About 20 percent of all energy used in the world is consumed by commercial industry. If you own a commercial building, it is vital to think about how to save on energy in order to lower your bills and save the world’s energy supply. Focusing on these areas will have a large impact on the amount of energy that your commercial building uses.

Think about Lighting

About 35 percent of all energy used in a commercial building is spent on lighting. Installing LED lighting can save lots of money because they operate more efficiently than other options. Since they do not get hot, they also can be a great way to cut down on your cooling costs. Consider installing high-quality fixtures as they allow for more of the light to get where it is needed. Make it easy to control what lights are on and off so that people are not turning on more lights than necessary.

Consider the HVAC System

Furnaces and commercial air conditioners consume about 40 percent of all energy in a commercial building. Make sure that you have the right size systems installed as too large a unit costs more money to operate while a unit that is too small will not keep people comfortable lowering productivity. New systems are often much more energy efficient than older systems, and you may discover that you spend less on trying to maintain them. Make sure that you use the right types of heating and cooling equipment such as chillers and towers.

Create a Climate-responsive Design

While many architects are creating climate-responsive designs today, it is possible to retrofit a building with many of these design elements. In particular, look at your windows to make sure that they are letting in as much light as possible without cooking people working near them inside. Think about the amount of insulation, vapor barriers and air barriers that are right based on your climate.

Ponder Roofing

Choosing the right roofing material can make a large difference in your commercial building’s energy efficiency. Installing a cool roof can save on your heating and cooling costs. You may not even need to remove the old roof to install the new one. Think about the different areas of your building to make sure that you are using the right type in each location.

There are many different considerations in creating an energy efficient commercial building. Start with these ideas and use your ingenuity to apply them to your own unique circumstances. Saving energy not only lowers your bills but will help improve the world.