If you have been thinking about retrofitting your commercial HVAC system, then you probably already have a few ideas about why this is a good idea.
Here are a few more great reasons to go ahead with the plan:
Cut Utility Bills
The number one reason we recommend that anyone considering a commercial HVAC retrofit go ahead is that they will immediately see a reduction in their energy bills – often of up to 15%. This drop in costs is a direct result of improved efficiency from new units and better programming and automation potential to make your building smart.
That is a dramatic drop in operational costs, and goes a long way to offsetting the investment you are going to make.
Avoiding Repair Costs
Retrofitting your commercial HVAC system has the added benefit of ensuring that for some time after the system is replaced, you won’t have to worry about repair costs. Routine maintenance is still recommended, but generally, anything that goes wrong within the warranty period on new equipment will be repaired at no cost to you. Typically, it makes sense to replace when major components like compressors or heat exchangers start failing; signaling your HVAC equipment is at the end of its useful life.
Integrated and Remote Management
If your building’s HVAC retrofit includes a new building control system, then you will also be able to program, manage and monitor more systems than ever in your building at a much more granular level.
Not only that, but with the changes in front end interfaces, and the addition of apps and remote management solutions, you’ll also be able to control your building’s core systems from wherever you are – whenever you need to from your mobile device or desktop.
Improved Energy Efficiency
Whether you’re concerned about the environment or not, there’s no way you haven’t been impacted in some way by the move towards energy efficient, green buildings, LEED and other green building best practices.
New equipment is built greener, operates greener, and meets all of the environmental regulations out there right now.
Phase out of R22 Refrigerant
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shared its schedule for the R22 phase out, a significant reduction from the 2014 allocation of R22. By January 1, 2020, there will be no new or imported R22 allowed in the USA. Building owners are going to eventually have to replace HVAC equipment that contains the common R22 refrigerant. The cost of repair parts and replacement refrigerant will likely accelerate replacement.
Air Comfort and Quality
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there are the people who work in your commercial building.
Old, outdated or faulty HVAC systems are one of the primary causes of sick building syndrome, and that can be a major cause for a drop in worker productivity.
Not only can upgrading your HVAC system be imperative to maintaining proper indoor Air Quality, but it can also have a significant positive impact on your business.
Benefits Outweigh Costs
When you weigh the benefits of a commercial building HVAC retrofit, it’s not hard to see that the benefits far exceed the costs. Which our customers can and do attest to, time and time again.
Even on the cost front though, with the investment in infrastructure and the lifespan costs stacked up against savings in maintenance and energy, there’s really no question whether a commercial HVAC retrofit in 2015 is a good idea given the new technologies that are working to make buildings and their owners and managers more intelligent.
Why not make up a list of your requirements, draw up a capital budget, and find out what sort of HVAC retrofit can keep your building competitive in comparison to peer buildings? You may well be pleasantly surprised at what the bottom line for your new system actually is.
