3 Ways to Reduce Operating Costs in Commercial Buildings

With energy costs and competitive pressure mounting, facility managers and building owners are continually seeking innovative methods to cut costs without compromising building performance and tenant comfort. The silver lining is that huge cost reductions are possible if effective strategies are employed that do more than reduce short-term costs. Here are three proven ways to significantly reduce the operating costs of your commercial facility.

Harness Natural Light to Maximize Energy Savings

Natural lighting is perhaps one of the least appreciated yet most effective strategies for achieving reduced operating costs in commercial structures. By maximizing daylight use, buildings can achieve substantial reductions in energy expenditures while simultaneously maximizing occupant comfort and productivity.

In New York commercial buildings, high-performance skylight system installation holds unbeatable cost-saving potential. New York based Sunsquare skylights offer building owners top-of-the-line daylighting solutions custom designed keeping the city-specific construction guidelines in mind. Utilizing thermal break technology and pushing beyond NYC energy code requirements with U-factors of Btu/h·ft²·°F or below, the systems truly help improve energy efficiency in your commercial property.

In order to achieve maximum effect of natural lighting strategies, facility managers can implement daylight harvesting strategies where artificial lighting is automatically controlled based on the brightness of available natural light. With these strategies in place, it becomes possible to achieve 100% lighting energy reduction during daylight hours in perimeter zones. Occupancy sensors can also be integrated with natural light controls to ensure some extra reduction in energy costs.

Implement Strategic HVAC Maintenance Programs

HVAC systems are among the largest energy users within your typical commercial facility. Poorly maintained equipment can boost energy use, making cost control strategies for maintenance a priority. In fact, preventive vs. reactive maintenance strategies show drastic cost variations that directly impact your bottom line.

Preventive maintenance programs pay big dividends when considering return on investment. Research has shown 12% to 18% reductions in operating expenses and up to 400% ROI because of reduced failures, energy reductions, and extended equipment life. Interestingly, preventive maintenance reduces repair expense by 30%, extends asset life by 25% to 40%, and improves system reliability with 40% to 60% fewer failures.

To achieve optimal HVAC maintenance impact, facility managers can use comprehensive maintenance agreements that include regularly scheduled inspections, filter changes, coil cleaning, and system calibrations. The current building automation system (BAS) can complement these programs by providing real-time system monitoring and predictive maintenance functionality.

Deploy Building Automation Systems for Better Control

Smart building technologies enable end-to-end control of energy-hungry equipment with both up-front and long-term operating cost savings being realized through optimized operations and predictive maintenance possibilities. The integration of IoT sensors, self-contained controls, and artificial intelligence creates a compounding effect where you can witness cost savings across several building systems.

To achieve maximum building automation effect, facility managers can apply integrated system-wide automation that brings HVAC, lighting, security, and equipment monitoring under one platform. High-end BAS platforms use machine learning technologies to dynamically optimize performance using historical precedents and real-time measurements. These platforms can anticipate equipment failure, optimize energy consumption, and enhance building performance while lowering downtime.

Endnote

Through strategies like natural lighting optimization, building automation systems, and preventive HVAC maintenance, commercial facility owners can reduce operating costs quite substantially while improving building performance, tenant satisfaction, and overall property value. Just remember that you can only succeed if you view these strategies not as individual improvements but as integrated components of sustained building performance optimization, as this approach will bring compounding benefits over time.