by Larry Van Sant

An Energy Tune-Up for Your Business

Just like your car needs regular tune-ups and maintenance, so does the heating and cooling system in your office and building space—and it will make a difference in your bottom line.

Energy conservation is a hot topic among individuals and companies alike, and energy consumption is increasingly becoming a hefty line item in operating budgets. But it’s also a cost that can be controlled. So what can companies do to be more environmentally friendly, lower their energy bills but still maintain a comfortable work environment?

Planned maintenance can help reduce the energy consumption of your HVAC system and have your system performing to optimum efficiency. You’ve heard it before—planned maintenance works. Think of your HVAC equipment like your car. In fact, it runs more than your car, and needs routine service before it leaves you hot or cold. Air conditioning and heating systems need to be maintained because they operate all year long.

The good news is that most mishaps can be prevented by a planned maintenance check-up.

• Change filters regularly because dirty coils become less efficient in transferring the energy to cool or heat the space—and they can cause severe damage to your equipment if left unattended. Dirty filters also restrict the airflow, and require the system to operate longer to achieve the desired temperature.

• Refrigerant leaks can result from rubbing and vibration, and if left unattended, can cause your HVAC equipment to perform poorly and even worse, cause costly repairs. Equipment replacement costs can run $2,000 to $2,600 per ton, depending on the system.

• Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest and cost-effective ways of reducing energy consumption, slashing use up to 25 percent according to the U.S. Department of Energy. These thermostats allow you to set your temperature at one setting when your office is open, and another temperature setting for when you’re closed. Most also have a third setting for weekends as well. Some thermostats have a sensor at one location, and the actual thermostat in a separate secure location to prevent tampering with the temperature settings.

• Zoning your system can also result in lower energy bills. Zoning divides the space into smaller areas that require heating and cooling but not necessarily at the same time. Therefore, the system isn’t sending the air to the spaces that are not requiring it at that time. Although it can be costly to install, it normally requires smaller equipment and lower operating costs.

• Duct leakage can cost upwards of 15 percent of the entire heating and cooling bill. When your air ducts are not sealed, the cool and warm air escapes before it ever gets to the outlet. It may be going into the attic or ceiling—anywhere but where you want it—and it’s costing you money and comfort. This problem can be resolved by sealing the duct with the proper material and applying the proper tape on the joints. Think of your duct system as the veins in your body, and the heating and cooling unit as the heart. Regardless of how good your heart is, if your veins can’t get the blood to the right spot, then things don’t work properly. You can install a unit with the highest efficiency rating, but if the duct system isn’t correct, you will not get the results you hoped for.

• Replace your old unit. Sometimes it’s best to replace your equipment. Today’s air conditioning and heating equipment have higher SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings and HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor) ratings than ever before. This results in fewer repairs, less expensive energy bills and energy conservation to keep your building green. Many manufacturers have leasing programs that spread the cost of the new equipment over 5 to 10 years to lighten the initial investment.

Everyone is talking green, but keep in mind: you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to help the environment, and it will save you money and improve your comfort.

Larry Van Sant is the president and CEO of Mount Airy-based Van Sant Inc., which offers full service plumbing and HVAC services. Visit www.vansantinc.com for more information.

Green Roofs Bring Nature and Technology to the Top

by D. Yvette Shirey

When Mt. Airy’s Black Ankle Vineyards searched to find the most efficient way to hold their wine at a stable temperature, a “green roof” was the most logical solution.

“We have always respected the land,” said owner Sarah O’Herron. “So, we echoed that in the building of our winery. We used resources from the farm including our own wood and stone to create the building. The living roof was a natural complement.”

What O’Herron and other businesses have learned is that “green” or “living” roofs, which are completely or partially covered with plants and vegetation to help absorb rainwater, not only provide insulation to better control building temperatures, they also create a habitat for local wildlife.

“Green roofs are an example of how nature and technology can mesh to help conserve our natural resources,” said Evan Diamond, vice president of W.H. Boyer, a landscape design and installation firm in Glenwood, Md.

A typical “intensive” green roof is a multi-layered system consisting of a waterproof liner, insulation, soil and gravel layers, and a variety of lowgrowing succulent or herbaceous plants. Green roofs relieve sewer systems by reducing and delaying stormwater runoff. With one to five inches of soil depth, the living roof has a greater capacity to absorb water. A green roof also acts as a filter for particles and dust, which helps to reduce pollution. The soil and dense vegetation cover act as insulation to enhance energy efficiency and sound absorption.

The dense vegetation of a green roof provides sun protection and extends the life expectancy of the roofing system. In addition to creating habitats that attract birds and butterflies, the plants improve air quality by consuming carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

The Environmental Protection Agency currently requires federal development projects to minimize stormwater runoff to protect water resources. This has driven the installation and maintenance of green roofs to become a specialty industry all their own. The General Services Administration already has integrated a green roof strategy and has installed more than one million square feet of these beneficial rooftops. The Clean Energy Stimulus and Investment Assurance Act of 2009 provides for residential and commercial incentives that will further the growth of this rising market.

In addition to tax breaks and grant funding offered by the federal and local governments, lending institutions such as Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, PNC Bank and others offer competitive programs specifically for green improvements to the home and business.

Along with government office buildings, green roofs are growing more popular for local schools and universities that are taking advantage of the funding opportunities and natural benefits.

• A 2005 study of a green roof’s impact on air quality in Singapore documented a 37% reduction in sulphur dioxides, and a 21% decrease in nitrous acid and particulate matter.
• A conventional roof should last anywhere between 15 and 20 years. It is believed that a green roof can double or triple a roof’s life as some green roofs in Germany have reached 90 years with many passing the 130-year mark.
• Green roofs can reduce total stormwater runoff volume on average by 50%–60% and in certain conditions can fully retain individual storm events.
• Over the entire year, total energy demand is estimated to decrease by 1% with a 0.5% reduction in fall/winter season and a 6% reduction in the spring/summer months.

Don’t drain your business

by David Eisnerresident and CEO of Dataprise, Inc.

Power-hungry computer systems can prevent an organization from becoming more energy efficient, making it challenging for an IT department to make “green” options a priority while also keeping an eye on the bottom line. It is estimated that organizations spend up to 10 percent of their IT budgets on energy. On the other end of the spectrum, the disposal of old computers and related equipment contributes to environmental pollution.

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Renewable energy is growing. The time to invest is now.

by Patrick M. Haley (CEO and Founder of BridgePath Scientific)

Green energy sources are growing like a weed. Right now, biofuels – broadly defined as any solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of or derived from biomass or waste products – are capturing about $23 billion of the $1.3 trillion we spend each year to power our vehicles. That’s just two percent of the market. Thanks to engineering and science, this energy source has suddenly become competitive with oil, catapulting it from a backyard business into a global economic phenomenon. To say we’re at the forefront of a growth curve is an understatement.

Major governments from the world over have pushed this revolution by writing it into law. The United States, the European Union, Japan and China have all passed statutes mandating that biofuels be increasingly used to replace crude oil products. These rules are designed to reduce emissions and dependence on foreign crude. Consumption in the United States grew from 25 million gallons in 2004 to 78 million gallons in 2005, a 300 percent increase in one year. Also, more than 80 percent of commercial trucks and city buses in the United States run on diesel, making the potential market for biodiesel in this country huge.

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