October 28, 2002—The Department of Energys Federal Energy Management Program has offered the following checklist for commercial buildings to reduce fuel costs:
For commercial buildings:
- Check/adjust combustion efficiency of gas-fired equipment
- Lower thermostat settings
- Lower setback temperatures
- Optimize morning warmup and night setback controls
- Reduce/eliminate major sources of infiltration
- Minimize use of outside air for process ventilation
- Modify work activities
- Minimize the use of gas-fired refrigeration equipment
In Central Heating Plants:
- Conduct boiler efficiency tests
- Optimize combustion efficiency
- Perform boiler maintenance
- Minimize boiler blowdown
- Optimize steam plant heat balance
- Minimize deaerator steam venting
- Optimize boiler loading
With Thermal Distribution:
- Inspect/replace steam traps
- Inspect/repair condensate return equipment
- Locate/repair steam leaks
- Repair insulation
- Isolate non-essential distribution piping
- Reduce distribution pressure
For more information, contact the Federal Energy Management Program.
