4 Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption on Your Property

The energy consumption of your properties is something that every property manager should be aware of and actively monitoring in order to limit the amount of energy and money used for their properties operation. Nobody likes a high energy bill, and oftentimes it can be difficult to find the source of high energy consumption on your own. In this blog we will be going over some common areas that should be looked at for improvement if you are trying to get your energy costs down and your profits up. 

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Light Bulbs / Light Fixtures

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Many property managers still use old technology like fluorescent or incandescent bulbs in their property, and although this may not seem like a big issue, the sheer volume of lightbulbs on most properties make their consumption add up quickly. Older light fixtures also draw quite a bit of energy and can end up hurting your bottom line if they are not replaced. Switching to more energy efficient bulbs like LEDs and new light fixtures can have a huge impact on your energy consumption and save you money long term. LEDs are also brighter which means you can increase the visibility on your property or use less bulbs overall which can also contribute to a lower energy bill. Another thing to remember is that natural light is your best friend when it comes to limiting the amount of energy your lighting requires. Keeping windows open during the day and allowing the natural light to enter the space can keep visibility high while limiting your energy consumption to almost nothing. 

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Thermostat

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Heating and cooling your property accounts for a significant portion of your overall energy consumption. So making sure this system is of high quality and running efficiently is key to keeping your energy costs down. Outdated thermostats could cause you to be using unnecessary power to either heat or cool your property, and can also cause the air in your property to be less comfortable. Another way thermostats can cause energy consumption is through human error. Forgetting to adjust the thermostat either in the evening or during times of seasonal changes in weather can have very expensive consequences. This is where a smart thermostat can come in handy and make sure your energy consumption is at a minimum. Smart thermostats allow you to schedule and automate the heating and cooling of your property to ensure you are never using more energy than you need to. Replacing your old thermostat with a new smart thermostat also reduces the risk of your thermostat malfunctioning, giving you peace of mind that your property will be comfortable year round while remaining energy efficient.

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Windows / Insulation

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Insulation and windows are usually not what first comes to mind when someone thinks of ways to reduce energy usage. However the quality of your windows and insulation have a big impact on the energy consumption of your property. This is because thin windows and insulation allow more air from outside to seep into your home, and vice versa. This means cold air can get into your home easier, and hot air can leave it easier. This is especially a problem if your property is in an area that experiences cold winters or hot summers, and will lead to your heating or cooling system working much harder than it needs to. Although improving your windows and insulation will come with a fairly large up front investment, it will pay for itself over time in the form of energy savings, noise reduction and improved overall comfort. 

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Water Temperature

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Heating water for washing machines, showers and other uses requires a lot of energy, so reducing the amount of hot water you are using on your property can make a big difference in your overall energy usage. One big way to help this is purchasing modern washing machines for your property and getting rid of your old ones. Using hot water to wash clothes used to be the standard practice and therefore most if not all older washing machines still use hot water to wash clothes. However newer washing machines are designed to use much less hot water and replace it with cold or lukewarm water instead. This one appliance upgrade can have a big impact on your overall energy usage and keep your energy costs down. 

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How to Know When you Should Source Help

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If you find that you are having trouble finding the cause of your high energy usage, or want a second opinion on your own assessment of your energy usage, consider calling in a professional to take a look. Professional Electricians will know exactly what to do to make your home more energy efficient and use their expertise to get the job done quickly and at an affordable price. This is where VendorPM comes in and can help you find the right person for the job. VendorPM allows property managers to quickly search through thousands of vendors to find the right person for you, and with features like past reviews, you can be confident that you are hiring someone who will be able to get the job done right the first time. 

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Birnie Electrical Contractors

Mississauga, ON

Birnie Electric has been in business for over 54 years and is a is viewed as a top 10 electrical contractor in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Birnie Electric provides electrical and technology services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors for property managers, facility managers, plant managers, building owners and general contractors.

Polan Electric

Mississauga, ON

Established in 2007, Polan Electric has earned a valuable reputation in the GTA for providing a professional, reliable, and cost-efficient service to all clients. Providing electrical services within the retail, commercial, domestic and industrial sectors, they take pride in having the ability to deliver projects on time and within budget. Polan Electric Ltd has become one of the GTA trusted electrical installation and maintenance contractors. Specializing in design, installation, and maintenance of electrical installation across the GTA.

F.I.X. Lighting Maintenance Services a Division of JORSTACO Ltd

North York, ON

We are Specialists in electrical installations, LED lighting, lighting maintenance . We provide services to a range of businesses, offices, residential projects, outdoor installations and entertainment centres just to name a few. Thriving on a reputation of high quality craftsmanship and deadline delivery, our expert team cater to clients both large and small. The high quality of our results, personalized service and minimal disruption to businesses ensure that we welcome clients back again and again.

Dynamic Energy Services Inc.

Burlington, ON

Dynamic Energy Services is a full-service lighting retrofit company specializing in energy saving illumination and controls upgrades. Since 1996, DES has been providing energy efficient lighting solutions to the Canadian market. DES is a specialty lighting contractor, capable of providing lighting solutions for a diverse range of applications ranging from general illumination to highly specialized solutions. DES delivers industry leading lighting retrofit project services in all provinces and territories in Canada.

Ozz Electric Inc.

Concord, ON

ENERGY MANAGEMENT Helping you with your bottom line, whether fuelled by the costs involved with energy savings or the need to reduce your overall carbon footprint, let us help you find the solution! We are industry leaders in: Lighting Retrofits, including LEDs and Occupancy Sensors CO Monitoring Systems BAS Thermal Scanning and Power Quality Analysis Electrical Service Work Variable Frequency Drives Energy Audits Solar Installation and maintenance Battery Storage Turn-key Solutions EV Chargers Data/Comms

Trace Consulting Group Ltd.

Toronto, ON

Trace Consulting Group Ltd. (Trace Consulting) is a multidisciplinary Consulting Engineering firm, providing Mechanical and Electrical Engineering design services and project management for retrofit services and renovations. We are licensed and authorized by Professional Engineers of Ontario and are LEED® Accredited. Trace Consulting is also a proud associate member of ACMO, GTAA & CAI. We carry Professional Liability Insurance to provide coverage for all projects. Trace Consulting has been selected as a top 10 construction industry leader, in 2019 & 2020, by GTA construction report.