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Winterize Your Business and Reduce The Heating Bill Chills
Between the price of oil and the nation’s current financial slowdown, many
business owners are shivering - and not with cold - at the thought of winter
heating bills. Howard Gruenspecht, acting chief of the federal Energy Information
Administration, has stated that people should brace for higher heating bills “across
the board,” no matter what fuel is used or which region of the country.
“
Heating bills in winter weather are inevitable, but they can be reduced,” said
Stephen Lamb, Executive Vice President of the Mechanical Contractors Association
(MCA) of Chicago. “Now more than ever, business owners need to winterize
their buildings to keep their heating costs as low as possible.”
According to Lamb, business owners who own their office space can save money
by performing basic maintenance.” Businesses that rent or lease space should
work with their landlord to improve energy efficiency,” he added. “In
addition to cost savings, maintenance measures can enhance the health, comfort
and safety of workers by improving indoor air quality.
MCA Chicago and its member contractors recommend the following steps for
winterizing a business.
Be sure to schedule regular HVAC system cleanings and checkups by a qualified
contractor, including regular maintenance for furnaces or boilers. Not properly
maintaining an HVAC system can accelerate wear on the equipment, increase fuel
bills as much as 10 to 15 percent because of inefficient equipment operation,
and endanger the lives of occupants if carbon monoxide seeps in unchecked.
For maximum furnace efficiency, air filters should be replaced on a monthly
basis during the winter season. For forced-air systems, air ducts should be
vacuumed
to remove dust and debris that would otherwise circulate back into the office
environment.
If the furnace has a humidifier it must be serviced to maintain the proper
level of humidity. If indoor air is too dry, it can cause irritation of mucous
membranes
in the eyes, nose, and throat, causing discomfort and impairment of the body’s
natural protection against airborne microbes - particularly important during
the winter cold and flu season.
“
Business owners should consider implementing a yearly maintenance contract for
their HVAC systems,” said Lamb. “Make sure your HVAC contractor will
work with you to establish a schedule of seasonal tune-ups, rather than just
respond to emergencies. Emergencies are what you’re trying to prevent.”
Not only will a maintenance contract save energy, but it will also reduce
the risk of sick building syndrome resulting from poorly functioning HVAC systems.
A report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration stated that
20 to 30 percent of office buildings may have problems relating to indoor air
quality.
If these problems bring about employee illnesses, business owners can suffer
from productivity losses due to lost time, and may face financial liability
for medical expenses.
If a heating system was purchased before 1990, an owner should consider a
high-efficiency replacement to cut down on fuel costs. A programmable thermostat,
which allows
a person to program a lower temperature setting during off-hours, is an energy-saving
investment that can save 10 percent or more on heating bills.
Without a programmable thermostat, the office temperature should be set at
the lowest comfortable setting, or around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Generally,
each
degree change can result in two to three percent savings on a heating bill.
It is never advisable to set the thermostat below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, even
if
the workplace is empty overnight, because indoor water pipes can freeze and
burst, causing costly, extensive damage.
Installing a carbon monoxide detector is an especially important safety measure
in winter. “The use of heaters increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning,” Lamb
said. “Detectors should be in use and regularly tested throughout the
year - especially if sources of possible contamination are present. Hot-water
heaters,
gas ovens, clothes dryers, and car fumes from an attached garage or even nearby
traffic are all potential hazards.”
Air leakage is responsible for significant energy loss in a building and
can produce cold spots. Check caulking and weather stripping around windows
for
cracks and gaps. If energy-efficient window replacements are not in the budget,
consider
low-emittance window coating. This process leaves a special film on the glass
to prevent heat from escaping and reduces the load on the heating system.
Air ducts and joints should be sealed and insulated in unconditioned parts
of an office such as crawl spaces and areas above a suspended ceiling. Nearly
30
percent of heat can be lost through conduction in uninsulated or poorly insulated
and unsealed ducts. A reliable contractor should be consulted to inspect ductwork
and install insulation if needed.
To reduce energy loss from water heaters, wrap the cylinder with a three-inch
thick insulating jacket and turn the heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do not insulate the top and leave controls, valves, warning labels, and air
intakes
exposed. Also insulate cold and hot water pipes. Wrap pipe in split three-fourth-inch
foam tubes with a double thickness at bends where freeze-ups are most likely.
Use duct tape or clips to secure the foam at equal intervals.
Following these simple steps provided by MCA Chicago and its member contractors
will provide increased cost-savings, comfort and safety. “It’s also
a good idea to winterize your residence as well as your business. It’s
a common-sense investment that will more than pay for itself in the months to
come,” Lamb said.
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