How CIOs can Implement Energy Diet within Budget
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How CIOs can Implement Energy Diet within Budget

Energy CIO Insights | Tuesday, September 10, 2019

If the energy bill of the organization is higher than the previous one, then it is high time to manage the energy consumed or wasted. How to go about it? And how can it be achieved within a budget? 

FREMONT, CA: The survey conducted by the EPA suggests that almost 30 percent of the energy consumed in a facility or a campus is usually wasted. With regular, strategic maintenance of the devices that consume energy, energy assets can assist in the reduction of the surplus consumption. Effective assessment the wastage requires quality data without which the CIOs are pushed to play a guessing game – spinning on the paradigms of ‘may be’ or ‘may not be’.

Striking a balance in the management of energy consumption in the facilities, especially with the increasing costs and diminishing budgets is a hurdle every CIO needs to overcome. CIOs should consider taking fundamental and simple steps to keep the energy costs in the campus to the minimum. 

Basic steps to be taken for achieving the right balance between no power and power wastage is: 

Leading with LED Lighting:

By leaping forth into the LED domain, most light fixtures can save up to 15 percent of the energy expenditure. Powered by the Light Emit Diode technology, 95 percent of the electricity is converted to bright light with LED bulbs, resulting in minimum heat conversion. The conventional bulbs are the opposite as they produce higher levels of heat with less brightness, contributing to global warming as well. Some statistical data that prove LED bulbs are both environmental and budget-friendly:

1. Energy consumed by LED bulbs is more than 25-30 percent less than the incandescent lights. 
2. With the enhanced technology utilized, the life of an LED bulb can range up to three to twenty three times longer.
3. The diode burns ten times longer than fluorescent bulbs due to its tube-like structure.

Regular Check-Ups are Vital: 

Maintenance of the HVAC systems with each season can not only extend its life but also drastically cut down the costs of the energy utilized for its efficient functioning. Engagement of the housekeeping staff in preventive maintenance will assist in the most ergonomic operation of the organization. When HVAC is cleaned with the occurrence of each season, the rise or dip in temperatures will not be a cause of malfunctioning of the system.       

HVAC systems can be prepared for the upcoming season by keeping the filters clean, crosschecking the piping for any blockages or obstructions, and making sure the roof is in good health.

Greens Inside Results In Green Outside: 

Addition of plants and vegetation inside has an ominous effect on the overall atmosphere. It enhances the quality of oxygen inside, contributing to healthy and active workspaces. By optimally placing the plants and vegetation in the environment, the temperatures decrease by almost 45 percent, says the report by EPA.

The side effect of enhanced oxygen levels in the office atmosphere is an improvement to the quality of breathable air, lowering of the greenhouse emissions by the reduction in the utilization of air conditioning systems. 

Although some initial investments and costs are involved while purchasing and beautification of the space with greenery, the ROI from this investment is impressive and substantially growing with each day. In a study conducted to convert the various ROI from the purchase of a tree, the values were converted to dollars to provide a clearer picture. The study by EPA elucidates that in some cities, benefits worth the range of $30 to $60 per tree is noted.

To maintain the thin line of balance in facility energy management, in-depth studies are useful. But, common practices discussed will not only assist the lowering of the expenditure but will also contribute many positives effects on the organization. Small changes have been known to produce positive reactions in conserving energy across the atmosphere and on the organization’s pockets.

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