It’s time for spring, and with it comes bright skies and warmer weather in South Florida. As we begin moving into the warmer seasons, now is the time for commercial property owners and facility managers to begin thinking about how to save energy, and money, with their commercial HVAC systems.
As temperatures and humidity levels begin to rise, efficient HVAC operation becomes essential for businesses in South Florida. All Year Cooling is here to help ensure your commercial HVAC system is running as efficiently as possible.
Welcome to Spring In South Florida
South Florida’s unique spring weather presents certain challenges for commercial HVAC systems. Unlike other regions, spring temperatures can reach as high as the mid-80s in South Florida. This combines with humidity levels that can reach higher than 70%, leading to increased energy consumption and the need for commercial HVAC systems to begin working overtime to maintain comfortable indoor environments.
Some of the key challenges for HVAC systems during spring in South Florida include:
- Extreme temperature fluctuations between morning, afternoon, and evening
- High humidity levels that require consistent dehumidification in commercial environments
- An increase in tourist activity, which leads to more frequent door opening and closings, disrupting the indoor environment
- The generation of solar heat through windows and building surfaces that lead to additional cooling needs for indoor spaces
Begin with an Energy Audit
The best place to begin when considering more efficient HVAC performance is to have an energy audit performed every spring. An energy audit looks at the amount of energy your commercial HVAC system uses, along with an inspection of the entire HVAC system and the facility to identify areas that are costing your commercial business money through inefficient energy usage.
An energy usage audit can identify if repairs or possible upgrades to the HVAC system will help it run more efficiently. Identifying other areas such as poor insulation, and structural issues can help facility owners or managers pinpoint areas for facility improvements.
Essential Energy Saving Strategies for Commercial Businesses in South Florida
Where should commercial facilities begin when considering how to reduce energy consumption and lower their operational costs during South Florida’s spring season? Considering early spring temps can range from the low 70s to mid 80s, and then swing drastically to the high 80s with high humidity by May, having a few energy-saving strategies to rely on is essential.
Here are a few suggestions.
Smart Scheduling and Programming
One of the simplest things facility managers can do to save energy is to install smart thermostats and take advantage of the scheduling and programming features they offer.
With smart thermostats and scheduling, the temperature can be adjusted for both open and off hours, reducing the amount of energy spent when nobody is in the building. With this technology, it’s also possible to put zone control systems into place and regulate the climate of different areas separately.
Regular Maintenance and System Optimization
Preventative HVAC maintenance is essential for maintaining efficiency throughout every season. At least once a year, it’s important to schedule a maintenance visit with a professional HVAC service provider. During this visit, they’ll inspect the ductwork, address any issues contributing to a decrease in efficiency, and ensure that thermostats are calibrated properly.
In addition to an annual maintenance check, facility managers will also want to ensure that filters are changed regularly, some requiring monthly changes. Additionally, coils should be cleaned several times per year.
Building Envelope Improvements
Don’t underestimate the importance of making building improvements to increase energy efficiency. An HVAC service provider can assess the current HVAC system and other areas that are related to the system and its entry points.
Other service providers can look for additional ways to improve the building’s thermal performance. For example, sealing leaks around windows and doors, adding insulation, cool roof solutions, and the installation of automatic door closers, especially in buildings with a high amount of foot traffic during the spring.
Advanced Technology Solutions for Saving Energy
- Variable Frequency Drives
Variable frequency drives, also known as VFDs, are one of the most important technological advancements for commercial HVAC system efficiency. VFDs control the speed of the electric motors in the HVAC system, varying the frequency and voltage of the power supply. With traditional HVAC systems, the motors operate at a constant speed and voltage, which is set at 100% of its capacity, regardless of the demand for cooling or heating.
VFDs automatically adjust the speed of the fans to meet the real-time cooling needs. As an example, the fans would run lower in the early morning hours when the building requires less cooling, reducing motor speed by as much as 50%. It would then automatically adjust later in the day, as cooling needs increased.
Considering South Florida’s spring climate, where cooling needs can vary significantly throughout the day, VFDs can create significant energy savings for commercial businesses.
- Smart Building Controls
We briefly touched on smart building thermostat controls above. With a smart climate system for the building, it’s possible to monitor cooling needs in real time and make adjustments as needed. Smart systems can also be integrated with local South Florida weather forecasts, and adapt the building’s cooling accordingly.
Additionally, these systems can provide predictive maintenance alerts to help facility managers more effectively schedule routine maintenance and proactively address needed repairs.
Best Practices for Implementation
Staff Training and Engagement
Most commercial facilities have a team that works in the building every day. Ensuring this team is up-to-date and trained on best practices for saving energy is key to success.
This can begin with implementing a comprehensive training program that includes:
- Proper thermostat operation
- Important energy saving protocols
- Emergency procedures that involve the HVAC system
- How to identify signs of system issues
- Information about regular maintenance schedules and what they include
Monitoring and Reporting
The best way to know if the HVAC system is running at peak efficiency is to commit to regular monitoring practices. These should include tracking energy consumption patterns, keeping a record of HVAC performance issues, comparing current energy usage with usage from past spring seasons, and keeping thorough records of any maintenance done on the system.
Having these types of records in place can help facility managers quickly identify if there have been changes in the cooling system’s efficiency.
Seasonal Preparation
South Florida is known for drastic weather and temperature shifts in the spring. This is the perfect time to schedule maintenance visits to ensure the following have been addressed before the spring, and then the summer, heat hits in full force.
- Coil cleaning
- Thermostat calibration
- Air filter replacement
- Refrigerant level checks
Looking Ahead to Spring in South Florida
Implementing energy-saving strategies for commercial HVAC systems in South Florida requires an approach from multiple angles. This includes considering advanced technology, keeping track of changes in cooling performance, and connecting with an expert heating and cooling service provider in South Florida for a springtime maintenance check.
By following these simple guidelines, commercial facilities can save energy and reduce their cooling costs this spring, while maintaining comfortable indoor environments – even with fluctuating temperatures and humidity.
For more information about putting these energy saving strategies in place, and to schedule a professional assessment of your commercial HVAC system, we invite you to contact our team at All Year Cooling today. Our experts are always available to help you develop a customized plan that maximizes your cooling system’s efficiency and minimizes operating costs to protect your bottom line.