Almost every building wastes 10 percent or more of the energy it consumes due to inefficient operation of the HVAC system. In many buildings, the inefficiencies were built in during construction and have become part of the baseline consumption numbers used to predict operating costs each year. In others, modifications made over time in response to complaints, or for providing a quick fix to an equipment problem, contribute to reduced performance. The reasons for the waste vary - the challenge is how to identify and eliminate them in an economical manner. Because the waste is "hidden" within the building systems, most energy strategies concentrate on equipment upgrades to address inefficiencies and lower energy costs.
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