saving energy tip

Save Energy and Costs Through Effective Preventive Maintenance

Everyone’s daily routine includes maintenance. We take care of our bodies to avoid getting sick. Routine care for our cars helps us avoid winding up stranded on the side of the road. Small home repairs such as roof maintenance, prevents bigger leaks and saves costs over time.
Regular maintenance is considered a requirement in so many parts of everyday life. Why should it be different for a building’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system?
Today’s facility managers and maintenance professionals need to keep building equipment and systems assets operating efficiently in order to recognize the return on the investment of system purchases and to ensure the quality and productivity of facility occupants. Improved energy efficiency, lower operating costs and the elimination of unexpected downtime are all among the benefits that can be realized when implementing a preventive maintenance program.
Risks of Avoiding the Problem
The purchase and operation of HVAC systems represents a significant investment over the life of a facility. In fact, HVAC operation consumes a significant portion of a facility’s energy expenses alone. Therefore, deferred maintenance often results in reduced equipment/system performance and life, which can present a significant financial challenge and decrease the asset value of the building.
Properly maintained HVAC systems provide a comfortable working environment that can improve worker productivity or reduce sick time, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). High building Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) makes both economic sense and avoids potential employer liability. Employees who are comfortable in their work environments put forth their best at work, improving productivity.
Studies have shown that the performance of office work can be increased by 1.1 percent for every 10 percent reduction in the proportion of persons dissatisfied with the air quality, by 1.6 percent for every twofold decrease of pollution load, and by 1.8 percent for every twofold increase of the ventilation rate (outdoor air supply rate).” A small improvement in worker productivity can multiply the benefits of energy savings gained by properly maintained, energy efficient HVAC systems.
Maintenance with a Purpose
Facilities managers are advised to implement preventive maintenance programs that will increase energy efficiency cut operating costs and positively impact the overall
Value and life-cycle of the system. Preventive maintenance is one of the best ways to achieve superior system performance.
Scheduled maintenance on HVAC systems allows facility maintenance professionals to lower operating costs by extending the life of their system, reducing the risk of early equipment failure and avoiding unscheduled down time. By scheduling maintenance, facility maintenance professionals plan for analysis and repairs to be performed at the business’s convenience. This will reduce the possibility of occupant interruption and lost productivity.
Regular maintenance on the HVAC system’s interdependent equipment also identifies and eliminates potential future problems before they have a chance to start. Skilled technicians work with facility managers to assess equipment health, maintain spare parts inventories and perform routine inspections so they know when to replace or repair worn parts before trouble might occur.
Scheduled system analysis and maintenance can also help identify and reduce the typical seasonal strain on HVAC systems.
Indoor air quality is made up of a constantly changing interaction of factors, as outdoor temperatures change and systems are forced to accommodate the fluctuating seasonal demands on the building.
Preventive maintenance on an HVAC system can identify any areas of a system that are being strained by constant use and/or any inconsistent factors, while also saving both time and money and extending the life of a system.


Energy and Cost Savings
Preventive maintenance is an effective way to improve system performance and reduce energy consumption, thereby improving environmental responsibility. Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants account for 95 percent of indirect global warming impact, and energy use is the single largest source of carbon dioxide emissions. By improving energy efficiency, responsible maintenance programs assist facilities in meeting their environmental goals.
At a time when energy prices are reaching all time highs, facility managers will want to perform preventive maintenance to increase system performance and reduce operating costs. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, building operation and maintenance programs specifically designed to enhance operating efficiency of HVAC and lighting systems can reduce energy bills by 5 percent to 20 percent without significant capital investment.
Establishing a Preventive
Maintenance Program
Facility maintenance professionals may consider enrolling in a customized preventive maintenance program, or contract, which takes full advantage of manufacturers’ recommendations and HVAC system professionals’ expertise. System manufacturers develop HVAC and facility-specific plans which incorporate system knowledge and operational experience.
HVAC manufacturers and service professionals make system and building performance assessments and maintenance recommendations based upon decades of experience and act as a primary resource for establishing a program of routine and preventive maintenance actions.
Maintenance frequency is a primary consideration when developing a holistic maintenance plan. Facility maintenance professionals appreciate the benefits of routine, yet infrequent system service. Frequency of maintenance is determined based upon the labor and material resources needed to accomplish the maintenance action compared to the building’s goals, budget and maintenance priority.
A balance needs to be found when determining this frequency. More frequent maintenance will increase the probability that equipment will operate efficiently and that problems will be identified quickly or prevented. Conversely, the more often a piece of equipment is maintained, the higher the cost of maintenance and, in fact, the greater the probability of accidental maladjustment.
Facility maintenance professionals are encouraged to work with their manufacturer to strike a balance that will best optimize their specific facility conditions.
Instead of simply defining a calendar time frequency for maintenance action, the ideal situation would call for maintenance to be performed based on runtime, change in energy use, change in performance, or some other significant measurable parameter.
Bringing the Solutions to Life

Much like physical well being, the upkeep of cars and home maintenance, commercial HVAC systems are in need of regular maintenance to ensure quality performance and a lasting life-cycle. Good maintenance practice is critical to an HVAC system’s performance and achievement of expected savings. Facility managers and maintenance professionals are encouraged to reap the benefits of vendor services packages such as those offered by vendors such as Trane to ensure that their HVAC systems are operating at their optimal level.
Professional service and HVAC solution providers can assist facility managers and maintenance professionals by assessing their entire system and develop preventive maintenance solutions and plans to suit their needs. These trained services technicians can also ensure that preventive maintenance is done safely, thoroughly and effectively.

posted by irwanteten @ 6:19 AM