Energy Solutions

Jeff Wilkinson

Energy Consultant | jeffw@kurtcfs.com

“Energy efficiency in buildings can deliver significant cost savings while improving performance and occupant comfort.”

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Why Consider Energy Solutions

Lower operating costs: Reducing energy waste cuts utility bills significantly, improving your building’s net operating income and long-term profitability.
Increased property value: Energy-efficient buildings are more attractive to buyers and tenants, often commanding higher lease rates and resale values.
Improved tenant comfort & retention: Better temperature control, lighting, and air quality create a more comfortable environment, helping keep tenants satisfied and renewing leases.
Sustainability & compliance advantages: Lower energy use reduces your carbon footprint and helps meet evolving regulations, ESG goals, and incentive program requirements.

What Have The Experts Concluded?

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1.) Average Energy Loss in Large Commercial Buildings

Studies from the U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR consistently show:

20%–30% of energy in commercial buildings is wasted on average

In poorly managed buildings, that number can climb to 40%+

So can this be fixed?

2.) How Much Can Be Corrected?

About 50%–70% can realistically be recovered with existing technology and operational improvements

That translates to:

10%–20% total building energy savings (conservative, low-cost fixes)

20%–30%+ savings with deeper retrofits and system optimization

3.) Where the Loss Actually Comes From

Typical breakdown of inefficiencies:

HVAC systems (biggest culprit): 30–50% of waste

Poor controls / scheduling issues: 10–20%

Lighting inefficiency: 5–15%

Envelope issues (insulation, leaks): 5–10%

Simultaneous heating & cooling (very common): surprisingly high impact

4.) What Fixes Deliver the Most ROI?

From industry data (DOE + ENERGY STAR + ASHRAE studies):

Retro-commissioning (RCx)
→ 5%–20% savings, often fastest payback (under 2 years)

Smart controls / BAS optimization
→ 10%–25% savings

High-efficiency equipment upgrades
→ 10%–30% (depends on age of system)

Low-cost operational fixes (setpoints, scheduling, calibration)
→ 5%–15% with almost no capital cost

Sources (Credible & Widely Cited)

U.S. Department of Energy – “Operations & Maintenance Best Practices”

ENERGY STAR – Commercial building energy performance data

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – Retro-commissioning studies (median ~16% savings)

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers – Efficiency and system optimization benchmarks

Roughly 1 out of every 4 energy dollars is being wasted And about half of that waste is fixable without major capital upgrades

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