• Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.
• Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

• Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger.
•  Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems.
• A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation.
• Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

 http://www.emcosysyems.net/
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac