It takes a lot of power to run a commercial building, and older buildings tend to be riddled with inefficiencies, leading to significant waste. Taking steps to improve your commercial building’s energy efficiency is one of the most responsible things you can do as a business owner and will lead to benefits like:
- Better indoor air quality and comfort for occupants
- Reduced environmental impact and a smaller carbon footprint
- Lower energy bills and maintenance costs
Responsible House can help you solve your commercial energy efficiency problems. We use building science to find solutions that improve energy efficiency in existing buildings of all types and sizes throughout Central Virginia, including churches, schools, office buildings, multi-family homes, retail shops, and more. As a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractor, we lead with building science to make real, measurable improvements to your buildings. We test, diagnose problems, and design custom solutions to make your buildings better.
Commercial Energy Audits & Blower Door Testing
Commercial building energy audits are a great tool for facility managers and building owners that provide a roadmap for energy efficiency improvements.
Responsible House is a certified energy auditor with decades of experience testing homes and buildings. We use diagnostic equipment, including commercial blower doors, to find the energy efficiency problems in your building.
Able to build a second venue complete with a solar array.
When testing is complete, we’ll generate a comprehensive report. This report identifies problem areas within your building, such as air leakage or poor insulation, and the solutions we recommend based on your test results, budget, and energy efficiency goals.
Commercial Insulation
Installing new insulation to retrofit existing buildings can significantly increase energy efficiency and reduce the cost of powering a commercial building. Insulation works year-round to slow the transfer of heat into and out of your building. By keeping heat in during the winter and out during the summer, you can maintain a more comfortable indoor environment with less strain on your HVAC system. This will improve your building’s efficiency and lead to commercial energy savings.
Straw-bale construction, geothermal heating and active solar!
Responsible House is the place where building science and insulation meet. We will evaluate your building’s insulation and follow the science to determine the best solution for your needs. We are a licensed building science contractor and certified spray foam insulation contractor, and we follow all best practices to ensure a safe and effective installation. We take extra steps to ensure the safety of your building and its occupants and are the only insulation contractor in the area that runs fans during and after insulation installation to keep air quality high, improve re-entry time into the building, and company with manufacturing guidelines.
Commercial Air Sealing
Air sealing is one of the best energy efficiency measures for commercial buildings. Sealing up air leaks will stop the flow of air (and the moisture it carries) into and out of your building, resulting in less energy waste, fewer drafts, lower humidity levels, and better indoor air quality. Air sealing also improves your insulation’s performance, helping you get the most out of your investment in energy efficiency measures for your commercial building. Spray foam is the only active type of insulation that doubles as an air sealant, making it an excellent choice for commercial properties. Save on operating costs with responsible energy efficiency upgrades.
Now has a solar installation in large measure due to the expertise of AltEnergy and Responsible Space.
Commercial Services FAQ
Will commercial energy efficiency upgrades disrupt my business operations?
We work to keep disruption to a minimum and can often schedule projects around you and your business. We also try to be as efficient as possible to give you the best reentry time we possibly can.
What types of commercial buildings do you work on?
We work on a wide range of building types throughout Central Virginia, including churches, schools, office buildings, multi-family properties, retail spaces, and historic structures. Every building has its own quirks, so we evaluate the construction and use of your specific space rather than applying a one size fits all approach.
How do I know if my commercial building needs an energy audit?
If your energy bills seem high for the size of your building, certain rooms or areas never feel comfortable, or you are planning renovations and want to know where your building is losing energy, an audit is a good place to start. It gives you a clear, tested picture of what is actually happening in your building instead of relying on guesswork.
What certifications does Responsible House hold for commercial work?
We are a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractor, a licensed building science contractor, and a certified spray foam insulation contractor. We also have certifications from the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA). These certifications mean our recommendations are grounded in testing and data rather than assumptions, and that our installation work follows industry best practices from start to finish.
Why does commercial insulation require continuous insulation (CI)?
Standard framing lets heat bypass your insulation by traveling straight through the studs, an issue known as thermal bridging. Continuous insulation fixes this by wrapping an unbroken layer of rigid foam across the entire building exterior, over the studs included, so there’s no direct path for heat to escape. Building codes have required it since 2012 because of how much energy thermal bridging wastes, and it also helps prevent condensation from building up inside your walls.
Call 540-942-2061 or contact us to get a free estimate for your project.
Make the responsible choice for your commercial building.
Schedule energy efficient improvements with Responsible House.
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Running a commercial building in Charlottesville comes with steady overhead. Heating and cooling often make up a large share of those costs. When your building loses conditioned air, your systems …
