8 Ways to Improve your Commercial HVAC’s Efficiency

08 Aug 8 Ways to Improve your Commercial HVAC’s Efficiency

SERVING AREAS OF BRISTOL, JOHNSON CITY, AND KINGSPORT TN

In business, you’re always trying to find ways to improve your bottom line. That includes finding ways to cut costs. Energy conversation is crucial to having a well-maintained commercial property. With the summer heat in full swing, your HVAC is working its hardest, but is it also efficient? Find out by following this eight-point test provided by your HVAC professionals in Kingsport at Thompson Electrical Service.

Step 1: Check system boundaries

Many commercial properties only need to be heated or cooled at certain times of the year or in certain seasons. A great example is a warehouse with open entrances during a shift or between seasons but stays sealed, heated, and cooled at other times. By establishing system boundaries, you can improve the energy efficiency of your commercial HVAC by up to 20%. You also can adjust these boundaries based on the environment and the weather. Any audit or commission for energy conservation in new buildings stipulates that system boundaries are defined clearly—meaning you know what the settings are and when to have them set, where the boundaries lie, and how to direct airflow from your HVAC duct system.

Step 2: Maintain thermostat set points

A programmable thermostat is a great addition to your HVAC. It allows you unprecedented levels of control over the environment in your commercial facility. You can even establish a pre-set schedule through your thermostat to maintain different temperatures for different blocks of time during the 24-hour day. You also can adjust different settings for other rooms, such as those that are not frequently occupied. Doing so can lower your overall energy consumption by up to 10%.

Step 3: Go automatic

You can automatically control various aspects of your HVAC function: the speed, output, and run time of individual components such as fans, chillers, and compressor motors. This allows control of the entire system, providing appropriate and efficient heating and cooling throughout your commercial facility.

Step 4: Maintain set points

Set points serve two functions—they help maintain desired comfort levels while also ensuring your HVAC isn’t working harder than it needs to work. Fans and blowers can be set at designated speeds so that they only deliver the amount of air needed in their space boundaries. Without set points, systems tend to over-deliver; they consume more energy than is needed.

Step 5: Make adjustments as the seasons change

Your weather in East Tennessee doesn’t remain constant, especially during the spring and fall. Most commercial HVACs use a chiller water system to cool their environment. This entails using chilled water, which then absorbs heat from the different spaces in the building. You can adjust the temperature of your chilled water supply in response to environmental changes, such as the change in seasons. Even a modest change in settings can maintain comfort while also producing significant energy savings.

Step 6: Add variable speed equipment

HVACs, air conditioners, and thermal equipment have become more responsive and customizable in recent years. You can use variable speed features to maximize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your commercial HVAC in Johnson City. For maximum efficiency, configure all settings. This prevents motors, fans, and other components from running at top speed all the time.

Step 7: Make sure your system is the right size

If your HVAC compressor and chiller are not big enough for your commercial space, the system is going to run non-stop and may never cool the space to your desired temperature. Purchase one that is too big, and it won’t be energy efficient. You need the right amount of tonnage and capacity to provide climate support for your facility and its temperature demands throughout the entire year. At Thompson Electrical Service, we can determine the right size of system for your building in adherence to the standardized guidelines from the Air Conditioning Contractors Association of America.

Step 8: Have your system maintained regularly

To maintain peak performance and efficiency, any HVAC system needs to undergo regular maintenance. For a commercial HVAC, maintenance is even more important. You want to keep to a disciplined, time-based maintenance schedule and record that data promptly so that you know you’re adhering to the schedule.

Commercial HVAC Maintenance in Kingsport and Johnson City, Tennessee

At Thompson Electrical Service, we know that doing good business means that you are cutting costs wherever you can. If you own commercial property in the areas of Kingsport and Johnson City, Tennessee, don’t let an inefficient HVAC affect your bottom line. Let us handle all the repair and maintenance needs for your commercial HVAC. We offer one-time services and regular maintenance contracts. To find out more, schedule an appointment with one of our HVAC experts by calling our office at (423) 343-5726.