The holiday season is here, and we’re excited to share SIG’s 12 Days of Tips! Curated by our sustainability experts, these 12 actionable tips are designed to help you optimize energy, reduce waste, and improve building efficiency. Whether you’re looking to lower energy use, stay ahead of green building standards, or take practical steps toward sustainability, these tips will guide you toward smarter, more efficient practices.
Let’s dive into these expert-approved tips!
1. Track Energy Consumption
Tracking your building’s energy usage with tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is one of the best ways to identify inefficiencies, reduce costs, and improve performance. Monitoring your energy consumption helps you spot trends, optimize usage, and stay ahead of compliance deadlines.
Learn more about ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager here.
2. Find Energy Incentives
Don’t miss out on available incentives like grants, tax credits, loans, and rebates. Contact your state energy office to learn about which incentives you qualify for. By stacking multiple programs, you can maximize savings and get the most out of your energy projects.
Find your state’s energy office here.
3. Stay Updated on Credits
Tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act have changed the way energy credits are calculated. Stay updated on IRS guidelines to maximize your savings and ensure you’re taking full advantage of these credits.
Learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act here.
4. Verify Utility Bills
Checking your utility bills for estimated readings is essential to avoid overcharges. If estimated bills are continuously used, request an accurate reading. This helps you avoid unnecessary charges and ensures you’re getting the most accurate data for your energy use. Accurate data helps you track usage and prevent energy and water waste.
5. Support ESG Requests
Ensure every ESG request is supported by verifiable evidence. 94% of investors suspect companies of exaggerating sustainability efforts in reports (PwC). Backing up your statements builds trust and credibility.
Review the PwC Investor Survey to learn more.
6. Simplify with Visuals
When explaining complex ideas like certification systems, use visuals instead of lengthy paragraphs. Diagrams, floor plans, and examples are much more effective in conveying your message.
7. Know the Project’s Goals
Clarify the project’s goals early to uncover opportunities for applying green building strategies. This alignment helps drive success and ensures sustainability is a core focus.
8. Bring Experts in Early
Bring certification experts into the process early to ensure sustainability is part of the design from the start. It makes green building compliance easier and more cost-efficient.
9. Conduct an ASHRAE Audit
Perform an ASHRAE Level 2 audit on buildings older than 10 years. It helps identify energy inefficiencies and can reduce energy usage by 15%-20% by assessing building systems and operational practices.
10. Use Commissioning & RCx
Implement Commissioning for new buildings and Retro-Commissioning (RCx) for existing buildings to optimize system performance. This can reduce energy use by 8%-20% and improve overall efficiency.
11. Create an Energy Model
Build an energy model during an ASHRAE Level 2 audit for existing buildings. Energy models are a powerful tool for predicting performance and identifying opportunities for improvement, allowing for smarter long-term decision-making.
12. Check Energy Rebates
Check your state’s progress on Home Energy Rebates through the Inflation Reduction Act. You could get up to $14,000 per housing unit for electrification and efficiency upgrades. New construction and multifamily units may be eligible in your state. Income restrictions apply.
And there you have it—12 tips to help you reduce energy use, cut costs, and create a more sustainable future. We hope you found these tips helpful and are inspired to take action! Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Need help with your sustainability goals? Contact us today to learn how we can assist you in implementing these tips and more!
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