Proposals for Energy Conservation Measures for a Specific Small Business

A case study into energy conservation measures for a specific building has been made. Primary emphasis is directed towards conserving energy necessary for heating the building. Once the building outlay and the scope of energy usage trends are established, different conservation actions are considered. Extensive measurements and observations on the building were made to gather data on areas, materials, thicknesses, and means of heating the building. The goal of such action was to compare the magnitude of heat loss from different sections of the building. With this information it can be understood where to insulate, and the significance of air leaks so that appropriate action can be taken. To improve the way that present energy sources are utilized, suggestions are made to enhance the furnace efficiency, revamp the heating system to eliminate the more expensive electric heat, and supplement heating requirements by burning the waste oil that is available. The possibility of using solar and wind energy is introduced for future consideration. At present, heating costs are about $4300 per year. As an indication of the significance of the research, the resulting savings the first year would be $4200m and annually thereafter, $2900, achievable with an estimated investment of $9200. This projection suggests a simple payback of 2.7 years