Green Building Blog

Updated from “5 Ways to Kill Your PACE Project,” January 2017

There’s a new phrase gaining popularity in the energy efficiency and cost saving arena. It’s really a new name for something we’ve been advocating for all along.

Why are green buildings better? According to the US Green Building Council (USGBC), a green building can have the following impact:

• 15 - 40% reduction in energy use over non-green buildings
• 20 - 40% reduction in carbon emissions over non-green buildings
• 30 - 50% reduction in water use

One of the best ways to achieve optimal environmental and financial results from greening your building is “Greening the HVAC.” There are basically three things to consider when looking to improve the efficiency of your building’s HVAC. 

Connectivity. The Internet of Things (IoT). Controlling Costs.

Maybe these are not such new ideas in building operations and maintenance, but every year they improve and it was all on display in San Antonio at BOMA 2018. It was a hot time in Texas! Touring the exhibit floor, I made a point to learn what’s new in these areas.

Just have an energy audit done? Congratulations! It’s a great step toward saving money in both the short and long term, and toward creating a more environmentally-friendly building. But the audit is just the first step, not an end in itself. Don’t let it just sit on the corner of your desk, gathering dust! Whether it’s for business or home, here are some common-sense reminders of steps you can take to implement the audit.