If you read our blog regularly, you may have learned about ENERGY STAR’s annual National Building Competition that we featured in an earlier post. The nationwide competition challenges participating buildings, including schools, hospitals, offices and industrial buildings, in a yearlong competition to cut energy use.
On April 16th, the EPA released the winner of the 2013 competition – Claiborne Elementary School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The school was one of 3,000 buildings that participated in last year’s competition.
The elementary school was able to cut its energy use by 45.9% in just one calendar year, which yielded an estimated cost savings of over $100,000! According to the EPA’s press release, the school was able to reduce their energy use largely by low or no-cost efforts, including:
- Adjusting HVAC thermostat systems to make sure that the heating and cooling systems are running only when necessary
- Keeping doors and windows closed when heat or air systems are on
- Turning off lights
- Turning off electrical devices at the end of the day.
While the school won the competition for its drastic energy savings, it’s just one of many buildings to cut energy use. In fact, nearly 50 buildings in the competition were able to reduce their energy use by at least 20%. All together, the competitors of the 2013 competition saved a total of $20 million on utility bills. That’s an average of $21,000 in savings per building.
If you own a business or work in an interested organization in the Alpharetta area, consider joining the 2014 competition. Registration is open from now until May 16th. To learn more about the competition and to register for it, you can visit the ENERGY STAR website.
EPA figures report that over 30% of energy used in commercial buildings is wasted. There are many ways that every building, including homes, can save energy. At Gagne Heating and Air, we aim to provide our customers with valuable resources they can use to cut their energy bills. You can learn about easy ways to save on your energy use by continuing to visit our blog or by reading our Knowledge Center articles.
Here are some of the different ways that you can learn to save energy from Gagne:
- Change Your Air Filters : Dirty air filters can make your system work harder, not to mention that they adversely affect the your indoor air quality.
- Schedule Preventative Maintenance on Heating and Cooling Systems: Routine maintenance can ensure that your heating and cooling systems work as efficiently as possible, increasing their longevity.
- Purchase Energy Star HVAC Products: When replacing worn out equipment, ENERGY STAR products are a good choice for long-term savings.
- Install a Programmable Thermostat: This minimal upgrade can both make your home more comfortable and save you money.
- Have Your Duct Work Insulated. Sealing and insulating leaky ductwork can improve your heating and cooling systems’ efficiency by up to 20%.
There are many other ways to save energy in your home. When you’ve got a Gagne heating and air technician at your home, don’t be afraid to ask about other ways that you can help cut energy savings when it comes to your heating and cooling system.
At Gagne, we’ve been helping our customers in the metro-Atlanta area with knowledgeable sales and service for over 20 years. Contact us today if you are in need of heating and air service for your home or light commercial business.