Steps That Businesses Can Take To Manage

Steps That Businesses Can Take To Manage

Rising Electric Costs

You can reduce electricity use at your facility and manage rising electricity prices more effectively. This action list will help you get started. If you do not have the expertise in-house, work with Energy Savers and local experts such as contractors and product and service providers to complete energy saving projects.

This fact sheet identifies no cost, low cost and moderate cost options to increase your businesses’ energy efficiency. Each step you take will help you manage rising electricity costs

now and in years to come.

NINE ACTIONS THAT WILL REDUCE ELECTRICITY USE

1. Turn off lights and equipment when not in use

2. Program setback thermostats and energy management systems correctly

3. Install the most efficient lighting equipment and incorporate control devices

4. Maintain HVAC equipment regularly

5. Check other equipment regularly and ensure it is operating properly

6. Install variable speed drives

7. Purchase energy efficient equipment

8. Monitor monthly energy bills

9. Get employees involved in saving energy

1. TURN IT OFF! (NO COST ACTION)

Turn off electric lights when they are not needed and take advantage of natural daylight whenever

possible. Turn off office equipment at night and on weekends. Set the energy saving "sleep mode" to activate at the end of each day, or install timers that do the job for you and your staff.

2. MAKE SURE SETBACK THERMOSTATS AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ARE

PROGRAMMED CORRECTLY (NO / LOW COST ACTIONS)

You can save two percent on air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.

Instead of relying on staff to adjust temperatures properly, use setback thermostats or energy management systems (ES) to manage your facility's energy use. If you have an ES installed, make sure it is set correctly and operating properly. If you do not have either system, you should install setback thermostats at a minimum. If you need help, hire an expert to help you adjust the settings.

3. INSTALL THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND

INCORPORATE CONTROL DEVICES (LOW /MEDIUM COST ACTIONS)

Energy efficient lighting options are available for all business needs. Install compact fluorescent

bulbs in task lights and high performance T8 lamps and ballasts and/or pulse start metal halide systems in larger applications. Also, do not forget to install lighting control systems, including day-lighting controls, occupancy sensors and timers. Lighting controls turn lights down or off when they are not needed. Convert exit lights to LED (light-emitting diode) which use only two to three watts and can last up to 20 years.

4. MAINTAIN HEATING, VENTILATING AND AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT REGULARLY (LOW COST ACTION)

Follow all manufacturers’ guidelines for maintaining heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Have HVAC systems serviced regularly. Change air filters monthly. Basic maintenance makes a difference: you can cut up to 30 percent of fan energy use and up to ten percent of space conditioning energy use. Clean the space around your heating, water heating or cooling system to prevent debris from being pulled into burners or filters. Insulate hot water pipes and air ducts to minimize losses.

Steps That Businesses Can Take To Manage

Rising Natural Gas Costs

You can reduce natural gas use at your facility. This Focus on Energy action list will

help you get started. If you do not have the expertise in-house, work with Focus on Energy

and local experts such as contractors and product and service providers to complete energy saving projects.

This fact sheet identifies no-cost, low-cost and moderate cost options to increase your

businesses’ energy efficiency. Each step you take will help you manage rising natural gas

costs now and in years to come.

SIX ACTIONS THAT WILL REDUCE NATURAL GAS USE

1. Install setback thermostats or check settings of existing units

2. Ensure energy management systems are working properly

3. Install boiler system controls

4. Maintain steam systems

5. Optimize hot water systems

6. Install heat recovery units

1. INSTALL SETBACK THERMOSTATS OR CHECK SETTINGS ON EXISTING UNITS

(NO / LOW COST ACTIONS)

If you have not installed setback thermostats in your small to medium sized facility, you are

wasting energy and money. Install these inexpensive units now. They ensure that you are

not over-heating buildings during non-operating hours. If setback thermostats are installed,

double check their settings and reset them if necessary to match seasonal operating hours

and temperature requirements. You can reduce natural gas use by one percent for every one

degree Fahrenheit you set back the thermostat.

2. ENSURE THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY

(NO / LOW COST ACTIONS)

If your medium to large facility has an energy management system (ES), make sure it is set

correctly and operating properly. ES often are set incorrectly, which wastes energy and money.

If a qualified staff member cannot adjust your system, hire an expert to do it for you. The

savings will be substantial: you can reduce natural gas use by up to 20 percent by using an

ES correctly.

3. INSTALL BOILER SYSTEM CONTROLS (LOW / MODERATE COST ACTION)

If your building or process uses a boiler, install system controls. These controls, such as outdoor temperature resets, manage the boiler's operating temperature. They trim natural gas use during fall, spring and some winter warm spells. The benefits of installing boiler controls are substantial: you will reduce the boiler's natural gas use by 15 percent to 20 percent for non-condensing boilers and up to 40 percent for condensing boilers.

4. MAINTAIN STEAM SYSTEMS (LOW /MODERATE / HIGH COST ACTIONS)

Many school, commercial, industrial and government buildings operate steam systems and will save energy by taking the following actions. For example, a typical industrial facility can reduce steam system related natural gas use by 20 percent.

1. Reduce steam system leaks. Repair leaks in steam piping, condensate return lines and fittings. Wasted steam equals wasted energy.

2. Insulate piping and valves. Examine piping and valves and insulate them. If existing insulation is damaged, replace it immediately. Un-insulated pipes lose heat and cause the boiler to use more natural gas than necessary.

3. Test steam traps, replace defective traps, and maintain existing ones. Malfunctioning steam traps waste steam and result in higher boiler fuel consumption. You can reduce your boiler's natural gas use from five percent to ten percent. Simple payback is often one year or less.

4. Tune-up boilers every three to six months. Do not ignore basic maintenance; keep steam systems operating at peak efficiency and you will manage energy costs more effectively. Routine maintenance can reduce facility energy use by two percent.

5. Implement additional, longer term boiler modifications. Several actions will further increase boiler efficiency. These equipment modifications include: 1) adjusting boiler operations by adding stack economizers; 2) maximizing condensate return; 3) automating blow-down and recovering heat from the blow-down stream; 4) recovering flash steam heat; and 5) installing automatic

burner controls. These actions will pay for themselves in one to three years.

5. OPTIMIZE HOT WATER SYSTEMS (NO / LOW / MODERATE COST ACTIONS)

You can take several actions to reduce both natural gas and water use.

1. Minimize use. Many businesses can find ways to reduce hot water use. Install low flow, high efficiency pre-rinse sprayers at dishwashing stations in food service operations, replace full flow showerheads in lodging facilities and locker rooms with low flow units and upgrade laundry systems.

2. Adjust hot water temperatures. Unless high temperature levels are required by code, set water heater temperatures to 120°F. Each 10 degree Fahrenheit reduction in water temperature will generally save three to five percent on water heating costs.

3. Insulate hot water pipes. Add inexpensive insulation to all hot water piping and reduce heat loss.

4. Install more efficient hot water systems. If you are considering a change, make sure you install energy (and water) efficient units.

6. INSTALL HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS (MODERATE TO HIGH COST ACTIONS)

Many businesses and farm operations should consider installing heat recovery systems to capture waste heat from refrigeration equipment, boilers, driers, furnaces and other manufacturing processes. This waste heat can then be used to meet other heating or hot water needs and displace the need for natural gas. If you already have a heat recovery system, make sure it is working properly.

BUSINESS-SPECIFIC STEPS FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS

• Water heating accounts for up to 17 percent of a restaurant's energy use. Install low flow high efficiency pre-rinse sprayers at dishwashing stations to reduce energy and water use and costs.

• Turn down or turn off gas-powered cooking equipment during slow periods.

LODGING

• Space and water heating together to account for 49 percent of a lodging business's energy use. Install low flow showerheads in guest rooms and pre-rinse sprayers in food service areas. Also consider installing new laundry technologies such as an ozone system or a water reclamation system to recover hot water from wash water.

AGRICULTURAL BUSINESSES

• Dairy operations can install heat recovery tanks to capture waste heat from refrigeration systems and reuse it to meet space or water heating needs.

• A new generation of window film products helps greenhouses cut winter natural gas use, often substantially.

MANUFACTURING CUSTOMERS

• Heat recovery systems will help you reduce energy waste and improve the efficiency of your operation or process. If you were postponing these projects because the project economics seemed weak, it is time to reexamine them.

LEARN MORE

Focus on Energy can help you with these steps to take control of your business's natural gas usage. We offer fact sheets, case studies and technical data sheets on many of the energy saving actions and technologies discussed in this action list. We sponsor a variety of training courses and seminars statewide that are open to all business customers.

We can answer your energy efficiency questions, provide assistance, make recommendations and connect you with local contractors who can help. Call 818-270-6319 or visit www.energysavers2.com.