Your commercial HVAC system uses a lot of energy. No question about it. But there are many components and settings that can make it more or less efficient. For any size building, optimizing your HVAC system can save you money and keep your occupants more comfortable.

Zone-Level Performance

Your zone-level equipment can lose calibration and require repair as it ages. This leads to poorer system performance and lower efficiency. Regular attention will keep the system running better and longer. A professional HVAC technician can:

• Recalibrate your thermostats. Pneumatic thermostats should be checked every 6 to 12 months to make sure they’re functioning properly.
• Inspect your dampers. Zone dampers should be on a regular maintenance schedule. If you have lots of zones in your building, be sure to check a set number of them every year.
• Check the coils. Coils should be free from dirt, debris or clogs. 

Right-sizing Fans

Fans that are too large can be a big energy drain on your system. They can also cause drafts, excessive humidity, and higher noise levels. Right-sizing them to smaller fans can fix all of these problems. You may need a smaller motor to match. Larger pulleys can also help save energy by lowering the system speed and fan power. Adjusting the static pressure in a variable air volume system will reduce horsepower consumption as well.

Modifying System Controls

Ensuring your commercial HVAC system components are appropriate for your building and in working condition is crucial to saving energy. But you can also look at optimizing the way the system operates:

• Optimized scheduling. Make sure your system is set to turn on and off in accordance with expected occupancy hours. This can be modified in the fall and spring when the peak cooling temperatures are usually lower.
• Supply-air temperature reset. When weather is milder, you can raise the temperature of the air your cooling coils supply. This keeps your system from unnecessarily heating air that’s already been cooled.
• Pressure reset. If your system uses a variable-speed drive, save energy by reducing the duct pressure when less air is needed. You can have different settings for different times of day or different parts of the year.
• Air-side economizers. Economizers use outside air to cool a building if the temperature and humidity are mild enough. They can cut energy costs by as much as 10 percent. (Source: EnergyStar “Air Distribution Systems”)

Other Ways to Optimize

Older HVAC system motors may not meet the minimum federal standards for energy efficiency. But a premium-efficiency motor exceeds even modern standards. And energy-efficient belt drives can offer 2 to 5 percent energy savings. (Source: Energy Star “Air Distribution Systems”)

A vibration analysis periodically conducted on your system will help catch imbalances over time as fan blades age. This should be done by a trained HVAC technician.

Making sure your system is getting regular maintenance will help keep it running in peak condition as well. This maintenance should include:

• Cleaning the coils.
• Calibrating (and cleaning) sensors.
• Checking air ducts for leakage.

How we can help

At Aztec Mechanical, we know commercial HVAC ins and outs, especially in the high desert climate of Albuquerque and Santa Fe. If you’re wanting to get your system into optimal shape, contact us today. Our trained and experienced technicians will conduct a thorough evaluation and create a plan to save you energy and keep your system running in top condition