According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings use nearly 40 percent of the energy and 74 percent of the electricity produced each year in the United States. Likewise, energy costs are one of the largest line items in an organization’s budget, in some cases approaching as much as a billion dollars a year for large multinational manufacturing companies. Given the financial impact this can have on an organization, it is little wonder that many facilities managers and energy engineers stay awake at night thinking of ways to trim these costs wherever possible. Installing alternative energy systems doesn’t necessarily equal energy efficiency unless the equipment is monitored and necessary action taken when the equipment is found to be operating at less than peak efficiency.

Sustainability attracts all types at the Colorado Convention Center. Photo source: www.denverconvention.com

In May 2010, Colorado Convention Center earned the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED®-EB certification for existing buildings. A key factor in obtaining the certification was the points earned in the Energy & Atmosphere category, one of the nine key areas measured by the green building certification system. Their CMMS software was instrumental in monitoring energy use and the efficiency of appliances, systems and lighting — two of the strategies evaluated in the LEED-EB Energy & Atmosphere category.

Read more about Colorado Convention Center and its quest to improve operational efficiencies.