Tri-Tech Energy

  The holiday season is now upon us, which means it’s time to decorate! Putting up the Christmas tree and getting out your decorations is a great way to get everybody in your business or apartment complex in the holiday spirit. While decorating for Christmas is usually met with feelings of joy, it could also bring on stress if your other affairs aren’t in order. For example, your HVAC system – how will it interfere with all the extra holiday decor? Is it safely out of the way? With that said, our team at Tri-Tech has put together this helpful   HVAC   system safety guide to follow during the festive season.  Christmas Decorations in Retail Stores and Hospitality Properties Commercial buildings like retail stores and hospitality properties can be totally transformed during Christmas time, and even adding a few seemingly small holiday decorations can really make your building feel full of the Christmas spirit. Some of the most popular ways to decorate retail stores and...

  If you own or manage a building that will be sitting vacant during the upcoming holiday season, you’re likely concerned about its energy efficiency. Especially, how it can be improved since you won’t have any occupants to worry about during this brief period. While empty buildings often mean lower heating costs during the cold winter months, it doesn’t mean you allow your   HVAC   system to be inactive for the duration of the holiday season. Here’s how to safely improve energy efficiency in your vacant building over the coming months.  Energy Strategy for Vacant Office Buildings and Retail Spaces If you have a vacant office building or retail space, here are four questions to answer that will help you develop your energy strategy: Do we have an “unoccupied policy,” and are we planning to implement it?  When your building is vacant, there is no need to run the heating system as if there are occupants in your building. Creating and using an “unoccupied mode” for...

 As a commercial building owner, you surely have an interest in energy efficiency – especially since energy-efficient systems can save you more money on operating costs. Although conversations around energy efficient appliances usually focus on HVAC systems, did you know that  commercial boiler systems  are also being made more energy efficient? In this article, we’ll discuss some of the advances made to commercial boiler systems that make them more energy efficient.  The Principles of Energy Efficiency There are several key principles of energy efficiency that you should consider in regard to your commercial building, including: Building materials . Is your building made from local materials that don’t contain any traces of toxic elements? Can the materials be recycled? Have your materials been sourced from sustainable suppliers? Smart lighting design.  Make the most of natural light, especially if you live in a sunny climate, and enjoy lower ...

 The rising cost of energy prices has been front and center in the news lately, so what does this mean for you and your HVAC running costs? As a business owner, you’re undoubtedly worried about increasing prices while the economy is performing poorly. In this article, our team will take a more in-depth look at the impacts of energy costs and how business owners like you may be affected in the coming months. Why Are Energy Prices So High in 2022? As countries around the world started to recover from the worst periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for energy increased and the supply shortage meant costs went up. To boot, renewable energy resources like wind farms and solar panels were not producing as much energy during the cold winter months, meaning people needed to rely on their  traditional heating systems  more.  As if that wasn’t enough, Russia, one of the world’s largest producers of oil and gas, invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which threat...

  If a snowstorm was to hit tomorrow, would you be prepared? Winter is a few months away, and although you likely aren’t experiencing cold temperatures and adverse weather conditions now, it’s never too early to prepare your HVAC system. Anyone who lives in a colder climate knows that winter weather can be very unpredictable, and if the forecast calls for snow, it may be a light dusting or it might be a full-on snowstorm. And when a snowstorm hits you need to be prepared, so here are steps you can take now to ensure that’s the case.  Schedule A Heating System Inspection When was the last time your HVAC system was inspected by a technician? If you can’t remember, that means it’s time to call and schedule an inspection as soon as possible. Your trusted  HVAC technician  will check the outlet, induction unit, motor, electrical switches, belts, and all other components. One of the most common reasons that an HVAC system malfunctions is faulty wiring, and wiring issues ar...

  If your business relies on steam-powered equipment then you have a steam piping system, and these piping systems require careful care and maintenance to ensure they remain safe. Steam-piping systems are made up of a network of pipes and valves that carry pressurized steam from the boiler to the working component, like a radiator or a steam engine.  Many older buildings in places like New York City still use steam heating, and these buildings rely on a steam piping system to keep occupants warm during the colder winter months. A big part of maintaining a steam-piping system is making sure it’s safe, reducing the chances that a potentially hazardous accident may occur. In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of a steam-piping system, as well as some important information you should know when working with these systems. If you have any questions please contact our team.  Steam Piping Ratings of Boiler Systems In order for a steam piping system to be categorized as high-p...

As HVAC professionals begin getting their sleepy boilers ready for the upcoming heating season, they know that the first few weeks can be hectic, as dormant boilers are lit and unexpected startup problems pop up all over. It’s typically a time with some long days and a steady stream of calls from residents and building operators. Professionals who’ve been doing this for a while, know that even if a boiler has been professionally inspected and serviced during the summer months, idle heating systems are still susceptible to both sediment and corrosion. Sediment settles out of the cold motionless water and compacts in pumps and valves, and of course as Mr. Young famously said, “rust never sleeps.” The physics of heating system inactivity conspires to create a rich set of winter startup problems for commercial heating professionals. The experts at  Tri-Tech Energy  have seen their share of these startup problems, and put together a guide to “waking up” and maintaining boilers more...