NAHB Remodelers offers the following suggestions to office owners who want to increase their home’s efficiency, decrease costs, and take advantage of the other benefits that green offers:
Install Maximum Insulation
Forty percent of the energy consumed in a typical office buildings goes to heating and cooling. Adding insulation is an easy way to increase efficiency. Insulation is rated by its ability to resist heat flow, known as “R-value.” The higher the R-value, the more effectively the insulation resists heat flow. Adding insulation will help save energy costs, increase comfort by better controlling temperature, and improve indoor air quality by eliminating gaps through which dirt, dust, and other impurities can enter.
Install High-efficiency Windows
Ordinary window glass transmits ultraviolet heat rays from the sun, which can increase your air conditioning bill dramatically. ENERGY STAR windows can help control this effect. These windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the panes, improved framing materials, and microscopically thin metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on windows to reduce radiative heat flow.
Seal Exterior Penetrations
Reduce cold air drafts and heat loss by inspecting your office from the inside and outside and plugging cracks or openings. Be sure to check the areas where window frames meet the structure or siding of the building. Use caulking to seal small cracks on non-moving surfaces and install weather stripping on windows, doors and other movable parts of the home.
Purchase Energy Star-rated Appliances
ENERGY STAR -rated appliances, ranging from dishwashers and refrigerators to computers and televisions, meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. Qualified refrigerators, dishwashers and vent fans incorporate advanced technologies that use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models, more than making up for the slightly higher cost of these products.
Install Low-flow Water Plumbing Fixtures
In the average office building , flushing toilets accounts for some 30 percent of water usage. By using low-flow plumbing fixtures such as toilets, faucet aerators and showerheads, you can save up to 25 percent of that water compared to conventional fixtures while providing the same utility.
Upgrade To An Energy Star-rated Or Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by up to 80 percent a year. Over its 20-year lifespan a solar heater will prevent more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. A low-cost option is to wrap insulation around your heater, which can reduce standby heat loss by 25 to 45 percent.
source: wral.com
Publisher: wral.com