6 Ways to Cut Energy Costs with a New Metal Building

When you are in charge of a business, you are always looking for a way to cut costs and save some money. Cutting down on your energy usage will increase your profits in the long run, and save your customer money as well. As you continue to erect metal buildings for people across the country, pass this information along and help them cut back on their energy usage.

Proper insulation

The proper insulation in your building can save on repairs to your new metal building by preventing moisture. Moisture can cause rust, mold, and a general weakness in your walls. Insulation can also regulate your temperature. Incorporating the proper insulation will keep the heat and cool air in your building at all times. Regulating your temperature with proper insulation will hopefully lower your electric bill because you won’t be running the air conditioner or heater as much. The proper planning when designing your building  or during the project management process will keep your energy costs down.

HVAC sensors

HVAC sensors can be used to regulate temperature, lighting, air quality, and water flow. When I leave my home for work in the morning, I tend to set my air at a higher temperature to keep it from running and working harder than it should when nobody is home. Ideally this is what I do whenever I leave. The problem is we can’t always remember to adjust the thermostat. You can set your HVAC sensors to detect whether or not there are people in a room and adjust the lighting and temperature accordingly. An HVAC sensor will save you money even when you aren’t thinking about cutting back on energy costs. Now, with technology improvements, you can purchase “smart sensors” which perfectly regulate the temperature in a new metal building.

Solar power

Irresponsible lighting is perhaps the biggest culprit when it comes wasting energy. Why not harness the sun and save some money? A photovoltaic system is designed to convert sunlight to electricity. It can be the most affordable option when it comes to solar power and is normally used used to lower your energy costs. A solar water heating system collects sunlight and warms liquid for your consumption. The solar air heating system can also be incorporated to efficiently heat your building. Incorporating natural lighting into your building can lower your bill as well. Open windows and install a sunroof. The sun is just giving away solar power. It’s up to you to take advantage of it.

Cleaning and (a little) maintenance

You can install the proper insulation, incorporate an HVAC sensor, or harness solar power, but if you don’t keep up on the cleaning and maintenance of these products, they won’t help you save any energy and will cost you money. Routine inspection of your insulation will make sure you’re about to keep the temperature of your new metal building regulated. Keep your HVAC sensor clean to ensure the proper room detection. Inspection of your solar power panel system is beneficial because a malfunctioning panel or a sunlight blockage will cause your solar panel to not perform as expected. When implementing these energy saving techniques, be sure to use a little energy on maintenance to save a lot of energy for your client. The metal building system itself needs little to no maintenance over the course of it’s lifetime, but we still recommend giving it an inspection and a good wash every now and again.

Update your appliances

The advancement of technology also means improved power efficiency for your appliances. Routinely updating your appliances can greatly reduce your energy consumption. Don’t skimp on your appliances because an initial upfront cost on a new air conditioner is pricier than a used air conditioner you found online. You could end up spending more in the long run because that used air conditioner just isn’t as effective at saving energy. Look for certified products that are Energy Star rated.

Invest in a new metal building

When you are looking to build or are suggesting a building design to a client, be sure to suggest a new metal building. A metal building is more energy efficient than a wood framed metal building and can be designed in the engineering process to incorporate a HVAC system and a solar power system. As a contractor, have you noticed the industry is starting to lean towards energy efficient building systems? Do you realize how many professional organizations require ‘green’ building codes now? When you compare how many trees it takes to build a 2,400 square foot home compared to a steel building, the results speak for themselves. You can help your customer earn their LEED certification on their steel building project. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes the best-in-class building strategies and practices.

Take advantage of these tips and lower your or your customer’s energy costs now. You’ll be thankful you did.

Photo courtesy: Anton Fomkin

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