Where the savings usually are
In older commercial buildings, energy goes to heating outdoor air, running fans and motors and cooling spaces that are empty. Targeted upgrades can reduce all three. The size of the saving depends on the building, so we start with a review of how it is actually used and not with a product.
- Replacing old rooftop units or boilers with higher-efficiency models
- Adding heat or energy recovery to ventilation
- Variable speed drives on fans and pumps
- Better controls, schedules and setbacks
- Duct sealing and insulation
- Lighting upgrades that also reduce cooling load
Start with the assessment
Our engineers walk the building, review drawings and utility bills where available and look at equipment condition. We then rank options by cost, expected savings and disruption. You get a plain list, not a sales pitch.
Some measures cost little and pay back quickly, such as schedule changes. Others, like new boilers, cost more and are best timed with equipment replacement.
Carrying out the work
Retrofits happen in occupied buildings, so staging is important. Our mechanical crew phases shutdowns, protects occupied areas and often works after hours. Because our electricians and controls team are in-house, drives, wiring and programming are done together.
We test before and after. Commissioning ensures the new equipment actually performs as intended, which is where many retrofits fall short.
Funding and planning
Utility and government programs sometimes offer incentives for efficiency upgrades. Programs change and have rules, so we do not promise amounts. We can help you document the work in the format programs ask for.
Think about the building's future. A retrofit on a lease with two years left has different economics from one on a building you own. Tell us your horizon.
Ask for results in your own terms: comfort, fewer service calls, lower utility bills. After handover our maintenance team can track performance, and adjust controls as seasons change so the savings last.