We all understand the importance of energy sustainability. But, did you know that buildings can achieve several benefits by simply prioritizing sustainability? It’s true. Many of these benefits include reducing environmental impact, enhancing the health and well-being of occupants, providing financial advantages, regulation compliance, and future-proofing the property.
Finding a starting point to reducing your building’s carbon footprint can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are many innovative ways that commercial buildings can go green. From energy auditing to efficient lighting and solar power, there are plenty of options available for businesses looking to minimize their environmental impact. Let’s look at some of these common strategies and how they can benefit your business.
Energy Audit
An energy audit is an overall assessment of a business’s energy consumption and the efficiency of its energy systems. It’s a comprehensive evaluation that helps identify energy usage patterns and opportunities for energy savings. By conducting an energy audit, a business can create a plan to reduce its carbon footprint by implementing energy-saving measures.
Smart Lighting
A great way to reduce the environmental impact of your building is by switching out traditional lighting for “smart” lighting options. “Smart” lighting systems use significantly less electricity than traditional lights and provide added convenience features like automated scheduling and remote-control access via a mobile app. Popular options include LED lights or motion-detected lights. Additionally, because “smart” lights are generally connected to the internet, you can monitor usage data in real time and quickly identify areas where you can save energy with more efficient lighting solutions.
Solar Panels
Investing in solar panels for your building’s rooftop or exterior walls can dramatically reduce your building’s carbon footprint. Solar panels absorb sunlight during the day, which is converted into usable energy that powers all sorts of things in your building—from air conditioners and heating units to computers and other electronic devices. Additionally, any excess energy produced by the solar panels can be sold back to local power companies (the “grid”) or stored as backup power during an emergency.
Green Building Materials
When constructing or renovating your building, opt for eco-friendly materials like recycled steel or bamboo flooring instead of traditional materials like concrete and wood. These sustainable materials are better for the environment and tend to last longer than traditional materials, so you won’t have to replace them as often—saving you both time and money in the long run. And, if you’re looking for a more creative approach, consider installing green roofs on your building. It will help insulate it from extreme temperatures while providing an aesthetically-pleasing outdoor space for employees or customers.
Conclusion
Making your commercial building more energy efficient is one of the most effective ways to reduce its carbon footprint and save money—plus, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Choosing an outside company to conduct an energy audit of your building can help your business create a long term sustainability plan. Additionally, investing in sustainability can enable buildings to minimize their environmental footprint, enhance the health and well-being of the community, generate financial advantages, meet regulations and standards, and plan for future challenges. Because of the many green solutions available, it’s important to research before investing in any projects. The good news is that in just a few simple steps, you can make a big difference in reducing your carbon footprint while increasing your return!
Dalrada Energy Services specializes in completing energy audits, implementing green and clean energy tools and services, and creating energy reports for clients. Contact us today if you have any questions or want to get started!
