If you’re like most business owners, you’re on the lookout for ways to cut operating costs. Your fuel bills, in particular, may be on your mind at this time of year.
Did you know that your HVAC system consumes as much as 40 to 50% of your building’s total energy usage? Those new high-efficiency furnaces you may have read about can reduce your HVAC energy consumption by as much as 30 to 40 percent, depending on the age and condition of your old system. But what if you’re not ready for a new furnace just yet? Your current system may have years of life left. Or you may need a little time to come up with enough cash to purchase one of those high-efficiency systems. Is there any way to reduce your energy consumption now?
In many cases, the answer is yes. You can actually replace components of your current system to increase its efficiency. It’s called retrofitting and the options available depend on the type of heating system (hot air furnace or hot water boiler) and the fuel that it uses (gas or oil). In many cases, these options are fairly low cost and can pay for themselves in a short period of time.
Retrofitting Your Furnace or Broiler:
Here are some changes that can be made to your heating system to increase energy efficiency.
1. Install a vent damper.
Your furnace or boiler’s vent or flue expels toxic gases generated by the fuel burning process to the outside of the building. If it’s always open, you’re sucking warm air out of the building unnecessarily. A vent damper closes off the vent when the furnace or boiler it not running.
2. Upgrade the ignition.
Older furnaces and boilers have a continuously burning pilot light that ignites the burners. To increase efficiency, upgrade to an intermittent ignition device that only turns on when needed.
3. Install a modulating aquastat.
If you have a hot water boiler, this device can regulate the temperature of the boiler’s water to save you money during warmer periods. Your boiler is probably set around 180 degrees, which is often too high for late fall and early spring. The modulating aquastat can adjust the water temperature based on the outdoor temperature.
4. Add a time delay relay.
Your hot water boiler can take advantage of the residual heat in the water to begin heating your space without actually firing up the boiler. The time delay relay tells the system to circulate hot water for a set period of time before tuning on the burner.
5. Replace the nozzle or burner.
If you have an oil-fired furnace or boiler, you can install a smaller nozzle, or one that burns less fuel, to reduce your fuel consumption. In some cases, the better solution is to replace the whole burner. These can be tricky procedures that require other adjustments to your heating system, so make sure to have this done by a qualified HVAC professional.
Other Options to Increase Efficiency:
In addition to furnace upgrades, there are other changes you can make to your heating system that will save you money by decreasing your fuel consumption:
1. Install programmable thermostats.
Automatically adjusting your HVAC system’s set point during periods when your building is unoccupied lowers your fuel consumption.
2. Replace or insulate ductwork.
In older forced air systems, it’s common for the air ducts to have cracks, holes and inadequate insulation. This allows the warmed air (and cooled air if your air conditioner uses the same ducts) to escape into the crawl spaces and be wasted. Fix or replace the ducts to save energy.
3. Add zoning.
Do some areas of your building have different heating and cooling needs, or different times when they are occupied? Installing zones gives you the ability to control them separately, and save money in the process.
Retrofit or Replace?
The choice to retrofit your heating system or replace it with a newer model is one that needs to be carefully weighed with the guidance of a trusted HVAC expert. First of all, you need to determine if your current system is the right size to meet your building’s needs. If it’s too large or too small, retrofitting won’t solve that problem. You also need to take into consideration the age and condition of your current system to be confident that the money you spend on the retrofit won’t be wasted if the system is likely to fail in a short period of time. On the other hand, if your older system is likely to last another 5 to 10 years with the proper care and maintenance, retrofitting can pay for itself many times over in energy savings.
For more information about energy efficiency and your furnace or boiler, refer to energy.gov.
Worried about your older HVAC equipment, but not sure how to tell when it’s time to replace it? Learn how to make the right decision by grabbing a copy of our free guide: Repair or Replace? A guide to making an informed choice when your HVAC system is down.
