The statement of lower energy costs equals higher income is a fair statement. With the economy in a slump in the past few years, right now is absolutely the time to find ways to decrease our expenses as much as possible. Unfortunately, real estate owners do not have total control in charging higher rental rates reduce their overhead costs. Because of the economic slowdown, real estate owners are compelled to decrease their rental rates. And during this challenging economy, solar heating tubes are an excellent long-term investment for property owners.
In rental contracts wherein heating and water expenses are part of the terms of the lease, solar heating tubes offer the opportunity for property owners to significantly decrease costs associated with these utilities. Installing solar heating tubes can be done rapidly and effectively without the tenants being inconvenienced. Making this change to solar heating tubes can be good for increasing profits from a property investment because of lower energy costs.
The regular cash outlay to heat the average commercial office building in the US was approximately $28,000 in 2008. Prices of utilities gave no appearance of depreciating in the near future. Therefore, the option would be to either increase the rent when the time comes for contract renewal, or find ways to significantly lower energy costs. Doing the latter not only insures occupancy, but it also puts some of the money (that would have been allocated to providing hot water and heating to tenants), back into the property owner’s bank account.
How much spending on utilities can be reduced by replacing old heating systems with solar heating tubes? This depends primarily on how much investment the property owner is willing to make. Of course, more solar heating tubes translate to more hot water (for once getting into hot water isn’t a bad option). In being more aggressive, the commercial building owner can better position himself to capitalize on the other financial upsides of solar energy besides heating water; which is being able to generate their own electric power to decrease their total energy costs.
Providing the commercial property with airconditioning can be costly as well. To cancel a part of these costs; the roof area that otherwise would be serving no purpose, can be used as an installation area for additional solar panels. In effect, the real estate owner can offset electric power costs through the year by using the current they themselves generated to power the water pumps necessary for the water to be circulated throughout the solar heating tubes.
To reiterate, a very aggressive solar energy plan will yield higher money savings nearly immediately. Every property whether industrial, residential, or commercial has different types of of utility and energy needs that have to be provided. But no matter what the size, or design of the building to be constructed or retrofitted, it is possible to attain lower energy costs through the utilization of solar heating tubes, wind generated or solar generated electricity, or even a combination of all three solar options. Getting a good cost estimate from a reputable expert is always a good idea. Technology in the alternative energy field is evolving. The contractor you work with needs to actively follow the advances in the industry, so he can better advise you on the most efficient and latest customized solar energy solution, to help you achieve lower energy costs and increased improve your bottom-line.
Craig Axelrod is VP of Business Development for Emmy Energy, a NY clean energy operation delivering solar heating tubes & solar electric systems throughout the Northeast.
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