BY NYC Energy Code Team ON 15 January 2025

5 Easy Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency in Your Building

Building operations account for 30% of global energy consumption and 26% of global energy-related emissions. What's even more alarming is that 30% of all energy consumption in commercial buildings goes to waste.

These figures highlight the importance of leveraging the right energy-saving ideas for buildings. However, most people are unaware of the steps we can take to enhance a building's energy efficiency.

If this is the problem you are also facing, then you are at the right place. Here, we will explore five of the most effective ways to enhance your building's energy efficiency.

Why Care About Your Building's Energy Efficiency Anyway?

Well, there is no shortage of reasons why you need to make the right efforts to improve building energy efficiency. But just in case you have any doubts, here are some of these reasons to change your mind:

1. Tax Incentives

Your efforts to enhance the building's energy efficiency will never go unnoticed. Both state and federal governments offer appealing tax incentives to enhance building energy efficiency. Needless to say, this goes a long way toward reducing the overall operational cost of the building.

2. Lower Maintenance and Operational Costs

Another apparent logic for enhancing a building's energy efficiency is reducing maintenance and operational costs. However, this also means that you will need to leverage the right tactics to measure the building's energy consumption. This will help determine any potential issues hampering the building's energy efficiency and address them for good.

3. Better Comfort for Tenants

Another not-so-apparent reason to enhance a building's energy efficiency is to provide better comfort for your tenants. When you use the right components and mechanical systems, this also creates a comfortable environment for tenants. You will understand the importance of this when you check that occupancy is lower. Energy-efficient buildings tend to be lower.

4. Better Property Value

Energy efficiency is a priority for everyone simply because of its advantages. So, when you have a building that offers better energy efficiency, it will automatically increase the property's value. In fact, most buildings with LEED certification offer a return on investments of about 19.2%. This genuinely makes a lot of difference and enhances the worth of energy efficiency.

5. Reducing Greenhouse Emissions

The effects of climate change are now quite apparent with all the wildfires and tornadoes. Unfortunately, even today, 70% of all electricity in the US comes from burning coal. Naturally, this has an adverse effect on the climate since burning fossil fuels is one of the primary reasons for climate change. When you take the right measures to enhance a building's energy efficiency, you also do your bit to save the climate.

Effective Ways to Enhance Your Building's Energy Efficiency

Now that you understand why energy efficiency should be a priority for building owners, it is time to take action. Here, we will look at five of the most effective ways to enhance your building's energy efficiency.

1. Start With Measuring Energy Consumption

One of the best ways to reduce energy consumption in buildings is by measuring the building's energy efficiency. You must try and benchmark every aspect of energy consumption. This will help you get a better idea of what exactly you can do to reduce the building's energy efficiency. You can easily find a wide range of tools and solutions that will help better monitor the building's energy efficiency.

2. Use the Sun's Power to Your Advantage

The sun is the ultimate source of energy for every planet in the solar system, and the Earth is definitely no exception. However, despite the true potential of solar energy, we barely make effective use of it. This is even more true in the case of buildings where using solar energy can be a genuine game-changer. These days, there are countless innovations in the solar energy front, and you must make the most of these solutions.

3. Using Daylight

Energy efficiency will automatically become a more attainable goal when you make the most of daylight. This means designing the building in a manner that allows you to get the most out of daylight. You can do this by enlarging the existing windows or using skylights to reduce the building's overall energy consumption. Also, make it a point to choose interior colors that reflect daylight and help you realize your energy efficiency goals.

4. Don't Underestimate the Importance of Proper Insulation

You cannot stress enough the importance of proper insulation for your building. You must take a unique and proper approach to ensure your building has proper insulation. You must design the building's exterior to lower your cooling and heating needs. These days, you can easily get your hands on high-performance insulation and better wall systems that will enhance insulation. Investing in these solutions will go a long way in terms of enhancing the building's overall energy efficiency.

5. Use Energy Efficient Lighting Solutions

One of the most important energy-efficient building upgrades that you need is lighting solutions. You must focus on reducing the need to use lights in the first place. Other than that, you must install energy-efficient CFL or LED lighting solutions that reduce the overall energy efficiency of the building. These solutions also tend to last much longer than conventional lighting solutions. These characteristics make these lighting solutions a must-have for every energy-efficient building in the US.

Concluding Thoughts

Many people in the US have prioritized energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings. However, given the increase in energy consumption prices, this is no longer an option for building owners.

No matter the type of building you have, you must use these simple energy efficiency tips to lower energy consumption. Remember, you are not doing this just for the environmental benefits but also for the financial perks of this approach.

This makes it very important that you leverage the right energy efficiency tips for your building and see the difference for yourself. So, remain mindful of this information and use it to your advantage to drive better savings and contribute to a sustainable future.

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