Greater Energy Efficiency and Lower Energy BillsAn energy-efficient building saves you money on energy bills and reduces power plant CO2 emissions, lowering your carbon footprint. As energy bills continue to rise, energy efficiency becomes more and more valuable to business owners.
For the last several years, more than a dozen major metro areas in the US have enacted commercial and multifamily energy benchmarking requirements. This means that existing buildings have to report on their annual energy usage, and receive scores ranging from 0 to 100, based on their performance.
These scores are often made public, and disclosure is required for any real estate transactions that could influence prospective buyers and tenants.
As energy efficiency continues to have more of an impact on building transactions, savvy commercial building professionals are recognizing and capitalizing on this trend with buildings that are designed and constructed to exceed codes and stand out from the competition.
Meeting Occupant Needs for Comfort
Thermal comfort has a big impact on occupant satisfaction. When your building is uncomfortable or has significant temperature control issues, you'll typically have to deal with disgruntled occupants. Insulation and air sealing are key components to driving thermal comfort.
Meeting building codes isn't a guarantee of comfort. ASHRAE has separate standards for meeting occupant expectations for thermal comfort: ASHRAE Standard 55-2013.
It's easy to assume that localized control of heating and cooling is the answer to indoor climate control, but without proper insulation and air sealing, heat will always move to cold areas. This means that occupants have to use even more energy to stay comfortable.
Acoustic Impact
There's a great deal of evidence showing that noise and workplace productivity and satisfaction are deeply connected. A recent survey conducted by Cambridge Sound management shows us that 30% of office workers are distracted by the conversations of others.
Another survey shows that 60% of office employees report being more productive in a quiet work environment.
As trends continue towards more open workspaces, the need for floating walls and glass elements grows. Similarly, so does the issue of noise.
Acoustic design is a complex science that depends on many factors, including the type of building, the location, and the occupancy. Insulation alone can't always deliver a quiet workspace but is an essential part of acoustic design solutions. Different insulation types should be compared for their acoustic properties during the planning process.
Sustainability and Responsibility
In 2015, an estimated 40% to 48% of new non-residential construction was green. As of August 2015, 13.8 billion square feet of building space is LEED certified. Additionally, lease rates for green spaces are up to 20% above average, and we see higher rental prices and decreased vacancy rates.
Comparing and choosing which type of insulation is used in your building is very important for sustainable construction designs. The right insulation contributes to lower energy use, improved indoor air quality, and higher levels of comfort.
Certain types of insulation can also contribute to requirements related to recycled content and the minimization of GHG emissions.