Fall Is the Perfect Time to Install an Economizer
Are you looking for ways to save on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) energy costs in your Illinois business? Consider retrofitting your rooftop unit with an economizer.
While homeowners in Naperville consider fall’s cool temperatures the best time to winterize their air conditioning units, business owners and facilities managers know that the demand for cooling and ventilation in commercial buildings continues well after autumn arrives.
Fall is the best time to use an economizer because the equipment will make use of the autumn temperatures to keep energy costs down, lower utility bills, and give your hard-working HVAC system a break.
At Amber Mechanical, our commercial services team of qualified pros can guide you through the process of retrofitting your rooftop system with an economizer. You may already have this energy-saving tool installed in your system but if it it is not maintained, if a damper is stuck or a control switch has malfunctioned, you may not realize it even exists.
Our experts can confirm if your rooftop unit is equipped with an economizer that is operating correctly, and we can make any needed repairs. We also install and maintain commercial HVAC systems.
How an Economizer Saves Money
An economizer can cut costs by periodically using outdoor air to cool the inside of your building. Essentially, the economizer takes on the job of the air conditioning system, providing you with “free cooling.”
The economizer’s sensors evaluate the outdoor air temperature and humidity level in Naperville and compare them to indoor settings. When the outdoor air produces the same temperature and humidity levels set indoors, the economizer’s actuators open dampers that allow the outside air to enter the building. They also direct air to circulate through and out of the building.
While the dampers are open, the cooling system shuts off, saving energy and money on electric bills.
Economizer Advantages
In addition to saving on energy costs, an economizer takes the pressure off the air conditioning system’s workload. It can prolong the usable service life of the HVAC system because the air conditioning compressor does not operate constantly.
An economizer also improves indoor air quality (IAQ) by increasing ventilation with fresh, outdoor air.
Maintenance is key to running your HVAC system and economizer at peak efficiency. Our expert technicians at Amber Mechanical can ensure the economizer sensors and actuators function correctly and that dampers move easily.
Use Energy-Saving Technology
Approximately half of the nation’s 5.9 million commercial buildings were constructed more than 40 years ago, before many products that boost energy efficiency existed.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that a little over 10 percent of the buildings surveyed for its Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption survey three years ago used an economizer. The report also found that of the buildings included in the survey, 26 percent used programmable thermostats—but only 5 percent used smart thermostats. Just under 20 percent of the buildings used an automation system for heating and cooling.
Install a building automation system that puts HVAC monitoring tools and controls together on one platform. Doing so makes it easier and faster for facility staff to start and stop units, track energy use, check the temperature, and ensure the system is functioning correctly.
Other energy savers include smart thermostats, zoning to heat and cool specific areas within a building, and demand control ventilation systems that adjust air intake based on occupancy.
Take Steps to Save on Energy Costs
Consider upgrading the HVAC system in your Naperville, IL, building with an economizer. At Amber Mechanical, we offer products and services designed to save on energy costs for all kinds of buildings and uses. Call us at 1-800-59-AMBER or request service online.