“Winter is coming” isn’t just a quote for fans of the HBO TV series Game of Thrones; it’s a cold, cold reality for building owners. As the temperatures have fallen somewhere between “bone chilling” and “icy” across the entire United States this past week, building managers need to start winterizing their buildings if they haven’t already. Immediately.
Buildings are some of the biggest consumers of energy in the country, as the U.S. Department of Energy said they account for 40 percent of all usage. With Constellation reporting that there are 5 million commercial buildings at a running cost of $200 billion, there are plenty of savings to be had during the winter months.
A Yale University study found that reducing drafts in a residential home can cut energy use by 5 to 30 percent. Just imagine how much you can save with proper winterization of a large commercial building, especially those that feature floor after floor of big windows.
Here’s a look at seven things commercial building owners and managers need to be doing before the temperatures dip into freezing and stay there for the season.