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Researchers at the US Energy Information Administration estimate commercial buildings account for 20% of all the energy used in the U.S. and concludes that as much as 30% of that energy is wasted.³ National averages agree the majority of energy goes towards heating and cooling. Lighting, electronic equipment, water usage and heating, refrigeration, cooling and a variety of others account for the remaining energy being used in most office buildings

Figure 2: Typical U.S. commercial building energy consumption by end use⁵

Image Source: U.S. Department of Energy

As seen in Figure 2, a building’s primary energy end uses—heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), and lighting—can be managed by building setpoints and control sequences, providing the greatest

opportunities for savings. Secondary end uses—computers and electronics, cooking and refrigeration, and water heating—are controlled by users and procurement managers. As energy-efficient equipment becomes more readily available, equipment upgrades can become a significant contributor to improving building performance.

Considerations

The most effective sequence for managing and reducing energy consumption is as follows:

1. Load reduction: Identify every possible means to reduce energy use, including staff engagement, system management awareness and control, implementation of proper schedules of systems, and energy tracking and Re-commission systems regularly to verify equipment is operating as intended.
2. System efficiency: Once loads have been reduced, ensure that current systems are the most efficient in serving operational requirements, and implement upgrades where feasible. Quick paybacks can be identified during audits, through analysis of energy bills, and by focusing on systems that are significant contributors to total energy
3. Renewable resources: Seek to serve the remaining energy load with renewable energy produced on-site where cost Sites that have high energy rates and significant solar or wind resources offer the best opportunities to implement this technology. Sites can also consider use of Purchase Power Agreement (PPAs) to support renewable energy without actually building solar or wind facilities on the site.