The Second Step of the Energy Pyramid
The second stage of the Energy Pyramid is Energy Efficiency.
After you have conserved the energy you are already using, the next step is to make the energy use efficient.
A majority of this step is done through equipment upgrades. Now, you may be saying, “Well, upgrades cost money and why should I spend more money to save money? Is it worth it?”
You are absolutely right. This is a valid question and one that us Energy Engineers answer with every project we work on. Though reducing energy consumption is important for the environment. The truth of the matter is that not everyone can afford to make equipment upgrades. This is why it is critical to understand cost, payback, and Return on Investment (ROI) when determining to do an energy upgrade. An Energy Consultant or Engineer can then assist with determining what options are available and evaluating the best option based on your needs, wants, and financial situation.
Let’s first dive into what some of these equipment upgrades consist of.
If you are considering improving your homes energy usage, than you don’t need me to tell you that Air Conditioning and Heating use the most energy. This is true for most buildings. In fact for the average U.S. home, on average 55% of energy consumption comes from heating and cooling (1). For office buildings the range expands between 20 to 40% of the total consumption. This depends on where you are located, occupancy levels, and type of building construction.
When reducing your HVAC energy costs you generally have three choices:
1. Clean and/or refurbish your existing equipment. Keeping up with the recommended cleaning schedule will keep your equipment like new for as long as possible and ensure that you have clean air to breath. Replace your filters, check for leaks, and clean other components like the blowers, coils, and condensation drain. Regular maintenance is also important. If you have a 2 to 5 ton roof top unit, some things include keeping the motor lubricated, replacing the belt, and straightening out the fins on the condenser. If you haven’t maintained your unit, it may not be too late. Give it some love and care and you may see and increase in efficiency as well as cleaner air.
2. Upgrade to a new system. Technology advancements in HVAC equipment are constantly moving, particularly with this sustainability push. HVAC units typically last 15 to 20 years, if you are encroaching on their end of life, having constant maintenance issues, or are way past their life, it is typically recommended to upgrade to a new unit. New HVAC equipment will ensure a reduction in maintenance cost, increase in efficiency, and maybe some new features like self cleaning, on/off scheduling, or better filtration.
3. If applicable, upgrade to a more efficient type of system. Besides energy reduction, two other big topics in sustainability with HVAC is electrification and GWP of refrigerants. Check out my post about decarbonization to learn about GWP and decarbonization. By moving away from natural gas and more into electrification directly reduces carbon emissions. Some popular system types are mini split systems or VFR systems. These HVAC units utilize refrigerant to both cool and heat spaces. They are more efficient and can cool and heat separate spaces at the same time. Moving to a different system type may not be right for everything and usually includes a higher cost because you are changing the existing infrastructure of your home, but may be something to consider.
Let me know in the comments if you are looking to reduce your HVAC energy consumption. Have you recently replaced your unit? Considering some options?
Another simple solution for energy reduction is replacing lighting with LED fixtures. This solution almost always has a great payback. There are so many LED bulbs you can easily purchase yourself as your local big box home improvement store. LEDs are just as bright, sometimes brighter, have different color options, don’t give off as much heat (making them safer), and use significantly less energy.
Likewise, look around your house to see what other energy consuming appliances you can upgrade.
By comparing efficiencies of your equipment you can calculate energy savings and then determine your simple payback or ROI of your purchase. Is this something I can help with? What are the challenges you have? Should I write another post about how to do this comparison?
In short, the second step of the pyramid is about saving energy through becoming more efficient in how it is consumed. While the first step is conserving what you already use, the second step in reduction.
Stay tuned in for the next step of the Energy Pyramid! Demand Management.
Are you considering upgrading your boiler to an all electric heat pump? This blog may help.
Let me know below!
Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get updated for the next blog!
References
1. https://rpsc.energy.gov/energy-data-facts