Energy Efficient Buildings:

The Smart Investment

by David Boyer, Founder and Chairman, Aerco Industries

The truth is that managing energy use in buildings is good for more than the environment.

Energy efficiency saves far more money than it costs.  Aerco has witnessed this first hand with many customers since 1969.

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), the average return on investment over a typical mid-sized buildings’ life cycle is roughly 25%. Potentially up to 70% can be achieved when looking at retrofitting existing buildings (see RMI’s analysis, U.S. Energy Information etc. page 86, 87, & 272).   Not very many stock market plays will yield that type of return.

Energy efficiency also adds other very real values, such as increases in:

  • Equipment lifespan (& reduced maintenance costs)
  • Building values
  • Customer comfort and sales, and
  • Employee recruitment, retention and productivity

To realize the benefits of energy efficient buildings requires strategies and solutions that are specifically tailored for each type of building.  RMI articulates the three main options and Aerco can deliver them all:

  1. Replacing or upgrading existing systems.  Over time building systems wear out. Each new system that is bought is an opportunity to save energy because “new” generally means more efficient and less expensive.
  2. Adding new functions to manage energy use.  For example, low cost solutions such as replacing existing thermostats with programmable and/or installing free cooling economizers to existing HVAC equipment will, on average, save up to 30% annually in HVAC energy bills.
  3. Integrative Design. Instead of just upgrading lighting or HVAC systems with more efficient equipment and controls, integrative design combines technologies (old and new) in innovative ways. Read more about Integrative Design.

It is Aerco’s experience in Western Canada that most building owners can achieve a positive return on investment using any or all of these strategies.

Call us today to find the business case that works for your building.