Combining Energy Savings With Your Hallway and Lobby Renovation

5 Energy-Saving Upgrades Demanded in Multi-Unit Housing

In the densely populated areas of New York and New Jersey multi-unit properties continue to be a popular housing option. This statistic is impressive that almost one in six households in the United States live in an apartment or condo.

With the increasing costs of everything, it’s no wonder why building owners and their residents seek lower energy costs. We have the top five for you here.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) reported that if every multifamily property made energy-efficient upgrades, utility costs would decrease significantly across the U.S.

Of course, there are improvements that can be made that benefit the property owners and their tenants.

Upgrade Decorative Lighting:

Without a doubt, the first significant impact is lighting because there are tremendous benefits to installing energy-efficient LED lighting. This is one of the more effective ways to save energy that provides the fastest return on investment.

The first area of concern in multi-family housing is common areas. There are many reasons for selecting the common areas first, and it is the immediate reduction of energy use while keeping residents safe.

Occupancy Sensors Do The Work. 

Using occupancy sensors or vacancy sensors in low traffic spaces such as restrooms, maintenance hallways, compactor rooms, laundry rooms, and stairwells can save between 15 and 30 percent on lighting costs. 

An occupancy sensor is an advanced motion sensor or vacancy sensor that energizes the light when it detects a person in the space and terminates the energy when no motion is detected. The occupancy sensor can be a standalone wall mounted switch or it can be on-board the light fixture.

Tackle the most accessible energy-saving retrofit options first.

Identify the spaces or light fixtures that switching to LED will be easy to accomplish. It is simple to see what can be done without rewiring or using outside labor. The most impactful way to see immediate results is to perform a group or section re-lamping, replacing all lamps in the space. This will only provide a slight impact on energy usage until all the lighting updates have been made.

Why should you replace your old fluorescent lighting in your commercial, residential, or hospitality space? If you still have fluorescent lighting, it is time to swap them out for LED replacement “T” lamps or “U” lamps and it is your choice to use or bypass the ballast.  The efficacy and the quality of light are the two most important reasons to switch, and of course, there are the energy cost savings that LED lighting provides

Outdoor Lighting 

There are two distinct roles that outdoor lighting plays: the first is functional. A well lit public space provides the residents with comfort and security while adding to the second impact of outdoor lighting the aesthetic.  When lighting is done professionally, it can be both comfortable and provide safety.

When an area is well lit, it provides safety; with a nod to the landscape and architectural details, you add dramatization. 

Common Areas:

Common areas are notorious for having “energy vampires” lurking about. It can be as simple as the exit signs that direct people to safety in an emergency in multi-unit and commercial properties. When doing an energy audit to determine what should be replaced, don’t forget the exit sign!

This post is credited to Estrin Zirkman Sales.