Awareness and accountability are the main motivators for a successful energy reduction program. If the tenant energy is billed based on a square foot there will be no motivation for the tenants to reduce his consumption. Even if the tenant energy is metered, it is understandable that tenant’s focus will be on his business and not on energy cost reduction. So how to embark him in our cost reduction program? The building owner must take the lead.
Awarness
We need to look at each building system (HVAC, hot water, lighting, power outlets, process equipment etc…) and understand how and how much each system consumes energy in function of the day, the night, the weekend, the season, the building occupancy etc… By comparing each of the systems energy profile with best in class we can determine which one can potentially provide the biggest energy reductions and the best return on investment. Usually, each system may require multiple improvements to reach the targeted savings. For example, in order to achieved 25% reduction in lighting cost, we may need to reduce the number of hours the lights are on, the number of lighting fixtures that are on at night and weekend, and to replace incandescent light by LED light. We also need to find who are the most energy inefficient tenants and what improvements can be made.
Accountability
The building owner must take overall accountability for the success of the energy reduction program. This includes:
1- Establishment of energy reduction strategy (win/win for the landlord and tenants)including priorities, steps, schedule by building systems and by tenants including the costs, the savings, the return on investment, the different actions, etc…
2- Establish the method for monitoring the progress in our energy reduction journey and make appropriate adjustment as needed.
3- Communicate items 1 to 2 to the tenants. This should include the overall building strategy but most important the strategy and actions specific for that specific tenant. What day to day actions are expected from him (Ex: lower temperature at night), what role and responsibilities the building owner will take, what equipment need repair or replacement, what are the cost the return on investment, how the savings will be shared, how the progress will be monitored and communicated.
4- Start slow, prove to your tenants that the energy reduction program will work. Start with one or two actions only. Best ones are the less costly with decent return.
5- Communicate on a monthly basis the progress made (what actions were completed, which ones are ongoing, what are the next to come, cost so far, energy reduction to date… )
6- Although some equipment maybe under the responsibility of the tenants, look at potential economy of scale for the engineering, the purchasing, and the installation. Most tenants do not have the technical or project management background to deliver such project.
At EnergyToBill we can help you build and monitor your energy saving program. Contact us!