ARCHIVED - Step 4: Invest in Energy Efficiency Retrofits
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Cherry Picking Versus Multiple Measures
Retrofits will not only save energy dollars, but also increase your building's value if you ever decide to sell your property. When conducting retrofits, there is a temptation to tackle each measure one at a time favouring those with the shortest paybacks. In energy management circles, this practice is known as cherry picking. Once all short-payback retrofits have been completed, you are left facing a number of long-payback measures that will become increasingly difficult to justify. The wise approach is to bundle multiple short- and long-payback measures. You will be more likely to complete all retrofits sooner, and you will be able to subsidize long-payback projects with savings you realize through fast-recouping capital improvements. See Step 5: Calculate Your Savings for definitions of simple and incremental paybacks.
The OEE offers a range of documents that provide additional or more complex technical information on specific energy efficiency measures:
Buildings and Industry Publications Catalogue Technical Fact Sheets Energy Management Series CADDET Analyses Series Reports (international)
These and other documents can be ordered through the EII's Publications Web site at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/eii/publications.cfm or the OEE Energy Publications Web site at oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications.
Capital investments in equipment are almost sure to save you energy and money. In fact, energy retrofits can reduce your costs and consumption by an average of 20 percent or more. In addition to cost savings, these measures can add to your facility's aesthetics and increase comfort levels so guests are encouraged to visit again, which translates into additional dollar savings that you can invest in your facility.
This section highlights some possible investments you may want to consider as you work to improve the energy efficiency of your hotel, motel or restaurant. Later in this guide, you will find a number of low- and no-cost Energy Tips for saving energy and money.
|
System |
Estimated Energy Savings* |
Approximate Payback* |
|---|---|---|
| Lighting and Electrical | 0.06 GJ/m2 | 4 years |
| Motors | 0.02 GJ/m2 | 5 years |
| HVAC | 0.20 GJ/m2 | 6 years |
| Domestic Water | 0.09 GJ/m2 | 4 years |
| Controls | 0.07 GJ/m2 | 5 years |
| Building Envelope | 0.03 GJ/m2 | 8 years |
* Figures are estimates from projects that have received energy-retrofit financial incentives through the EII.
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