Structural Adaptations For Increasing Energy Efficiency In An Office Building

Any kind of Minneapolis commercial construction site needs to plan for the climatic conditions

. The sheer range of weather conditions from hot, humid summers to snowy winters leads to a high level of energy consumption.

Ways To Increase A Buildings Energy Efficiency

Office buildings in the U.S. use an average of 17 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 32 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot annually. In a typical Minneapolis commercial construction project, lighting, heating, and cooling represent about 65 percent of the total energy use, making those systems the best targets for energy savings. Long-term measures include changes in:

. Lighting: Consult a Minneapolis general contractor about daylighting options. This consists of installing light shelves high on the inside of a window to shade and prevent glare in the bottom six feet of a floor where most occupants work. The shelves also reflect the daylight up onto the ceiling, which indirectly illuminates a room and reduces the need for extra lighting. If you have old-fashioned T12 fluorescent lamps, replacing them with modern T8 lamps and electronic ballasts can reduce your lighting energy consumption by 35 percent.

. Demand-Controlled Ventilation: Many Minneapolis general contractors use or are familiar with demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) systems, which are excellent additions for offices that have fluctuating occupancies. The DCV senses the level of carbon dioxide in the return air stream and uses it as an indicator of occupancy. DCV systems are particularly applicable to spaces like cafeterias, auditoriums and indoor parking garages.

. Reflective Building Roof Coating: consider painting or re-coating the roof of your structure white or some other highly reflective color. This minimizes the amount of heat the building absorbs and can often result in a reduction of as much as 15 to 20 percent in the peak cooling demand. A Minneapolis general contractor will be able to suggest a list of suitable reflective roof coating products.

Tax Advantages Of Energy-Efficient Technologies

Energy-efficient upgrades not only work to reduce the energy costs of a commercial building. A number of federal and state incentives exist for new, as well as existing buildings that incorporate energy saving measures. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (extended until 2013), for example, contains the Commercial Building Tax Deduction that offers up to $1.80 per square foot for buildings that save at least 50 percent of the heating and cooling energy. Partial deductions of up to $0.60 per square foot can be available to Minneapolis commercial constructions for measures affecting the building envelope, lighting or heating and cooling systems. Moreover, both the House and Senate Energy Bill also include a provision known as the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance Act (REEP), which aims at facilitating the retrofitting of existing buildings nationwide through direct cash incentives.

Researchers believe that electricity demand in the United States will grow by at least 40 percent by 2032. According to the Electric Power Research Institute, energy represents about 19 percent of total expenditures for a typical commercial construction, and energy-related expenditures cost American companies an average of $800 billion annually. Unfortunately, nearly 42 percent is needless expenditure brought about by inefficient energy management. Energy efficient technologies can significantly reduce the operational costs of commercial structures, making it a significant topic for consideration. Consult a Minneapolis general contractor for advice on making your building more energy efficient.

by: Corwin Smith

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