With the state of today’s economy, businesses are looking for any way possible to save money. And while some companies have reverted to layoffs, budget cuts, and other extreme tactics, the answer could be much simpler and less severe. So what is this magical money-saving strategy?
A HVAC Audit and Preventive Maintenance!
Commercial HVAC systems represent a large portion of a company’s energy budget. By improving the operating efficiency of your commercial HVAC system, you could see a fairly significant reduction to your energy costs.
1) HVAC Audit: Just because your HVAC system seems to be working properly does not mean it is running efficiently. To assess the energy efficiency of your HVAC equipment, you will need to conduct an HVAC audit. This component-by-component, system-by-system evaluation of your HVAC equipment will provide you with a plan to make your system as efficient as possible.
An HVAC audit will begin with the biggest energy users in any building, chillers (including the cooling tower) and boilers. And because of their sheer energy use, even small improvements can yield significant energy savings.
1. Start with a review of the operating log. Are entries made regularly? What does the data tell you? Is the chiller to blame or is something forcing the chiller to operate less efficiently? What is the setting for the chilled water supply? A high temperature can lead to humidity problems, while a low temperature can increase energy use.
2. Next, review the chiller’s maintenance records. The HVAC technician will check two areas, the chiller tubes and the run-time on the chiller’s purge unit. Have the chiller tubes been inspected and cleaned in the last two years? If not, this could be negatively affecting the system’s efficiency. Is the run-time high? If so, this could be a major cause of low operating efficiency.
3. Don’t forget the chiller’s cooling tower. Often ignored because of their location on the roof, cooling towers should also be inspected. Your HVAC technician will check the cooling tower’s spray pattern, fill material, sump, overflow, and drift eliminators, as well as review the water treatment log.
4. Finally, the HVAC technician will address the boiler, the second largest energy user in most buildings. And just like the chiller, your HVAC technician will review the boiler’s operating and maintenance logs. Is the boiler being operated properly? Has it been cleaned regularly? If the answer to either question is no, efficiency could be greatly affected.
One the HVAC technician has inspected the building’s primary energy users, he/she will move on to smaller components, including:
1. The building’s air handling system and the air-handler’s operating schedule
2. The heating and cooling coils
3. The outside air dampers
4. The temperature-control systems
5. The pumps
6. The fans
7. The heat exchangers
8. And more!
An HVAC system audit should cover the thorough inspection of every piece of HVAC equipment in a facility to determine if they are operating at peak efficiently.
2) HVAC Maintenance: During your HVAC audit, the HVAC technician will most likely fix or tweak any small issues that arise. However, if the problem requires more in depth maintenance, the technician will provide you with a detailed plan, including pricing.
3) Repeat: Remember, an HVAC audit is not a one-time deal. An HVAC audit should be conducted regularly to ensure your equipment is running at peak efficiency.
HVAC Audits and Preventive Maintenance from Crockett Facilities Services, Inc.
CFSI is constantly focused on reducing energy costs and promoting environmentally sustainable practices.
We provide peace-of-mind to our government and commercial customers, who rely on us to keep their equipment up and running smoothly, continuously and at maximum efficiency!
If you have any questions about the HVAC Audits or any of the other HVAC and maintenance services offered by Crockett Facilities Services, please contact us at 301.262.2771 or click here today!
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI), headquartered in Bowie, Maryland, provides value-added building operation and maintenance services to federal, state and commercial clients throughout seven states, including Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina and Georgia. Established in 2000, CFSI is a woman-owned, MDOT MBE contractor.
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