Electrical and Mechanical Upgrades: Exhaust Fans

What can be done to save energy besides lighting?  Lots of stuff!  If it heats, cools, modulates or can be turned on or off, then SmartWatt Energy can help make it more energy efficient!  This post is part of a series detailing systems and areas where potential energy savings can be found in your commercial or industrial facility.  If you’re interested in a comprehensive energy efficiency solution for your facility, contact us to learn more about a complimentary energy analysis.

Exhaust Fans

Exhaust fans are a great opportunity for energy savings and are usually in multiple locations throughout your facility.  Think about it, every restroom has an exhaust fan!

Where can I save energy?  Most exhaust fans run all day every day, even when not needed.  Installing a control system that detects when the fan needs to be on and when it can be turned off will result in huge energy savings.  For example, in most restrooms, the exhaust fan is always running even when the restroom is not occupied or has not been used in hours.  The control system that is installed will act like an occupancy sensor, turning the fan on when the restroom is occupied and turning it off after the room has been vacant for a certain length of time.

Exhaust fans that are running 24/7 are constantly exhausting conditioned air—air that cost you money and energy to heat or cool.  By turning the fans off when they are not needed, the loss of conditioned air is reduced-saving you energy from running the exhaust fan and conditioning the air.