How can I save money on energy by improving my maintenance program?

Where improvements can be made

In general, these systems and assets are most in need of improvements that also save energy:

• HVAC systems
• Windows
• Older equipment that is still being used on a regular basis
• General maintenance systems
• Lighting systems
• And more, depending on your company

Let’s take a look at each one and where it wastes energy and money.

HVAC systems

HVAC systems are one of those systems that people tend to forget about. This means that older systems could be wasting energy and money, due to improvements that have not been made.

Windows

It is harder to insulate a building if it has windows, which could translate into more energy usage. Out of date windows or older models could be costing companies more than anyone thinks.

Older equipment

It’s tempting to think that when something still works, people can still use it. When equipment is older, it could be another source of wasted energy  behind the scenes, due to higher energy requirements to sustain the equipment. For example, an older refrigerator requires higher voltages of power for it to operate.

General maintenance systems

Maintenance systems are easy to put on a routine and keep them there. Sometimes, this goes on for years and the needs of the company change as well. This creates inefficiency. Therefore, it's important to assess whether scheduled maintenance matches business needs continually as the company grows.

Lighting systems

Finally, when was the last time lights were changed before they burnt out? Older lighting systems can also take up energy.

Most of the time, people don’t think about maintaining these systems. The maintenance that does happen on these systems is only when they break down, or become noticeably inefficient. This is called reactive maintenance. Due to the nature of this type of maintenance, it tends to be expensive and rushed.

Both of these things waste energy over time. That’s before you include such things as human error, simple mistakes over time, and other gaps in your maintenance program. How can companies cut down on these leaks?

3 Ways to Improve your Maintenance Program

1. Evaluate your Maintenance Program and Strategy

The first step in saving energy is by evaluating your maintenance program and strategy. This lets you see where different gaps are in your current maintenance plan.

2. Learn about your Maintenance Options

Next, learning about your maintenance options enables you and your company see which processes may be most beneficial in the long run. For example, you may want to set in place reliability centered maintenance before you implement a preventive maintenance plan.

3. Use a CMMS

Finally, consider a CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) to pull all your maintenance efforts together in an orderly, effective, and centralized way.