Energy Conservation is a topic that is on everyone’s mind as energy prices continue to rise and climate changes ensue. As many of you know, adjusting the temperature in your building to a slightly higher setting in the cooling season and a little lower in the heating season is one easy way to consume less energy.
This energy-saving tip my only result in mild discomfort for the homeowner, but a recent report in the June 2008 issue of The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Journal indicates that the impacts a business might suffer are more severe. For businesses and other institutions, the consequences of straying even slightly outside the recommended temperature range are likely to result in a significant drop in productivity. Most studies show that maintaining a temperature range between 72 and 77 degrees with the relative humidity between 30 and 60 percent will not adversely affect productivity; however, slipping just a couple of degrees outside this range could cause productivity to drop by as much as 14 percent-a loss that could actually end up costing a business more than it saves in energy costs.
Before implementing this, or another energy conservation plan make sure to fully understand the effects it will have on the mechanical system in your building as well as its end users.
For more information on energy conservation and mechanical systems, please contact Michael Rader, PE at msr@ba-inc.com or (717) 845-7654.