When considering renovation projects for your business as summer approaches, you might want to think about ensuring that those renovations improve the energy efficiency of your structure. It will save you a bundle while reducing your business’ impact on the environment.
You can lower your energy expenditures to get ready for the hot days of summer in several ways, but exterior renovations are going to have the biggest positive impact. Here are a few renovation projects you can undertake to prepare your business for summer.
WINDOWS. Replacing your windows will have an impact on the energy efficiency in your place of business. Replacing single-pane windows with double-pane windows can save over $300 per year in energy use, according to some sources. If you don’t think you need to actually replace them, take the time to ensure they are sealed around all edges, and use inside features such as insulated curtains.
ROOFING. There are lots of options these days for creating a cool roof, green roof or another environmentally friendly roofing surface. Most buildings will lose a lot of heat through their roofing, so take the time to inspect your insulation each year to make sure it’s in good shape and effective. Insulation helps keep the temperature in your building steady and combats seasonal heating and cooling cycles. It also protects a roof from potentially costly damage later in the year through its ability to prevent snow from melting and freezing on your roof in winter months.
INSULATED SIDING. Insulated vinyl siding has a foam backing and keeps heat inside the home and is low-maintenance, so you won’t have to repaint every few years. Using other external materials like wood, brick or stone will require you to make sure the envelope of your structure is tight and well insulated in order to avoid heating and cooling inefficiency.
EXTERIOR DOORS. Air leakage around doors reduces energy efficiency and costs money. Weatherstripping only stops a certain amount of leakage, so choose a good door that has a high Energy Star rating when you are renovating your business premises.
MISCELLANEOUS. Planting trees to shade your premises will help to prepare you for the summer, as will fixing any cracked and peeling caulking around exterior openings.
When it comes to renovations to prepare your business for summer, the team at Ascension General Contractors is here to help!
