First step is to always institute an Energy Awareness Program

HVAC System (Heater and A/C)

• Make sure your HVAC system(s) is the correct size for the building
• Tune your HVAC equipment yearly, with this, make sure it is clean and free of debris and blockage
• Install programmable thermostats
• Limit who has access to the thermostats
• Relocate thermostats to optimal locations
• Periodically calibrate thermostats, make sure thermostat setting equals actual space temperature
• Change your air filter regularly, usually every 2-3 months
• Set thermostat to 78°F in the summer and 68°F in the winter - energy usage increases 6% to 8% for each degree  
• Adjust thermostats to avoid energy use when your office is closed, optimize start off and end time, consider coasting last hour of operations
• Adjust ventilation in low or unoccupied spaces
• Outside A/C units or condensers should be in the shade and free from debris
• Use ceiling or portable fans; a room can be cooled by 4 to 6 degrees with the use a fan
• Check for leaks and seal heating and cooling ducts, attic access area, also recessed lighting
• Make sure your attic is properly insulated
• A lower temperature on your thermostat will not cool your building faster; the temperature set is just the target comfort zone that you set for your A/C
• Install VFD Variable Frequency Drives and VAV Variable Air Volume Systems
• Install heat recovery equipment (enthalpy wheels, heat pipes) to optimize conditioning of ventilated air
• Do not use humidifiers or evaporator coolers in addition to your A/C 

Water Heater 

• Set the temperature of your hot water heater to 120°F
• Insulate water heater with an approved hot water heating insulation kit that can be found at your local hardware store or home improvement center
• Drain you water heater tank regularly to remove sediment build upInsulate warm water pipes
• Install low flow faucets, toilets and shower heads
• Keep all faucets free from leaks, especially hot water leaks because they are continuously using energy to reheat the water that is being lost 

Lighting 

• Turns lights off when you leave a room
• Replace incandescent (the common round ones) light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs and HIDConvert T12 to T8 and T5
• Use high efficiency LED EXIT signs
• Install timer controls, photocells or motion sensors for exterior lighting
• Use workstation task lighting 

Electrical Equipment/Computers 

• Turn off electrical equipment/appliances when not in use
• Use power strips, even when turned off, most electronics and appliances continue to consume electricity when plugged in
• Don’t leave chargers for cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, etc… plugged in when not in use
• Turn off computer when not in use
• Use power strips for your computer and its related equipment and turn them off here, too
• Turn off printers, copiers, faxes when not in use
• Set the sleep mode for your computer for a few minutes after being idle instead of more, such as half an hour 

Appliances

• Unplug any refrigerator or freezers that are not in use
• Keep the condenser coils on the back of your refrigerator and freezer clean
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer full, they operate most efficiently this way
• Only run a dishwasher with a full load
• Turn off the heated dry setting on your dishwasher and use the air dry setting instead
• Turn off coffee maker/warming plate when not in use  

Ventilate, Insulate, and Weatherize  

• Proper attic ventilation will reduce temperature and moisture buildup
• Reduce air leaks in your building by caulking, sealing and weather-stripping all seams and openings to the outside
• Consult a local nursery,  trees and shrubbery can add shade that cools your building during the summer and can be a wind block during the winter
• Replace single pane windows with energy efficient windows or add solar shading or tinting film
• Use shades or curtains to block the sun and heat during warm summer weather
• Install or repair weather stripping or door sweeps
• Insulate rim joist 

Janitorial Practices 

• Clean one floor at a time
• Clean during working hours 

Commercial Food  

• Turn off equipment not in use
• Create a start up and shut down schedule for all equipment
• Position your cooling equipment as far away as possible from your cooking equipment so refrigerators/freezers do not have to work harder to keep cool
• Do not keep refrigerators/freezers temperature settings lower than necessary, this can waste energy
• Keep doors shut and seals tight on cooling equipment, continued opening and closing causes temperature fluctuations and the unit to work harder to cool down
• Perform scheduled maintenance on the units  

Upgrade Outdated Appliances with Energy Efficient Models 

• Buy energy efficient office appliances and equipment: refrigerators, copiers, computers, monitors, etc…
• Visit the Energy Star website for more information www.energystar.gov 
• Upgrade a refrigerator that is 10+ years old – a new Energy Star approved refrigerator uses about half of the energy of a 10-year old conventional model
• Consider a tank less water heater, they heat water as it is used and are up to 45% more efficient
• Replace your central A/C system if is 7+ years old – an Energy Star approved A/C can use 20% less energy than your old one

• Switch to green power
• Reduce water use
• Buy local; reduce fossil fuel consumption for transportation and plastic and paper needed for transport
• Buy low VOC (volatile organic compounds) products, such as paint and cleaning products, these products will not have the same harsh toxins as the high VOC products; look for non-toxic, biodegradable options for cleaners.
• Save a tree, buy 100% post consumer recycled for all your paper needs
• Buy unbleached paper, bleaching can create harmful byproducts, that can accumulate in the air, water and soil over time
• Remove yourself from junk email lists, contact the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service at P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512 or www.dmachoice.org.
• Opt out of credit card or insurance offers at OptOutPrescreen.com or by calling 888-567-8688, a single automated phone line maintained by the major credit bureaus.
• Carry reusable shopping bags, so no to “paper or plastic”
• Reduce use of plastics: bags, bottles and more, plastic is petroleum, the processing and burning of which is considered one of the main contributors of global warming, according to the EPA, plastics in a landfill increases greenhouse gases
• Use environmentally friendly flooring such as bamboo, cork or eucalyptus which has fast rates to replenish themselves; other choices are linoleum, recycled content tile or non VOC carpet
• Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection for your home
• Use native plants, their adapted to your soil and climate, which will save you time and money nurturing them
• Leave grass clippings on lawn, they decompose and make good fertilizer
• Minimize use of pesticides
• Keep indoors plants, some plants are particularly effective absorbers of harmful pollutants emitted from carpets, furniture, and electronic equipment. So clean your indoor air and "green" your living space by filling your home with spider plants, Boston ferns, rubber plants, and palm trees.
• Use manual, human-powered equipment instead of electric appliances, such as: manual can openers, whisks, walk behind lawn mowers
• Recycle old cell phones, batteries, televisions, anything electronic; don’t put it in a landfill
• Build a compost pile
• Install a rain barrel that can collect rainwater, plants love it
• Buy organic linens
• Don’t dry clean your clothes, dry cleaning solutions are highly toxic
• Donate used goods to charity, don’t throw them away
• Use durable goods, such as a cloth napkin at dinner instead of paper towel, use a real plate instead of a paper plate
• Don’t forget to recycle glass, plastic, aluminum cans and paper

Building energy simulation is the science of estimating the energy interactions within a building. These interactions include the direct purchase of energy, such as electricity for lighting or natural gas for heating, but also the exchange of energy due to such things as the infiltration of air into a building or the heat generated by a building's occupants. Simulation attempts to account for these factors, plus many more, in determining the heating, cooling and ventilation loads within a building, the equipment types and sizes needed to meet these loads, and the cost to operate this equipment plus other non-HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) equipmen.

Building energy simulation is used as a tool in the design of buildings, for determining compliance to building standards and for the economic optimization of building components. It can be used on buildings of any size, from one zone residential houses to multi-zone large commercial buildings, or any occupancy, such as schools, offices, hospitals, supermarkets, etc. There are different methods of building energy analysis which vary in complexity, but all have three common elements, the calculation of space heating and cooling loads, the load on secondary equipment, and the energy requirements of primary equipment. Secondary equipment is that equipment which distributes the heating, cooling or ventilating medium to the conditioned space, while primary equipment is central plant equipment that converts fuel or electricity to the heating or cooling effect. Generally, as a method becomes more complex it becomes more accurate. However, the improved accuracy usually comes with increased effort and time to perform a simulation.