A big part of what I do as Garfield Clean Energy’s building specialist is helping local business owners save money and make their buildings more comfortable. It’s integral to GCE’s work of tapping energy efficiency and clean energy to create a stronger, more resilient economy.

In fact, you might have noticed the recurring ads for “Free building walkthroughs” in this very publication. These on-site consultations allow me to connect with building owners and managers to look for ways that we can support them and our regional economy by reducing the cost of doing business day-to-day.

Commercial buildings represent one of our greatest opportunities for saving energy and often have large “low hanging fruit” ripe for the picking. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that roughly 30% of energy used in commercial buildings is wasted, rather than used to carry out business.

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Some of the problems that are easiest and most cost-effective to fix are things like poorly controlled lighting and mechanical systems and uninsulated hot water pipes. Thanks to generous support from our local utilities in the form of rebates and free energy-saving upgrades, I frequently find ways to reduce wasted energy and expense at low or no cost.

Lighting inside and outside of commercial buildings is a common opportunity for great return on investment, not to mention potential aesthetic improvements to the building. These projects don’t have to be complex, since energy can be saved simply by replacing bulbs or tubes or by adding controls to existing fixtures.

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Also, lighting has come a long way in terms of sophistication recently. It’s now easy to fine-tune the look of the light and to control when fixtures turn on and off. All of our local utilities will reimburse the purchase of efficient lighting and controls.

One local business that has seen value in a major lighting upgrade is the Hot Springs Lodge. They’re currently in the process of installing sophisticated occupancy controls that automatically turn off lights in unoccupied rooms, which will reduce energy waste without impacting the comfort of guests. It’s a big project, but doing it in phases means that it doesn’t require a single major investment and the lodge will start seeing savings immediately. Rebates from Glenwood Springs Electric will help this investment pay for itself even quicker.

Heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) systems are responsible for most of the energy use — and waste — in commercial buildings. Sometimes it’s necessary to upgrade the equipment, but simple adjustments and maintenance can significantly reduce energy usage and costs without the need for a major investment.

A recent consultation with the manager of the Brettelberg Condominiums at Sunlight Ski Resort uncovered huge energy savings opportunities through affordable and easy-to-implement solutions.

As in many of the buildings I visit – homes as well as businesses – heating and hot water are provided by a boiler. In this case, two massive boilers deliver hot water to the condos through an estimated 2,000 feet of uninsulated copper piping. The Department of Energy estimates that adding insulation to bare boiler pipes can reduce heat loss by about 90%, so doing so at the Brettelberg was a no-brainer.

Since mechanical systems often run uncontrolled in commercial buildings, simply reviewing and optimizing the settings and controls can significantly reduce costs without the need to purchase or repair any equipment. In the case of the Brettelberg, the addition of smart thermostats to each condo and daylight sensors on exterior lighting will reduce wasted energy with very little investment needed by the owners or the homeowners association (HOA). The HOA is also going to add controls to prevent snowmelt systems and heat tape from running when not needed.

All of these projects at the Brettelberg will earn rebates from Black Hills Energy and Holy Cross Energy, making them another quick return on investment. In addition, the HOA has decided to help residents reduce their travel expenses by installing electric vehicle charging stations with financial support from Holy Cross and a grant from the Colorado Energy Office.

Another project that I recently supported involved the conversion of an older motel in Glenwood Springs into employee housing for the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA). In this case, the old and very inefficient heating systems were replaced with new equipment that will decrease energy usage while improving comfort in the new apartments. In addition to being expensive to operate, the old equipment was very loud and left the rooms stuffy and damp. The new equipment is much quieter and will provide better ventilation.

Projects like these have the potential to improve the “triple bottom line” — increasing profits, improving comfort and reducing emissions — that people in my line of work are always striving for.

Our team is glad to be able to support the community in utilizing the combination of utility rebates and tax credits that are available to help these businesses improve their buildings. These resources are available for homes too, making this a great time to connect with Garfield Clean Energy to find out how we can help you and your building.

Heidi McCullough is a Building Specialist with CLEER, Clean Energy Economy for the Region, the nonprofit that manages the programs of Garfield Clean Energy.