If you are a homeowner, landlord, or owner of a commercial building, then you probably already know how to take care of everything from the roof to the pipes. However, with a push for greener energy and more sustainable products, many building owners are now working toward having a lower carbon footprint. Understanding how to improve energy efficiency will allow you to save money and helps maintain our precious environment.
With many ways to help minimize your effect on the planet, there is now a whole field that offers large and small methods of change that can reduce your energy intake. Although some of these methods will offer little differences, every bit of change counts. Even if you are just starting by raising your thermostat during the hot summer or lowering the heater in the winter, you can make a difference.
Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency
However, if you want to implement some larger changes in your building, then there are a few options that will make you feel like you are steadily moving toward your energy-efficient goal. If you want to know what changes you can make and how to improve energy efficiency, follow these tips below and you will see a difference in no time.
Energy Saving Bulbs
In the average building, there is at least one lightbulb in every room. Depending on the size of the space, there can be multiple, and sometimes dozens if it is an open warehouse or industrial space. One easy way to cut down on your energy costs and make your facility more energy-efficient is to replace the older lights with new bulbs. New options that offer energy-saving power are available for nearly the same price.
These bulbs will give off the same, if not more, light without using up the same amount of energy. And, with their growing popularity, more options are becoming available for less common light sources, so you will be able to replace pretty much all of the lights in your building. Once all of them have been switched out, the energy-saving bulbs will work to light up the space and lower your energy output.
Smart Power Strips
Much of the power that is used in a building can go to waste due to appliances, devices, and machines that are plugged in even when they are off or in standby mode. When you have a space that uses many appliances or devices throughout the day and does not get unplugged when they are inactive, then you are paying for the use of that energy even when you do not need it.
Smart power strips address the issue of a phantom load, which is the energy used when the unit is not on, and switches off the power. This keeps you from continually using energy when everything is off and allows you to turn off all power for the weekend or time off if needed. This can offer a lot of energy-saving power and save you lots of money in the long run.
Exterior & Interior Caulking
Exterior
Another way to help keep the power that you are using where it should be is to get caulking services to better insulate and secure the building. Buildings can actually expand and retract during each season of the year, and this movement often causes construction materials to break down. This can leave your home or commercial building open to damage and energy waste by allowing air and water through the gaps and cracks.
Letting cold air in during the winter can cause your central heating system to work overtime to get the space to a comfortable temperature. The same can be said for the summertime, when scorching heat waves can make their way into the building and make your air conditioner have to work harder to keep the air cool.
Exterior caulking can prevent these issues from occurring so you will not be throwing away unnecessary money. This also keeps energy from being wasted and makes the house or commercial building more energy-efficient.
Interior
The interior of the house or building can also be the culprit for allowing air or water inside of the space and can hike up your energy use with just some cracks or gaps. Areas around bathtubs, walls, and intersections can all experience these issues and allow air into the space. This can also force the central heating and cooling systems to work harder and waste more energy than is necessary.
Other areas could also cause similar issues, like baseboards or trims, and should also be maintained throughout the time that you own the building. Doing so will keep your energy costs down and enable you to improve your energy efficiency with a few simple tips.
Speak to the Professional Commercial Caulking Contractors
If you would like to learn more about how to improve energy efficiency or inquire about commercial exterior and interior caulking services, contact Waterproof Caulking & Restoration LLC to find out what you should get done.