Upgrading to an energy-efficient commercial HVAC system won’t guarantee your business’s success – although it is one of many good business decisions you can make. That’s because an upgrade will save you money in a couple of different ways, and help you make more money in others.
Read on to discover why giving your commercial property an energy-efficient HVAC system will also give you a competitive edge!
Reduced Energy Bills
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) changed the minimum required cooling efficiencies for newly manufactured commercial HVAC equipment on January 1st, 2023.
Make no mistake: the federal government won’t give you a hard time if your commercial property keeps its existing furnace and air conditioner. But when you adopt modern HVAC efficiency standards, you’re also signing up for significantly lower energy bills.
The DOE estimates the average commercial building can save as much as 40% on energy costs once it is upgraded to an energy-efficient HVAC system. That adds up to a lot regardless of your line of business. The average gas station’s electricity cost is a whopping $160,000 per year. Even a single medical clinic can spend $24,000 on energy per year. An entrepreneur stands to gain an enormous advantage by shaving so many thousands off their expenses!
Reduced Maintenance Costs
Upfront costs and long-term benefits are both of great interest to any commercial property owner. If the former outweighs the latter, it simply isn’t a good investment.
When you look at it from a cost-benefit perspective, an energy-efficient HVAC system upgrade represents a great return on investment. Not just because it almost halves energy consumption, but because it will require less frequent repairs as well. Even a well-maintained HVAC system is likely to last no longer than 20 years. If yours is creeping upward in age – and showing it, by operating less reliably – then replacing it altogether probably represents the dollarwise course of action.
It gets even better. Your commercial property’s existing HVAC appliances weren’t exactly built during the Bronze Age, but they are still nowhere near as technologically sophisticated as contemporary furnaces and air conditioners. Part of that high tech includes features which significantly reduce wear and tear. That translates to fewer service calls and breakdowns well into the foreseeable future.
Improved Comfort
State-of-the-art HVAC technology will improve your business’s earning potential in ways you may not anticipate. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified commercial properties, which meet exacting standards for energy efficiency, have cleaner air, better temperature control and better indoor air quality (IAQ). Those are all reasons why workers in LEED-certified are generally more productive.
Your employees don’t feel very productive when they get sick. Fortunately, a commercial HVAC upgrade can help in that department as well. If your new HVAC system includes improved ventilation, it will reduce occupants’ exposure to viral particles and other airborne health threats. And because newer HVAC technology also operates more quietly, there will be fewer intrusive noises to distract your employees from their work.
Keeping your commercial property’s visitors happy is no less important. Shoppers report they are likely to spend more in stores with higher IAQ. Retail stores also report higher sales when they maintain consistent temperatures: 74-76 °F in the summer, and 68-70 °F during winter. If your current HVAC system can’t be trusted to treat your guests to a comfortable shopping or dining experience, than that is reason enough to take action today.
Do you own or manage a commercial property in the greater Sioux Falls, SD area? Then we welcome you to contact Haugan Heating & Air Conditioning to learn how you can save money on energy and repairs – and make more money by promoting better comfort and health – today!