The Benefits of Energy Efficiency
With corporations as well as government legislation gearing for a more energy efficient world, business’s may wonder if there are any real benefits to energy efficiency or if the concept is based upon the premise of regulations which will restrict the growth of a business. The answer is that there are several benefits to having energy efficiency. For one, commercial real estate improvements increase the equity in the property and make the company more desirable for investors who want to present an eco-friendly face to the public. Energy management and employee based energy efficiency programs have shown to increase employee engagement, something which has for decades been at the forefront of building a company’s worth (in other words, increase employee engagement and you increase the customer experience). Here are some of the often unseen benefits of energy efficiency; Even though they are not often discussed, they are extremely valuable to the health of your business.
The Pacific Northwestern National Laboratory found that green buildings have 20% lower operating costs (when considering lighting, heating & cooling, waste management, and maintenance) than buildings which were not energy-efficient. The savings along make it worth it, and the effect on the environment makes it essential.
Being efficient has its payoffs
A recent study conducted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory found that green buildings cost less to operate – by nearly 20% (when considering lighting, heating & cooling, waste management, and maintenance) than buildings which were not energy-efficient. The savings along make it worth it, and the effect on the environment makes it essential.
Investing in the right energy-efficiency projects can help reduce maintenance time, saving on labor costs. For example, according to ENERGY STAR, energy-efficient lighting systems can cut maintenance time because lamps last longer so they don’t have to be replaced as frequently. The same goes for heating and cooling equipment that is used less when buildings utilize solar window films, as well as grounds maintenance crew reduction for buildings that use anti-bird strike films.
At Sunshade we partner with Enerlogic, whose window films help lower operating costs, while increasing occupant comfort and productivity. For commercial applications we recommend their Low E films, which help businesses maintain a uniform aesthetic while reducing glare, preserving views, blocking UV rays for employee comfort, saving energy year-round, decreasing temperature fluctuations, and offering a fast return on investment.
Happy and efficient employees
In an interesting study by the University of Notre Dame it was demonstrated that by changing the atmospheric elements of a working environment’s lighting, the employee engagement was increased (in this instance by using LED lighting). According to GreenBiZ “changes such as employees becoming more engaged occurs, and is reinforced, when the work situation concretely changes.” In other words, if the environment is designed with a conscience effort to provide a natural environment for your employees, there will be a higher positive psychological tie to the business and therefore will have higher employee retention as a result.
Energy efficiency does not have to be undertaken in giant steps in order to have a huge impact upon your employees. Small things like ventilation controls and natural lighting save energy but also improve the comfort and satisfaction of your workforce.
Turn savings into earnings
Think about all the things you could accomplish with the savings from energy-efficiency projects. The savings can become a source of capital for other green projects, or can fund other commercial building initiatives.
In an example from DNV-GL, one major U.S. hotel spent an estimated $184,000 on energy-efficiency improvements. The hotel is now seeing annual savings of $58,035, offering a 3.17-year return on investment. That money could be put toward new technology, guestroom improvements, water-conservation projects, or a wide variety of other initiatives. The real question is, what would you invest in with your savings?
An inoculation against rate hikes
Because energy is a commodity, prices can vary based on supply and demand. When energy-efficiency practices are put into place, energy can become a smaller part of your organization’s operational budget. As a result, you’re less likely to be negatively impacted by energy price spikes. The less energy your building uses, the more your organization will be protected from cost fluctuations.
Taking simple steps like reducing HVAC costs by using solar window films and switching to energy efficient or natural lighting are key to hedging against volatile energy prices. Since energy costs will affect whether a product or service is economical to produce and sell or not, it deserves to be given due consideration.
If you have any thoughts or questions about how window film could be used to bolster your bottom line, give us a shout or leave a comment below.
