{"id":2423,"date":"2014-05-19T14:03:18","date_gmt":"2014-05-19T13:03:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.housingenergyadvisor.com\/blog\/?p=2423"},"modified":"2015-06-25T09:19:26","modified_gmt":"2015-06-25T08:19:26","slug":"4-energy-saving-changes-all-commercial-property-owners-should-make","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.housingenergyadvisor.com\/blog\/4-energy-saving-changes-all-commercial-property-owners-should-make\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Energy Saving Changes All Commercial Property Owners Should Make"},"content":{"rendered":"

Energy efficiency in residential properties is a massive problem \u2013 Kevin McCloud, the famous Gran Designs host and co-founder of the Future Living retrofit firm, has been quoted<\/a> as saying \u201cThere are some 26 million homes in Britain, most of them about as well insulated as a rabbit hutch, and they need immediate help to be made less wasteful.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether you own large apartment complexes or simply a handful of houses, improving efficiency can seem expensive and daunting, but it needn\u2019t. We all know there are plenty of ways to save money throughout your buildings, and they don\u2019t necessarily have to represent a large amount of investment to yield results (something that\u2019s particularly important in buildings with flat-rate utilities)<\/p>\n

1. Energy Efficiency Audits<\/b><\/h2>\n

The government is set to make energy audits a legal requirement within the next 18 months \u2013 requiring all large enterprises to have undertaken an energy audit by December 5th<\/sup> 2015, with requirements for regular further audits every four years after this. While this is set to be legally applicable to those really big firms, there\u2019s no reason why a commercial property owner can\u2019t reap the benefits for their residential portfolio.<\/p>\n

The aim of the audits isn\u2019t to catch anyone out \u2013 it\u2019s to provide cost-effective recommendations for areas which can be improved upon in regards to energy efficiency and carbon output. This advice is invaluable since it relates specifically to your property, saving you from filtering out general advice which may or may not apply to your buildings.<\/p>\n

2. LED Lighting<\/b><\/h2>\n

Of all the cost effective changes you can make to a property, LED lighting probably represents the greatest value for money. Replacing bulbs doesn\u2019t require buying new light fittings or carrying out complicated and expensive refurbishment, and yet it still yields the same results as the technology you\u2019re replacing \u2013 with the added benefits of significant cost reduction, of course.<\/p>\n

According to a study carried out by California\u2019s Energy Commission, which was released just last month<\/a>, utilising energy efficient LED lighting in place of standard bulbs cut running costs by 50% without any impact on lighting levels. Lifespan is another excellent cost-saving measure, helping to offset the high initial cost of the bulbs \u2013 LED bulbs must legally last at least 6,000 hours, with some brands lasting as long as 25,000 hours.<\/p>\n

3. Energy Efficient Air Conditioning<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you run homes, apartment buildings or other kinds of domestic dwellings utilising air conditioning then an update can make an enormous difference to running costs. Aside from the R22 phase out forcing many owners to replace units, the cost of running HVAC systems can be very high \u2013 increasing energy consumption by as much as 100%. While new systems can be expensive, integrating it as part of a refurbishment can be the most beneficial way to carry this out.<\/p>\n

The great thing about choosing a refurbishment firm who can carry out air conditioning installations, is that due to their focus on commercial properties they\u2019re typically able to provide energy performance certificates, too. Not only does this give you legal paperwork you need, but you\u2019re also able to prove your building\u2019s efficiency status to potential tenants.<\/p>\n

4. A Proactive Approach To Green Strategies<\/b><\/h2>\n

Ultimately, the most effect change you can make to the way you operate is to alter approaches and attitudes towards energy efficiency \u2013 and given that it\u2019s free to do so, it\u2019s the cheapest change as well. Of course, this can have positive knock on effects to your portfolio of properties even if you don\u2019t see any direct cost saving methods.<\/p>\n