Properly sealing and insulating ductwork helps your HVAC system perform better and reduces energy costs.

How it works
Your ducts transport conditioned air from your furnace to the rooms in your building. If there are leaks, tangles, crushed ductwork, or missing or damaged insulation, your system is not efficiently delivering air into your facility.

Step-by-step

1. A professional, licensed HVAC contractor can inspect your ductwork and test for leakage indifferent ways, depending on the size of your facility.
2. Check for obvious damage throughout your duct system. Focus on ducts you can easily access, such as those in attics, basements and garages. If it looks like any of your ductwork is damaged or disconnected, you probably have leaks. Excessive condensation and insulation with water damage are also signs of a leak.
3. Once you know where your ducts are leaking, they can be sealed and insulated to save energy.
4. Use mastic, a special sealant, to seal duct joints and any leaks you find.
5. Insulate accessible ducts to prevent air leakage. The Department of Energy has information to help you determine what type of insulation to use. A qualified weatherization contractor can also plan out a solution that’s right for your facility.

Extra benefits
If you have a variable volume HVAC system, the cost of running your system also goes down when your ductwork is sealed and well-insulated. Less air will be required to accomplish the same amount of heating.

Leaks in your HVAC system are hidden. Once found and corrected, you should feel the difference in your workplace and can see a difference on your monthly energy bill.

When pipes and valves aren't properly insulated, they release heat to their surroundings, affecting room temperatures and causing your HVAC system to work harder to maintain a comfortable environment.

How it works
Hot water pipes transfer heat to their surroundings. Insulation substantially reduces heat loss and saves energy on water heating.

Step-by-step

1. If you don't hire a specialist who knows how to match insulation to piping, make sure you purchase the appropriate type of pipe insulation at your local hardware store. A salesperson can help you select the right kind and size.
2. Install the pipe insulation in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
3. The insulation should be installed securely, without damage. Do not compress the pipe insulation that reduces its effectiveness. Insulate all hot water pipes or at least those within three feet of the water heater and insulate the first three feet of cold-water inlet pipes as well.
4. Insulate all hot water pipes or at least those within three feet of the water heater and insulate the first three feet of cold-water inlet pipes as well.

Good to Know
Avoid hazards. If you have a gas water heater, keep insulation at least six inches clear of your hot water heater flue. Extreme temperatures from flue gases can damage your pipe insulation and may result in a fire hazard if applied improperly.

Choose the right insulation. Be sure to choose quality pipe insulation wrap. Fiberglass insulation will work as well if securely taped around the pipes. You can also find and use pipe sleeves. Usually made from neoprene foam, pipe sleeves, with an inside diameter that matches the outside diameter of your pipes, should be taped, wired or clamped face down and secured every foot or so with acrylic tape.

Extra benefits
Insulating pipes not only conserves water but also keeps the water temperature more consistent as it flows through the pipes. This allows you to keep the water temperature setting lower and protects your staff from extremely hot water. Insulation also softens the noise of water running through the system and may make your workplace quieter.

Some of the biggest barriers to keeping your facility cool in the summer are your windows. When the sun shines in, the AC system runs longer. Covering your windows can make a big difference in the size of your energy bills.

How it works

• Window treatments insulate your windows and control solar heat gain. Blinds, drapes, roller shades or other coverings can limit the amount of sunlight and heat transferred through your windows. The same coverings can help you take advantage of heat from the sun and let in warmth during the colder months.
• When window treatments are installed, you have control over how much sunlight and heat travels through your windows. By controlling the heat flow, you can use the sun to your advantage and reduce your heating and cooling costs.
• With the addition and use of window treatments, businesses have reported reducing their annual energy use by as much as 15%.

Step-by-step

1. Select the appropriate window dressings for your building and your budget. Consult the Department of Energy's Energy Savers website to learn about the energy saving benefits of various types of window treatments.
2. Install your window coverings or hire a professional for installation. Many window covering providers include installation with your purchase.

Good to Know
It's smart to get your employees to assist in maximizing your energy savings. Give them the freedom to close the blinds when it's too hot or too cold. This can increase employee satisfaction and productivity.

Extra benefits
Use of window treatments can reduce glare and increase your employees' comfort.

Keeping employees comfortable is key to productivity. That’s why it’s important to make sure furnaces and boilers run at peak performance in the wintertime.

How it works
Furnaces typically heat air directly while boilers use water to deliver heat to each individual space. Well-maintained furnaces and boilers transfer heat more efficiently.

Step-by-step

1. Check your heating system on a regular basis (at least annually before heating season) to make sure your furnace is operating safely and at peak efficiency
2. Replace the filter for your furnace every three to six months. This takes pressure off your fan system and improves the air quality in your space.
3. For businesses with boilers, conducting a tune-up can help gain more efficiency and life out of the equipment.

Extra benefits
In addition to increasing efficiency, heating system maintenance can help prevent dangerous malfunctions like carbon monoxide leaks or fire hazards.

Utility costs are a big part of your overhead. By replacing your old heating system with a new, energy-efficient furnace or boiler, you can save up to 15% on your heating costs.

How it works
Furnaces and boilers provide space heating to buildings. Furnaces use air to transfer heat, while boilers use water to deliver heat to each individual space.

Older furnaces and boilers had efficiencies in the range of 56-70%, while modern conventional heating systems can achieve efficiencies as high as 98.5%.

Step-by-step

1. Determine whether your heating system needs to be replaced. Most furnaces and boilers last around 15 years.
2. Ask the licensed contractor to determine which size and type of system would work best in your facility.
3. Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label to easily identify high-efficiency models. When comparing new models to each other, certified furnaces are up to 15% more efficient than non-certified ones, while certified boilers are up to 14% more efficient than standard boilers.
4. Other features can improve operating efficiency, such as electronic ignition or sealed combustion.
5. Have the new system properly installed. During installation, check the storage tank and all pipes and pipe fittings to make sure they are well insulated and that all heating elements (radiators, ductwork, etc.) are in good shape. These should be repaired if necessary.

Extra benefits
A new, efficient heating system can also be less noisy and provide more comfort to your employees.

Offers and Incentives text
The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program has rebates when upgrading to high-efficiency furnaces, condensing boilers and non-condensing boilers. See the current rebate offerings at nicorgas.com/bizrebates..

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ENERGY STAR certified fans have been shown to use up to 50% less energy than other models. They can also help improve air quality and control moisture.

How it works
Fans that earn the ENERGY STAR designation are more efficient due to the arrangement of the fans and shape of the fan blades.

Step-by-step

1. Choose the right size and model for your business.
2. Consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR certified model. Visit www.energystar.gov for a list of certified products. The designation is available for several different kinds of fans, including small exhaust fans, ventilation fans, and kitchen range hoods
3. Consider a fan with a Variable Speed Drive (VSD) or Variable Speed Motor (VSM). VSDs adjust the fan speed and dramatically reduce fan energy consumption when less airflow is needed.

If your current gas heat pump is over 10 years old or you currently have an electric furnace or baseboard heating, install an ENERGY STAR certified gas heat pump to save on heating costs. These models can reduce electricity use for heating by 50% compared to electric resistance heating.

How it works
Gas Heat pumps efficiently transfer heat rather than generate it, providing cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. By moving heat between indoor and outdoor spaces using electricity, they deliver greater energy efficiency and cost savings for your business.

Step-by-step

1. Before installing the new system, seal any air leaks and improve your building's insulation to achieve better performance.
2. Consult a licensed HVAC contractor to help you choose the right size and model of gas heat pump for your business.
3. Consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR certified model. Visit www.energystar.gov for a list of certified models.

Good to Know
Most ENERGY STAR certified gas heat pumps are sized for residential or small commercial applications. For larger systems or questions on what is right for your facility, contact a licensed HVAC engineer.

Capturing and reusing waste heat generated by compressed air systems can help reduce your facility’s space-heating and water-heating needs. In some applications, heat recovery systems can reclaim up to 80–90% of the energy used by air compressors, lowering energy costs and improving overall system efficiency.

How it works
Air compressors generate a significant amount of heat during operation. Rather than allowing this heat to be exhausted into the surrounding environment, a heat recovery system captures it and repurposes it for facility heating, process heating, or water heating applications. By putting this otherwise wasted energy to work, businesses can reduce fuel consumption, lower operating costs, and improve overall energy efficiency.

Step-by-step

1. Consult a qualified compressed air system professional to determine whether your facility is a good candidate for heat recovery. 
2. Install a heat recovery system designed to capture and redirect waste heat from your air compressor system. 
3. Have the system commissioned to ensure it is operating efficiently and delivering the expected energy savings.

Good to Know
Most heat recovery systems for air compressors capture heat from the compressor’s cooling system and redirect it for space heating, process heating, or water heating. The amount of recoverable heat depends on factors such as compressor size, operating hours, and facility heating demands. Consult your contractor to determine the most effective heat recovery solution for your operation.

Over time, HVAC equipment naturally degrades and loses functionality. It's important to maintain and periodically retro commission HVAC equipment to extend its life and keep it at its maximum efficiency.

How it works
The retro commissioning (tune up and repair) processes depend on the type of HVAC system installed in your building. Experienced contractors can ensure that controls are operating properly and that all systems are fully functional.

Step-by-step

1. Contact your HVAC systems and controls contractors to request a free maintenance and repair bid or search for commissioning firms (called commissioning agents) near you for expert assistance. 
2. Other systems in your facility may also be good candidates for retro commissioning. The retro commissioning project may be more cost effective if it focuses on your whole building rather than just one system.
3. Schedule the retro commissioning project with your preferred contractor and scope.

Good to Know
Your building could be a good candidate for retro commissioning even if it has been LEED certified and is new. A great tool to get an initial and ongoing building energy performance metric is the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager.

Extra benefits
After retro-commissioning, your facility may feel more comfortable.

If your HVAC system uses boiler heating, it has steam traps that capture condensate and return it to the system to be reheated. Leaky or failed steam traps can waste energy, increase heating costs, shorten equipment life, and lead to higher operating costs and energy usage.

How it works
Steam traps collect condensed steam (hot water). Once a certain amount of condensate has been collected, a valve opens that allows the condensate to escape while keeping non-condensed steam in the system. Oversized traps may let steam slip out of the system with condensate, while failed traps fall open, allowing a continuous release of steam and energy.

Step-by-step

1. Develop a plan to inspect and test traps regularly for proper operation. 
2. Repair or replace broken traps as needed. 
3. U.S. Department of Energy notes that steam traps should be inspected regularly because failures can occur over time, and systems that haven't been maintained for 3–5 years often have a substantial percentage of failed traps.
4. Make sure your replacement is sized correctly for your HVAC system.

Extra benefits
The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program has rebates for various steam trap types, submitted with or without a survey. Check out the available rebates at nicorgas.com/bizrebates.

The installation quality and quantity of the insulation in your building has a huge impact on its energy demand. Adding insulation can lead to savings of 10-20% on heating and cooling bills.

How it works
Insulation adds a permanent thermal barrier in your building's walls, ceiling, and floor to reduce the loss of heat.

Step-by-step

1. Professional option: Have a professional determine which areas need insulation and have the professional install it. If you are remodeling or expanding your building, this is a perfect time to evaluate and enhance your building's insulation.
2. Do-it-yourself option: Add insulation to your building's walls, attic and crawl spaces. All insulation products are designated with an "R-value," which indicates how well the material resists heat transfer. A higher R-value means more insulation. Contact a professional or visit the Department of Energy website to make sure you use the right type of insulation with an appropriate R-value.

Good to Know
By sealing air leaks and improving insulation at the same time, you increase your energy savings even more. Air leaks in and around insulation can decrease the effectiveness of the insulation. Before replacing your HVAC system, consider enhancing your insulation. With better insulation, a smaller system may be sufficient. For more information about proper air sealing and combustion safety protocol, contact a certified professional.

A programmable thermostat can be programmed to optimize the starting and stopping of your HVAC system considering outside temperatures and your building's occupancy schedule. It can provide substantial savings on your annual energy bill by adjusting the settings or turning off your system intelligently. You can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.

How it works
A programmable thermostat automatically changes your building temperature set point to an energy saving level when your building is unoccupied, then reactivates it to ensure a comfortable temperature in the building when people need it. They can also adjust the start and stop time based on outside air temperatures and previous usage patterns stored in onboard memory.

Step-by-step

1. Purchase a programmable thermostat offering 365-day scheduling and optimal start stop features. 
2. Set the unoccupied setting to off. 
3. Schedule the heating temperature 5–8°F lower during unoccupied hours in the winter. Because buildings retain heat for a period of time after the system cycles down, this strategy can help reduce energy use while maintaining comfort. You may need to adjust temperature settings and scheduling times to find the right balance between efficiency and occupant comfort. 
4. If you have more than one HVAC system, or one system serving multiple zones, you may need more than one programmable thermostat.

Good to Know
A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts your building's temperature based on occupancy schedules, helping reduce energy use, lower utility costs, improve comfort, and decrease unnecessary HVAC runtime.

Energy is wasted if kitchen equipment, such as backup ovens and holding cabinets, is left on when it's not being used.

Step-by-step

1. Turn off kitchen equipment when it's not in use. 
2. Consider setting a schedule or creating a checklist for staff to turn off equipment at closing or when not in use. 
3. In addition to cooking equipment, dishwashers should be turned off. Dishwashers may contain an internal water heater, which, if left on, wastes heat warming water you don't need. 
4. Turn gas fryers off or place them in standby mode during slow periods, maintain clean oil and burners, and consider upgrading to a high-efficiency fryer to reduce energy use and operating costs. 
5. Don't forget to turn out the lights, too.

Good to Know
Backup ovens and holding cabinets can waste energy when left on. Reduce waste and save with rebates on energy-efficient commercial kitchen equipment.

When heat is lost from your building's water tank, it consumes more energy to raise the water temperature back to the hot water set point.

By wrapping your water heater tank with insulation, you can reduce standby heat loss and save up to 16% on water heating costs.

How it works
Insulation on your water tank works much like a coat works on you. The more insulation, the more efficiently the tank heats water.

Step-by-step

1. Purchase a water heater insulation blanket with a high R-value. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation is at blocking the transfer of heat or cold. Water heater insulation blankets are available from your local hardware store. If you have a larger, commercial heater, you can hire a contractor to select and install the right blanket. 
2. Insulate the top of your tank, cutting holes in the insulation so it fits around the pipes protruding from the top of the tank. 
3. Secure this insulation on top of your tank with tape. Tape is usually provided with insulation kit, but be sure to ask your hardware sales representative if it's included. 
4. During installation, do not compress the insulation as this reduces effectiveness. 
5. Cut a square flap at the water heater's access door for convenient future maintenance. .

Extra benefits
With hotter water in your pipes, you can use less water and energy because the hot water will make it to its destination faster.

ENERGY STAR® commercial gas water heaters can save you as much as 15% on your water heating bills. Super high-efficiency condensing water heaters can save even more.

How it works
Unlike standard gas tank water heaters which vent the combustion gases directly outside, ENERGY STAR certified gas tank water heaters use these gases to heat the water even more. Water heater efficiency is measured by the model's Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) for residential grade equipment and by the model's Thermal Efficiency (TE) for commercial grade equipment—the higher the UEF or TE, the better.

Step-by-step

1. Plan ahead so that you avoid lack of hot water and a leaking tank. Inspect the units for signs of degradation such as rust and water leaks. 
2. When shopping for a new water heater, compare models and choose one with a high UEF or TE. Determine what size and type of water heater will work best for your business, consulting a licensed contractor if needed. 
3. Consider purchasing an ENERGY STAR certified model. Visit www.energystar.gov to learn more and find a list of certified models. 
4. Have a qualified licensed plumbing or heating contractor install the energy-saving hot water heater. 
5. In most local government jurisdictions, a building permit is required and will help you get an installation that meets code and is safe. Call your local building department for more information. .

Good to Know
Be sure to use a professional licensed contractor to perform the installation and schedule regular maintenance for water heaters that require it. Experienced contractors not only make sure your water heater is properly installed, but can check for and repair any related problems that would diminish its effectiveness.

Rebates
High-efficiency products use less energy and can save you money. Rebates for storage and tankless water heater upgrades are available to all active commercial Nicor Gas customers. Click here to find current rebate levels.

Turning off your HVAC system when your business is closed and unoccupied saves you energy.

How it works
It costs money when your HVAC system runs all night trying to maintain a certain interior temperature in your building.

Step-by-step

1. Turn off or set back your HVAC equipment at night. This can be done at the building management system or thermostat.
2. Turn your system back on when you return for work, or program a setback schedule that turns it on automatically each day.

Good to Know
Controllable thermostats can be set to turn your system back on if the space temperature drifts outside of an acceptable range.

Extra benefits
Less use results in a longer life for your HVAC equipment.

If your facility has sinks, efficient faucet aerators can save water and reduce costs. Aerators increase water efficiency without sacrificing faucet flow or performance. For little cost, quality high-efficiency faucet aerators can reduce water use up to 60%, lowering water heating energy needs.

How it works
Aerators are installed on the end of the faucet to restrict the amount of water passing through the fixture by mixing air into the water stream. Efficient aerators reduce the amount of water passing through while maintaining water pressure. Federal regulations require that kitchen sink water flow is below 2.2 gallons per minute. However, newer aerated faucets can achieve as low as 0.5 gallons per minute while still delivering ample water for hand washing.

Step-by-step

1. Check faucets to see if aerators are installed or if each has a threaded tap that allows for the insertion of an aerator. 
2. If an aerator is installed, consider replacing it with a newer model. 
3. If you replace the existing aerator, remove it and take it to the hardware store with you. This helps you choose the newer model in the right size. 
4. Wrap the threads of the faucet with white Teflon pipe tape to prevent water leaks. 
5. Screw the new aerator onto the faucet. Make sure the threads are lined up with the faucet tap. 
6. Test the water by turning on the faucet and ensuring that there are no leaks.