Author: Kevin Jensen

I have written quite a few articles about energy savings from building HVAC and lighting, but haven’t yet discussed opportunities related to the plumbing system.  Probably the best and easiest opportunity comes from installing low-flow fixtures.  For new construction, low-flow fixtures are most likely required by code but they can also be a great opportunity for retrofitting or remodeling.

A low-flow fixture uses less water than an older fixture.  For example, an older toilet may use 3.5 gallons per flush while a low-flow toilet would use only 1.6 gallons per flush.  Some toilets even have an option to select a half flush for liquid waste to reduce usage even further.  Faucets used to use more than 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM), but low-flow options use less than 1.5 GPM and can be as low as 0.5 GPM.  Residential shower heads previously use as much as 7 GPM with newer models using only 2.5 GPM.

However, less water isn’t always better.  It is important that the fixture can still perform the duty assigned to it (pardon the pun).  One of the big criticisms of early low-flow toilets was that they weren’t able to efficiently flush solid waste down.  These issues have thankfully been addressed in newer designs so that this is no longer a concern.  The owner may have specific requirements for utility or kitchen faucets where a low-flow fixture may not work well.  Outside of special considerations, low-flow fixtures are usually the way to go and are often required by code.

Using less water will obviously save the building owner on water service costs.  Considering the return on investment, low-flow fixtures typically don’t cost much more than a regular fixture so the paybacks are usually quite reasonable.  An added benefit for a facility with an onsite sewage facility such as a septic tank is that the total drain capacity may be reduced.  For new construction, this could mean the ability to install a smaller tank and drain field or avoiding costly changes during a remodel.

If you are thinking about making changes to your building or are just wondering what you can do to save money, consider hiring us to complete a Small Business Energy Audit.  We will review your building and provide you with options for saving money.  We’ll also review utility incentive programs to help cover the cost of the improvements. Our goal is to provide an affordable service that a business can use to reduce their energy costs.  We are happy to work with you to find a solution that fits your budget.  If you own or manage a building and are interested in an audit, please contact us today.

Congratulations to Woof & Wander in opening their new location in Downtown Rogers.  We were honored to have been a part of the design team for this tenant finish-out project.  One of the best feelings as a design professional is to see your designs constructed and put to use.

Below are a few more pictures of the project.  You can see more of our past projects on our portfolio page.

One of the most common questions I receive from homeowners is whether or not they should replace their home’s lighting with LED bulbs.  The answer to this question depends on a few factors, and it only starts with looking at the energy savings.

LED lights definitely save energy over compact fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.  However, if a light is typically turned off then it doesn’t matter what bulbs are installed because no power is being used.  Homeowners tend to turn on lights rarely and then only for a few minutes.  When considering the energy implications of LED lights, you’ll want to target lights that are on for a significant length of time such as a security light, living areas and night lights.  Whether or not the energy savings will save money can be determined with return on investment calculations.

However, even though installing LED lights may not save you much in energy there are other factors to consider.  If you have a fixture that is hard to reach, installing an LED that lasts 30 years could save you some maintenance time in the future.  If you don’t like the blue-ish light typical of CFL bulbs, then you can buy an LED that is tuned to just the perfect light color temperature.  LED lights also put off less heat than incandescent bulbs which can save you money on your cooling costs (but you’ll pay more for heating).

These factors can also apply to commercial buildings.  For instance, a light in a maintenance closet that gets turned on for 5 minutes once a day during cleaning may not save the building much energy with an LED in place.  However, the rest of the lights that are on all day are most likely excellent candidates for retrofitting or replacing.  If maintenance is a concern, LED lights can reduce the need to replace bulbs.  Fixtures can be selected to help keep office employees alert or set the perfect mood for a retail space.  Since they also put off less heat, it’s important to perform an analysis to make sure the building can still be heated and cooled properly after retrofitting the lights.  Additional savings may be possible after removing all those mini-space heaters!

If you are considering LED lights for your commercial building, consider hiring us to complete a Small Business Energy Audit.  We will review your building and provide you with options for saving money.  We’ll also review utility incentive programs to help cover the cost of the improvements. Our goal is to provide an affordable service that a business can use to reduce their energy costs.  We are happy to work with you to find a solution that fits your budget.  If you own or manage a building and are interested in an audit, please contact us today.