Working to extend your energy management equipment life
The pursuit of reduced costs is a critical element and constant focus. One effective way of reducing costs is extending equipment life. In this blog, we’ll look at five ways that outcome can be achieved.
Managers are tasked not just with managing buildings but doing so as cost effectively as possible. Particularly in adverse macro-economic situations, maximizing the return on your investments in energy management equipment is vital.
But how can you do that? It’s a question with more than one answer: In this blog we’ll look at several steps you can take to extend equipment life and thereby increase your ROI.
1: Get modern! Use Artificial Intelligence to leverage the data and make better decisions
Data related to usage patterns in a building that is then enhanced by Artificial Intelligence can give new levels of insight into how systems within a facility are used. This information can drive a more proactive approach to many things including key systems maintenance.
2: Deploy Variable Frequency Drives to ease the burden on your motors
A Variable Frequency (or Speed) Drive is a device that can be installed to control a motor’s speed and torque. Most motors are designed and built to rotate only at a set speed determined by the number of magnetic poles built into the motor along with the supply voltage and frequency applied to it. Thus, motors cannot inherently alter their speed even though the different applications they power perform optimally at different speeds. The result? Energy is wasted and equipment works harder and more frequently than it needs to.
Variable frequency drives enable effective speed control of AC motors by manipulating voltage and frequency. In addition to greatly reducing the energy used by the motor, the soft-start provided by variable frequency drives also takes significant wear off of belts and bearings, thereby extending their operational life. Why not think about deploying them?
3: Optimize your HVAC
If you look closely at your HVAC you’ll probably quickly see where inefficiencies exist. For instance, one common issue is improperly calibrated thermostats – as little as 1 or 2 degrees out and these can radically affect the energy usage of an HVAC system especially if it’s operated by multiple thermostats. Other commonly seen inefficiencies are failures of system control, which are responsible for the operation of the entire system, and relying on outdated technology.
Modern, “smart” thermostats may require initial capital investment, but they allow users to adjust temperature controls from afar and utilize algorithms to learn the most efficient comfort level maintenance patterns, creating a comfortable environment for tenants while also optimizing energy usage on the go. Of course, more effectively managing HVAC run-time means less maintenance and reduced wear and tear on HVAC system components.
4: Think about economizers
In Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems, economizers are devices or features that enable a building’s HVAC system to use outside air to cool or ventilate indoor spaces as opposed to solely relying on a mechanical cooling system like air conditioning for the same purpose.
The obvious advantage of economizers is that they improve energy efficiency by reducing the need for mechanical cooling, and in so doing they also extend equipment life. There are two common types of economizer control. The Dry Bulb Method works by introducing outside air to a building when the outside temperature is lower than the indoor air temperature.
The Enthalpy Method considers both the temperature and humidity levels of outdoor air, determining whether it can provide indoor cooling by comparing the total heat content (enthalpy) of the outdoor compared to that of the indoor air. Both methods help to both increase energy efficiency and reduce costs and by reducing the reliance on mechanical cooling systems like air conditioning they extend equipment life.
There’s a lot to think about but in summary, there are numerous options at your disposal when it comes to the question of improving ROI by extending equipment life. There can be some up-front investment required, depending on what steps are taken, but it pays off quickly. The examples of steps that can be taken listed above are just the tip of the iceberg. A thorough audit of your present equipment and operating procedures will almost certainly yield many other actions you could pursue. Why not talk to NexRev?
Talk to NexRev
At NexRev, we’ve been unlocking the power of facility and energy management data with over a million connected devices across North America. Our team of experts is focused on helping you deliver more with your budgets, infrastructure, and assets to create sustainable savings in operations and energy, reducing your risk and increasing operational confidence.
To begin a discussion on how we can help you to reduce energy waste please email us at