How to make a commercial building more energy efficient

Is your commercial building designed for energy efficiency? Is your workshop difficult to heat and cool? 

Commercial and industrial buildings can be extremely difficult to heat, particularly with high ceilings and frequently opening doors. Over time, energy consumption and costs can quickly add up, leading many businesses to look for energy efficient solutions. 

Fortunately, there is an extensive range of energy efficient solutions to use when building your workshop. In this article, we explore the various considerations you should make, including: 

• Building layout

• Insulation

• Heating

• Ventilation

• Loading bays 

• Sustainable design

So, what's the most energy-efficient building design?  

Workshop layouts

The layout of your commercial building will impact how easy it is to heat and cool. For many workshop buildings and commercial properties, multiple operations take place simultaneously. To ensure each area is easy to heat as required, it may be worth separating them with an insulating curtain, partition, or wall. 

Popular layout features include workbenches, tool storage, shelving, windows, ventilation, utilities, heating, safety features, and separate offices. This allows flexibility to use and heat each space as required, reducing energy use and costs. For example, you can section off a packing area so it can be heated without wasting heat on the whole warehouse. 

Insulation for commercial buildings

Insulation enhances energy efficiency and helps maintain a comfortable temperature in your commercial building. In turn, this reduces heating costs and energy consumption. The main insulation options for commercial buildings include pink batts, roof blankets, PIR/EPS panels, and insulation laid between 2 layers of roof cladding (roof logic).

The pink batts method involves filling the building cavity with pink batts and covering it with an internal lining of plywood or GIB. This is usually applied in offices and buildings with a low stud height.

The underlay roof blanket method involves laying a thick thermal material between the cladding instead of building paper, increasing the R-value. This is fast to install and serves as insulation, a vapour barrier, and a radiant barrier. 

PIR/EPS panels are structurally insulated panels made up of two sheets of COLORSTEEL® with EPS polystyrene or PIR bonded in between. The cost is often less than lining and using batts, especially when larger R-values are required. This means the exterior cladding, insulation, and internal lining are all in one, with a variety of panel thickness options.

Finally, you can add insulation between two layers of roofing. This includes laying a ‘liner deck’ of roofing down on the purlins, an insulation layer, and a final roof layer on top. This makes it easy to achieve a similar insulation value to PIR panels and you can also add acoustic board layers to absorb excess noise.

From a compliance standpoint, you may not always need to insulate the roof and walls. However, incorporating insulation from the beginning of your project will maximise energy efficiency and allow you to maintain comfortable internal temperatures without excessive energy consumption. For more advice, read our full article on commercial insulation options.

How to heat a commercial building

By managing the temperature inside your workshop, you can improve morale, productivity, and health and safety outcomes. Several heating options are available, including hydronic underfloor heating, infrared heaters, and radiators. 

Hydronic underfloor heating systems circulate warm water through pipework enclosed in the concrete floor. This offers several advantages, including ground-up heating that ensures tools and surfaces remain warm and consistent heat distribution throughout the workspace. It is also highly efficient and operates silently without obstructing work areas.

Infrared heaters emit radiant heat, providing rapid warmth to your staff without heating the surrounding air. You can also heat zones within workshops, reducing energy consumption. 

Radiators are heated with hot water and can be adjusted per room. This makes them suitable for spaces with varying heating needs. However, they don’t offer any air exchange and can result in heat loss in the boiler house and from the pipes to the radiator. 

Ventilation and air conditioning

According to the NZ Building Code H1 standards, you are required to provide evidence of the efficiency of systems such as air conditioning, mechanical ventilation, fans, pumps, chillers, etc, as well as the insulation of pipework, and ductwork. 

Loading bays and transitional areas

A sheltered loading bay, awning, or transitional wall partition provides a dry, protected space to move vehicles or stock in and out of your warehouse. This can also make it easier to manage the internal temperature of your workshop and keep your team dry. If your operations require the door to be open, this can make a dramatic difference. 

Sustainable workspaces

• Skylights
• Large windows
• Open-plan concepts
• Solar panels
• Electric vehicle chargers
• Water recycling facilities. 

We also recommend incorporating green spaces and indoor plants to improve air quality, boost employee morale, and foster a sense of well-being.

Commercial buildings NZ

• Guide to Selecting Commercial Land
• Warehousing and Distribution Brochure
• Workshops and Maintenance Brochure
• The XL System Brochure