With rising energy costs and a national commitment to greener infrastructure, it’s no surprise that building owners and property managers in Edmonton are looking for the best ways to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. From small upgrades to larger overhauls, there are several ways to achieve this–especially when you partner with an experienced building maintenance company like Karlen-Kada. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start With An Audit
In order to improve the energy efficiency of your building, you have to start with a baseline. For example, Natural Resources Canada suggests benchmarking, which allows you to measure current usage and compare it against other buildings in your portfolio or area.
Try this: choose one building you manage and track utilities and usage over 60-90 days. This data should help you confirm where your biggest loads are, which will help shape any future upgrades. That way, every dollar you spend is tied back to a measurable result.
2. Upgrade Your HVAC System
If you are looking for the most effective way to reduce your building’s energy consumption, your HVAC system is the top contender. Space heating makes up 55% of the energy used by commercial and institutional buildings in Canada. Due to this high percentage, even small improvements can reduce your consumption over time.
First, try adjusting temperature settings, sealing air leaks, and investing in a comprehensive building maintenance schedule. All these small changes can add up and result in major savings over time. If you are still looking for a more drastic change, strategic HVAC replacements are another avenue. High-efficiency rooftop units, boilers, heat pumps, and heat recovery systems can significantly cut usage.
Here at Karlen-Kada, it’s our mission to provide upgraded mechanical systems that are part of an integrated plan. All our HVAC upgrades are paired with controls and commissioning, so you get stable temperatures, fewer tenant calls, and measurable energy improvement.
3. Invest in New Controls
If your building still relies on older controls or a patchwork of upgrades, you’re probably spending more on energy and dealing with more hot‑cold calls than you should. Outdated pneumatic controls, drifting sensors, and manual overrides all add up to wasted energy and frustrated tenants.
Upgrading your building controls is one of the fastest ways to improve comfort and reduce operating costs. Modern systems let you see exactly what’s happening in your HVAC in real time, adjust setpoints and schedules quickly, and make sure equipment isn’t running hard when spaces are empty. That’s where mechanical systems integration in Edmonton really pays off—your heating, cooling, and ventilation start working as one coordinated system instead of independent pieces. Read more here: “Upgrade Your Building Controls for Ultimate Mechanical Systems Integration.”
4. Choose Regular Maintenance
Energy improvements don’t hold if filters clog, sensors drift, dampers stick, or schedules get overridden and never fixed. A strong preventative maintenance program is one of the simplest ways to protect both uptime and efficiency across your building.
For HVAC, that means regular inspections of rooftop units, boilers, pumps, and air handlers, along with routine tasks like filter changes, coil cleaning, lubrication, and belt checks. For electrical and lighting, it means inspecting panels, checking connections, testing emergency and exit lighting, and ensuring controls and sensors are actually working as intended.
Looking for building maintenance that makes energy efficiency a top priority? Karlen-Kada can help build a preventative maintenance program tailored to your facility. Contact us for more information or read more about our work as a building maintenance provider here: “How a Building Service Provider Transformed One Edmonton High-Rise.”
Ready to Improve Your Property?
Still not sure which energy-efficient upgrade to opt for? That’s where an expert building maintenance company like Karlen-Kada can help. Our skilled team can help you plan a mechanical systems integration Edmonton roadmap that fits your building and budget, from mechanical service integration and upgraded HVAC systems to LED lighting upgrades and preventative maintenance programs. Call our office or request a quote through our website today for more information!