-
Control energy costs and enhance
employee comfort by installing
energy management systems,
occupancy sensors, and
programmable thermostats
- Save
energy costs and improve
productivity through increased
use of
daylighting
-
Replace inefficient lighting
fixtures with T-8, compact
fluorescent, and metal halide
fixtures
- Choose
ENERGY STAR computers, printers,
copiers and other office
equipment to reduce energy costs
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Today's Workplaces Are
Power Hungry
Office
buildings consume operating budgets as voraciously
as they consume energy costs. In fact, office building
energy bills are the highest of any commercial
building type. While heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) and lighting are still the big
power consumers, office equipment now accounts for
almost 16% of an office building's energy costs use.
Reducing
energy use and costs in the workplace can be
challenging, particularly since workers and tenants
are often unaware of facility expenses. For
bottom-line savings, office building designers,
owners, and operators are looking to
energy-efficient building design and technologies.
The Good News?
Using energy-efficient
design and technologies in constructing new office
buildings can cut energy costs by as much as 50%
of your energy costs.
Energy-smart office buildings incorporate efficient
lighting and daylighting systems, as well as
advanced windows, roofing, insulation, and
mechanical and ventilation systems. These
high-performance building designs also consider the
use of renewable energy systems, water conservation
features, recycling and waste management systems,
and environmentally-sensitive building products and
systems.
In addition to cutting
operating costs, energy-smart office buildings can
actually enhance the comfort and performance of
workers and boost productivity. Many of the same
measures that improve a building's energy
performance also make it a more comfortable place to
work. Employees benefit from the use of daylighting
and non-toxic chemicals, plus better temperature
control, ventilation, and indoor air quality. With
the high cost of labor, payback on energy features
is shortened even further when savings from reduced
absenteeism are combined with energy cost savings.
Energy-efficient building features also help
building owners attract and retain tenants.
In existing buildings,
renovations that replace older systems with more
efficient technology can yield savings of up to
30% of your
energy costs, with the same positive impact on building
comfort. A quick way to realize savings of 10% or
more—at little or no cost—is to effectively operate
and maintain existing systems. Energy-smart
behavior, such as turning off lights when leaving a
room, helps reduce energy use. Automated controls
like occupancy sensors and programmable thermostats
ensure reduced energy use in unoccupied offices or
infrequently used areas like conference rooms. |
