Industrial Energy Efficiency: Key Considerations for Facility Design and Construction

The industry is a huge energy consumer since not each branch can be energy efficient. When it comes to facility design and construction phases, there are many considerations regarding the environmental impact. Also, following the regulations on energy efficiency is a must, even when dealing with specific situations. This article covers some industrial energy efficiency tips and benefits, as well as specific considerations…

The Benefits of Industrial Energy Efficiency

When talking about benefits, the first thing that comes to our mind is reduced energy consumption. Then, optimising the efficiency during the construction process minimises the greenhouse effect, making the industrial facility more sustainable. 

As a result, a specific factory or facility sets new standards and regulations to promote energy efficiency, encouraging others to take similar actions.

Design Considerations for Energy Savings

Building an energy-efficient facility is not as easy as it seems. It requires quality materials and different approaches, which means more money in the early phases. But that also means proper insulation, high-performance windows, and air sealing techniques that will isolate the building, and make it easy to cool or warm from the inside. 

Even the building process needs to be adjusted to sustainable processes, like streamlining the material movement and investing in quality materials. 

When planning the facility, daylight and natural ventilation must be considered, too, as they directly contribute to more efficient lighting and HVAC systems. So, the windows and skylights must be properly placed, to ensure there’s enough natural light. At the same time, the natural airflow can ease the cooling or warming as needed.

Construction Considerations for Efficiency

When it comes to construction, it’s important to select quality materials that indeed impact the facility’s energy performance. As you suppose, energy-efficient materials should be thermal resistant, provide insulation, and minimise heat transfer through the walls. 

Proper construction also means that air leaks should be minimised while maximising the insulation performance. It is a concern that even when materials are sustainable and efficient, building designs aren’t. 

That’s why the suggestion is a combination of energy-efficient designs to get the most out of the quality materials. 

Maintenance and Monitoring

Building a well-designed industry facility with quality materials is not always enough for sustainability. Surely, such buildings require regular maintenance to maintain sustainability. That’s why every company must commit to an ongoing monitoring program, to ensure everything is fixed on time.

This way, the airflows can be immediately spotted, as well as the potential problems that may lower the energy efficiency of the facility.

Energy Efficiency 

Energy efficiency must be everyone’s priority. From design to construction and materials, it’s important to plan the whole project carefully. This approach results in cost savings, reduces environmental impact, and meets all the ecological regulations needed. 

As a result, the business buildings are high-performing, sustainable, and eco-friendly. This approach must be a priority for every new facility planned to be built. While it’s not easy to do that, mostly because of the expenses, it’s absolutely necessary and recommended to follow strict ecology and environmental regulations instead of letting cheap materials and designs increase the maintenance expenses.