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EESI is a U.S. EPA Energy Star Buildings Ally.


Association of Energy Engineers
George Owens is a past president of "Association of Energy Engineers", an "Energy Manager of the Year" and an "Energy Managers Hall of Fame" inductee.


 

Energy Task Force
THE NEXT 100
by George R. Owens, PE, CEM

  1. Always keep the "3 S's" in mind: Do not sacrifice "Sales, Security and Safety".
  2. Recheck all Energy Management Systems "points" to verify that they are still functioning correctly.
  3. Awards to employees having best conservation ideas.
  4. Stagger major equipment (HVAC units, etc.) start times.
  5. Use of national account for best prices.
  6. Better monitoring of service doors at each mall (keeping them closed!)
  7. Examine Preventative Maintenance relating to filter changing, cleaning coils, etc.
  8. Place data on light switches indicating dollars wasted by leaving lights, etc., on.
  9. Vacant space check list.
  10. Zoning of parking lot lights for better control.
  11. Review the feasibility of automatic doors in the vestibules.
  12. Investigate variable speed drives for fans and pumps.
  13. Consider the use of solar film.
  14. Use of lap top computers for controlling the Energy Manage ment System.
  15. Monitoring food tenant HVAC to verify that CFM being exhausted is at least 85% of CFM delivered to tenant.
  16. Charge for utilities over and above any percentage of sales deals made. This will be an incentive for this type of tenant to monitor utility use.
  17. Use diesel fuel for steam cleaning machines.
  18. Turn trash compactor power off at night.
  19. Security to shut off power to electric vending machines at night.
  20. Master metering instead of multiple.
  21. Water conservation through the use of toilet dams.
  22. Caulking when necessary and sealing cracks.
  23. Better tenant coordination by having HVAC personnel review plans and specs to avoid unnecessary running of central plant for just 1 or 2 tenants.
  24. Possible use of ceiling fans.
  25. Reduce parking lot lighting to 25% after closing.
  26. Compare utility bills to Energy Management System data.
  27. Turn personal computers off when not in use, especially overnight.
  28. Include energy items when setting up a merchant and food court tenant review form.
  29. Program into the Energy Management System special holiday hours and special mall events.
  30. Turn off "evening" lights during the day that are at/or near sky lights. This is called "daylighting".
  31. Control each building's demand using the Energy Manage ment System.
  32. Use portable lights for evening cleaning instead of having on all lights.
  33. Tenant self audits, by setting up a form for tenants to do self utility checks.
  34. Having malls survey each other in order to lend an "indepen- dent eye" and perhaps make constructive suggestions.
  35. Bill tenant contractors (or tenants themselves) for utilities used during construction of spaces.
  36. Educate TRC leasing representatives that tenants and/or their contractors are responsible for utility costs during construction.
  37. Properly maintain fountains - less water usage.
  38. Recycle materials from tenant spaces during demolition.
  39. Use of timers on EMP pushcart circuits.
  40. Dating of lamps so that short life can be documented leading to possible rebates from lamp suppliers.
  41. Proper sizing of THVAC units for tenant spaces to match load requirements.
  42. Check tenant thermostats; make sure they are calibrated and installed level.
  43. Turn marquee off during night (i.e. midnight - dawn).
  44. Control of power factor to lower cost.
  45. Bill for energy used during merchants association events.
  46. Turn off coffee machines after lunch.
  47. Put the theme of our Energy Task Force in merchant newsletter.
  48. Turn mall directories off at night.
  49. Turn emergency lights off during the day. (Still must come on during a power outage.)
  50. Suggest that tenants use only 1/2 of their lights during inventory.
  51. Recheck Energy Management Systems start and stop times.
  52. Consider a ducted return system.
  53. Turn the chiller off in water drinking fountains during certain times of year.
  54. Have a home office resource library to be shared with malls having a certain need.
  55. Provide locking time clock thermostats in Offices.
  56. Use time delay light switches installed in remote areas (janitor closets, etc.).
  57. Tighter control of lawn automatic sprinkler systems during inclement weather and winter season. In addition, possibility of having water and sewer company not charge sewer charges for water used for irrigation and cooling tower use.
  58. Tenant and common area water audits to check for leaking and running toilets, etc.
  59. Verification that glitter lights are on a 96 volt system and have definite on/off schedules.
  60. Review feasibility of installing photo electric cells on parking lot lights.
  61. Review Preventative Maintenance Program to improve HVAC efficiencies.
  62. Re-examine tree light operating hours.
  63. Update management training for efficiency in energy control.
  64. Include in the design of new stores separate circuits for store fronts for better energy control.
  65. Adjust freight elevators for proper individual recall functions.
  66. Check economizer set points.
  67. "Lock out" heat after Winter is over to prevent unwanted heating costs during the summer air conditioning season.
  68. Keep skylights clean in winter.
  69. Low E glass on skylights or "smart" glass.
  70. Shift usage to off-peak rates - cleaning, cooling.
  71. Check water meters at night to see how much is used -track it down.
  72. Check electrical meters at night to see how much is used - track it down.
  73. Motion sensors - back of house.
  74. Sub-cool mall during off-peak hours using outside air only. (No A/C).
  75. Timers on hot water heaters - turn off at night.
  76. Electronic thermostats for cooling towers (more accurate).
  77. Separate decorative lights from general lights.
  78. Turn off decorative lighting at closing.
  79. Post "KEEP DOORS CLOSED" signs in service corridors.
  80. Turn off exhaust fans in unoccupied spaces.
  81. Look at using propane or natural gas for vehicles.
  82. Do an Energy Task Force walk-through at night.
  83. Install night setback thermostats on supplemental HVAC units.
  84. Calibrate temperature sensors annually.
  85. Use emergency generator to get a rebate on demand charges.
  86. Start exhaust systems to match opening times.
  87. Use lower wattage halogen lamps to replace incandescent.
  88. "Tweak and Tune" HVAC controls.
  89. Create an energy logo to encourage participation.
  90. Install time switches in Management Office.
  91. Use lower water usage fixtures.
  92. Add rain sensors to irrigation systems.
  93. Properly aim nozzles in irrigation systems.
  94. Use low water usage plants where appropriate.
  95. Use mulch to reduce water quantities.
  96. Provide shade type landscaping for south side of buildings.
  97. Investigate an Energy Management System if none installed.
  98. Use fluorescent lights to replace incandescent in "Back of House".
  99. Contact your mechanical, electrical and lighting contractor to solicit energy ideas.
  100. Contact the Design Department prior to lighting changes in the common areas.
To send comments to George R. Owens, click here: gowens@EESIenergy.com.

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