When it’s cold, of course you think about your boilers. But it’s easy to forget about your boilers and your heat needs that will crop up again before you know it. For many manufacturing facilities, heating and hot water account for one-third of a facility’s energy consumption. Easy, smart strategies you can implement now in the non–heating season can save you much costs in the future, which will help your bottom line. Here’s a list:

Strategy Potential Cost Savings Up To:

Upgrade/install insulation of boiler, pipes, valves 10%
Upgrade roof and exterior wall insulation 20%
Implement a regular boiler Testing and Maintenance Plan 20%
Clean steam traps 10%
Install additional zones to improve heating control 20%
Switch from No. 6/No. 4 fuel oils to No. 2 fuel oil or natural gas 20%
Install hot water reset control 10%
Install separate domestic hot water unit for boiler summer shutdown 20%
Install thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to control hot water flow 10%
Install door sweeps on exterior doors 1%
Replace any single-pane windows with double-pane high R units 5%

Obviously, don’t take these potential savings listed literally. They are estimates of best case scenarios. Also, these are not additive; don’t think that by implementing them all, your fuel heating bill will go down to zero next year!. However, each of these strategies, if applicable to your needs, will lead to progress in reducing your heating load, improving your heating efficiency, and saving you significant heating fuel costs.

Two final notes about why you should study and implement strategies to reduce your heating bills now is that these strategies can be researched now in the non-heating season and, for the most part, implemented shortly in time for the next heating season and, at the same time, to interfere minimally with your operations. Finally, many states and utilities have incentive programs to pay part of the costs of implementing these strategies. Take advantage to improve your ROI.

CCES technical experts can help you assess your building or manufacturing facility’s heating system and recommend and help implement smart strategies now to save you operating expenses and reduce your fuel dependency.