Energy Demands

Office Buildings

Facts

Of all building types, office buildings have the highest energy bills. In the future, all new buildings will likely have automated controls like occupancy sensors and programmable thermostats to make sure unoccupied offices or infrequently used spaces, like conference rooms, don’t needlessly use energy. These high performance office buildings, using more efficient technology, can cut energy usage by up to 50%, and typically only cost around 10% more to build.

Source: US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

With aggressive implementation of various technologies, office buildings could reduce energy consumption by 50% or more. For example, with wireless sensors and controls, energy-using components of future office buildings will monitor when and how much they are needed and will adjust their operations accordingly.

Source: US Department of Energy

In fact, buildings could become net electricity generators rather than consumers with the appropriate use of combined heating, cooling, and power systems, optimized building controls, and the use of solar, fuel cells and photovoltiacs.

Source: US Department of Energy