While maintenance and repairs are an expected and inevitable part of facility management, there are things you can do ahead of time to help reduce your building’s maintenance costs. Our Facility Performance team shared their thoughts on 3 important practices to help you save on costs in your home or facility:

1. Switch to LED lights

Investing in LED lighting can provide a drastic reduction in energy and maintenance costs in your home or facility. What makes LED’s so efficient? There is a substantial difference in the way they generate light, compared to conventional lighting. According to the Energy Department, LED lighting emits very little heat whereas incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat. It is also made with epoxy lenses, not glass, and is much more resistant to breakage. All of these things combined means that compared to traditional lighting, LED’s have a significantly longer lifespan, which will keep you from changing out bulbs as frequently and save you both time and money. If you’re interested in understanding how much you may be able to save by switching to LED’s, check out this LED calculator.

2. Maintain HVAC equipment

An HVAC system costs thousands of dollars and features a lot of moving parts that wear down over time. A neglected system does not work at its best and you can do a few simple things to help prevent costly damages to your system. Air handling unit maintenance should include cleaning or replacing air filters at least once a quarter. The Department of Energy says that routinely replacing or cleaning your AC’s air filters can reduce your home’s energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent. You might also consider installing a programmable thermostat, which could help you save up to 10 percent on heating and cooling costs a year according to the Energy Department.

3. Close window blinds

The Energy Department states that about 30% of the heating energy is lost through windows and 76% of the sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows converts into heat in summer. They also suggest that window coverings can lower heating and cooling bills by reducing energy loss through windows. On hot summer days, closing the blinds will help keep direct sunlight out of your home and reduce unwanted solar heat gain. During cold nights, heat is lost through windows. Closing the blinds adds some insulation to the windows, reducing heat loss. On sunny winter days, sunlight allowed to shine through windows helps to heat the inside space.

Contact our Facility Performance Group Today!

This is just a glimpse at the many ways you can save on maintenance cost. At Conco, our Facility Performance Group is dedicated to helping you keep your investments in excellent condition. If you have questions about maintaining your property or are looking for someone to help you keep up on all these cost saving measures, reach out to Troy Palmer at 316-943-7111.