Improving the Efficiency of Your Building's Electrical System Without Breaking the Bank

Improving the efficiency of your building's electrical system can seem daunting, especially if you're trying to do it on a budget. However, there are several relatively inexpensive ways to increase efficiency and reduce energy costs without completely overhauling your electrical infrastructure. In this article, I'll provide an in-depth look at various methods to boost your building's electrical efficiency without breaking the bank.

Perform an Electrical Audit

The first step is to thoroughly analyze your existing electrical system to identify areas of waste and inefficiency. This allows you to pinpoint where you can get the most bang for your buck when upgrading. Here are some key things to look for in an electrical audit:

• Evaluate appliance and equipment efficiency - Upgrade old, inefficient appliances and equipment with ENERGY STAR certified models which use less electricity. Prioritize upgrades that will yield the biggest energy savings.

• Examine lighting - Switch to LED lighting which uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Install occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting sensors, and dimmers to reduce lighting when not needed.

• Check HVAC system - A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in poor condition can draw excessive electrical load. Consider upgrades like a variable speed controller.

• Inspect insulation - Ensure insulation in walls, attics, etc. meets code requirements. Properly insulating your building envelope reduces heating and cooling costs.

• Look for air leaks - Cracks and gaps let conditioned air escape, increasing demand on HVAC and fans. Caulk and weatherstrip to seal leaks.

• Evaluate older wiring - Outdated wiring can't handle modern electrical loads efficiently. Consult an electrician about selectively upgrading old wiring.

Install Smart Meters and Monitors

Smart meters and energy monitoring systems provide real-time data about your building's electrical usage. This granular visibility allows you to identify waste and tailor energy efficiency measures. Key benefits include:

• Pinpoint which equipment uses the most electricity
• Identify times of peak electrical demand
• Optimize energy usage habits and behaviors
• Receive alerts for unexpected energy spikes
• Track savings from efficiency upgrades

Low-cost smart plugs for appliances, smart thermostats, and wireless energy monitoring kits are great options. Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) from your utility provides whole building data.

Upgrade Lighting Fixtures

As mentioned above, switching to LED lighting is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make:

• LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

• LED tubes can directly replace fluorescent tubes for a 60-70% reduction in lighting energy.

• LED fixtures integrated with sensors and controls maximize efficiency.

Focus first on upgrading fixtures used most heavily or for extended periods. The upfront cost of LEDs is recouped over time through energy savings. Take advantage of utility rebates and tax incentives to improve ROI.

Install Lighting Controls

Lighting controls like occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting sensors, and dimmers help reduce electrical load from lighting by automatically turning off or dimming lights when not needed. For example:

• Occupancy sensors turn lights on when motion is detected and off after an area is vacant for a set time. They are ideal in bathrooms, closets, conference rooms, and other spaces with irregular occupancy.

• Daylight harvesting sensors dim artificial lights when sufficient natural daylight is available, while maintaining proper illumination. Well-suited to areas near windows and skylights.

• Dimmers enable manual control over light levels. Dimmable LEDs provide greater efficiency than dimming traditional bulbs.

Upgrade HVAC System Components

Upgrading specific components of your existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can provide an affordable alternative to full replacement:

• Smart thermostats optimize heating and cooling operation based on occupancy patterns and other factors. Programmable and learning thermostats like Nest help reduce runtime.

• Variable speed drives on motors, fans and pumps match output to actual demand and provide huge efficiency gains.

• High-efficiency air filters reduce load on HVAC equipment by preventing dirt buildup. Electrostatic pleated filters are a good option.

• Reflective window film blocks solar heat from entering your building, lowering air conditioning costs.

• Insulated ductwork prevents conditioned air from being lost, improving HVAC efficiency by up to 20%.

Install Solar Panels

Adding solar panels allows you to generate some or all of your building's electricity from renewable solar energy instead of the grid. Benefits of on-site solar include:

• Reduce electricity bills - Solar offsets your usage of utility-provided electricity

• Lock in rates - Avoid utility rate hikes with a predictable solar PPA rate

• Improved sustainability - Solar PV emits no greenhouse gases

• Revenue from net metering - For excess solar electricity fed back into the grid

Start small with an exploratory pilot installation to gauge solar potential before committing to a large system. Take full advantage of federal, state, and local incentives.

Leverage Demand Response Programs

Many utilities offer demand response programs that provide incentives for reducing electricity usage during periods of peak demand on the grid. Strategies include:

• Load shedding to temporarily reduce non-essential usage

• Pre-cooling buildings just before peak hours

• Using on-site generators or batteries

Participating in demand response allows you to cut energy bills while also helping stabilize the grid. Meet with your utility to discuss program options tailored to your building.

Conclusion

Improving your building's electrical efficiency is an ongoing process of assessing performance, setting goals, and making cost-effective upgrades. I've outlined several impactful measures from performing audits to installing solar panels. Focus first on upgrades with fast paybacks and strong returns on investment. Be sure to take full advantage of available rebates, incentives and tax credits. With the strategies discussed, you can meaningfully improve the efficiency of your electrical system without overhauling it or breaking the bank.