Lean Management and Energy Savings

Optimize equipment performance first.

Published April 2008

The average commercial building should be able to easily reduce energy consumption by 30%. Don’t charge off on renewable energy initiatives before you first optimize your energy usage. You will save big on energy costs without the investment of added equipment costs. For a fast, high return on investment initiative, look at your air handling fans with an eye to changing fan speeds or duty cycles. Another energy saving opportunity is to use occupancy sensors as an alternative to CO2 sensors. Occupancy sensors offer substantial energy costs savings with minimal capital cost. And to get workers to use public transportation (which is a lean management practice), simply pay for it – that is, offer free public transportation commuting.

- From Tradeline’s Lean Management Processes for Facilities Management and Capital Projects Conference 2008